Refreshing start to July, storm chances return Tuesday

Thanks to a massive high pressure system sitting over the Great Lakes, the transition from June to July will be an easy one weather-wise.

July begins on a sun-filled note, with cloud cover increasing after mid-day. What also carries on into the new month is Sunday's seasonably cool air, which will leave highs in the upper 70s. And with dew points stuck in the upper 40s and low 50s, today will be another day to leave the A/C unit off.

Tuesday will be the day to have the umbrella and radar handy as rain chances slide back in. Forecast models show two rounds, the first sliding through during the mid-late morning hours. Heavy rain will be the primary concern as these push through.

The second will form out in southern and central Iowa, tracking east with time as we get into the late afternoon and evening hours. 

This round may bring the low chance for severe weather, which is why the Storm Prediction Center has areas east of Delavan, Belvidere, and Dekalb under a level 1 of 5 Marginal Risk. This is mainly for strong winds and large hail. Some of this activity may linger into the early stages of Wednesday, however most of the day looks to stay dry. 

Storm chances also look to be present on the 4th of July as another low pressure system slides across the midsection of the lower 48. 

Right now, it looks like chances are best during the late morning - early afternoon, with some dry time sliding in during the evening. Again, this forecast is subject to change as we inch closer to Thursday, so check back in if you have holiday plans. Highs will depend on how much cloud cover we see throughout the day, but most should land in the low 80s.