Decorah, Iowa – Severe thunderstorms with the potential to produce wind gusts up to 70 mph and hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter are threatening parts of northeast Iowa Monday evening, prompting a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 9 p.m. CDT.
According to the National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center, the watch includes Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, and Winneshiek counties, where storms are expected to intensify through late afternoon and persist into the night. Frequent lightning and downed limbs are likely, with isolated power outages possible.
Residents in Decorah, Waukon, Elkader, and West Union should stay weather-aware and prepare for rapidly changing conditions. Outdoor events may be disrupted, and travel along Highways 18 and 52 could become hazardous during peak storm activity.
Officials advise staying indoors during lightning, securing any loose items outside, and charging devices in case of brief outages. Those in mobile homes or older structures should identify a safer shelter location if severe warnings are issued.
The storm risk will diminish after 9 p.m., though forecasters note that additional advisories could be issued depending on how the system evolves.
