Des Moines, IA – A renewed round of storms is expected to sweep through southern Iowa tonight, bringing the potential for large hail and localized severe weather through early Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, scattered showers and isolated storms this morning have begun to weaken, but a more severe line is forecast to redevelop near the Missouri border beginning around 8 p.m. Thursday. The primary threat will be hail up to 1.25 inches in diameter, roughly the size of a half dollar.
The storm system is expected to push northward overnight, impacting central cities like Des Moines and potentially reaching into northern Iowa counties before 4 a.m. Friday. Areas under a Level 2 risk on the Storm Prediction Center scale include Ottumwa and Creston, where conditions favor scattered severe thunderstorms.
Residents are urged to monitor weather alerts throughout the evening, especially if traveling or attending outdoor events. The National Weather Service recommends taking shelter indoors and using multiple methods to receive warnings, including NOAA Weather Radios and mobile alerts.
Tonight’s activity may mark one of the more severe hail events of the early spring season across Iowa.
