Des Moines, IA – Severe thunderstorms, particularly those producing large hail, remain a significant concern across Central Iowa and Northwest Illinois until 7 p.m. tonight.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, severe hail is expected to persist for the next 1-2 hours in central to eastern Iowa. Recent weather data indicates that new storm activity along the outflow boundary will likely produce large hail due to strong environmental wind shear.
Meteorological imagery has shown the formation of a cold pool from initial supercells north of Des Moines, leading to new convection development. These conditions favor large hail initially, though a transition to strong wind threats is expected later in the evening as storms move towards northwest Illinois.
The severe weather watch, issued earlier in the day, highlights the need for residents to stay indoors and secure property that could be damaged by large hail. Vehicles, in particular, should be moved to sheltered areas if possible. As the storm system progresses, the risk of strong winds will increase, potentially causing further damage.
