Severe Thunderstorm Warning 232, NWS Des Moines, IA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
327 PM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered pulsing showers and storms are expected to continue
  into the early evening, with a few strong to severe storms
  possible at times. Hail and gusty winds are the main hazards,
  with a decreasing potential for funnel clouds.

- Extended period of rain and storm chances over Iowa Wednesday through
  Friday that linger into this weekend. It will not rain during
  this entire period, but rain is likely each day in at least
  some portion of the state.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 327 PM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025

Radar returns this afternoon shows widely scattered pulsing showers
and storms this afternoon. The environment is characterized by
temperatures in the mid 80s to low 90s and dewpoints in the 60s,
which has resulted in higher instability values around 2000-3000+
J/kg, though given the high pressure overhead has led to fairly weak
flow and forcing overhead, resulting in storms struggling to
maintain themselves. This activity is expected to continue through
the afternoon to evening tied to peak heating, but should gradually
wane into tonight. Soundings continue to indicate low level dry air
and DCAPE values around 1000J/kg, which would indicate the potential
for gusty winds with collapsing storms. Reports with current
convection however have generally remained below 35 mph so far, but
cannot rule out a few sub-severe to brief severe criteria winds.
Given lapse rates around 7-7.5 C/km, a hail threat also remains but
would be short-lived given the pulsing nature of this activity. In
terms of any funnel potential, low level instability around 50-
100J/kg covers much of Iowa this afternoon, though surface vorticity
is very minimal if any, which per guidance looks to change little
through the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. Cannot rule
out a weak funnel or two, but the overall environment is trending
less favorable.

Looking at the larger scale synoptic setup today depicts a number of
waves in or near the CONUS, the first as a midlevel low pressure
system circulating over the southeastern CONUS, the second as
another mid-level deepening low pressure tracking across the
Intermountain West, and a shortwave near in Southern Canada
approaching the Upper Midwest. Into Wednesday morning, the system
out of the Intermountain West is expected to track into the Dakotas,
with increasing moisture and forcing into Iowa that will result in
more scattered shower and storm activity into Iowa at times through
Wednesday. Temperatures will be on the warm side in the mid to upper
80s, with instability values around 1000-1500 J/kg and shear just a
touch higher around 15-20 knots, which would suggest another
diurnally driven pulse storm environment once again. The severe
threat at this time looks low, but again cannot rule out the
potential for a stronger storm that could produce some gusty winds
and smaller hail. By Thursday, the mid-level trough and Canadian
shortwave phase together and become a larger system that looks to
generally remain over the western part of the Plains before breaking
apart into two waves again. This will result in several additional
periods of on and off shower and storm activity through the
remainder of the work week. Given that the larger scale system
overall remains over the same area per general model trends, the
moisture axis in association also moves very little, with better
moisture into western Iowa, where the higher rainfall amounts look
to occur before gradually moving eastward across the state by
Friday. Rainfall amounts through Friday of around 0.5-1 inch
generally are expected, though locally higher amounts are
certainly possible in areas that see repeated rainfall and/or a
stronger storm.

As the larger mid-level trough breaks down over the eastern CONUS
into the weekend, the system over the Plains finally moves through
the region and lifts into the Upper Midwest. Additional on and off
scattered showers and storms will remain through the weekend with
this, though details become even less defined in coverage and timing
given this is several days out and will depend on how the system
evolves earlier in the week.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1248 PM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025

Isolated showers and storms are expected to develop a times
through the afternoon before drying through the evening. Based
on recent trends, have included PROB30 groups at KMCW, KALO, and
KDSM over the next few hours. Given the remaining uncertainty in
trends for other areas over the next several hours, direct
mentions have otherwise been left out but amendments would occur
if showers/showers do develop that are anticipated to impact any
given site. Otherwise, mid to upper level clouds are expected
at times, with light winds out of the south/southeast.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Bury
AVIATION...Bury

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
118 PM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-
081>086-092>097-171830-
Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo-
Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun-
Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene-
Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper-
Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union-
Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-
Appanoose-Davis-
118 PM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into
early this evening. A few strong to marginally severe storms are
possible with hail or gusty winds. In addition, the environment
may be supportive of weak funnel cloud development.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

More widespread storm chances are expected Wednesday through
Friday with activity lingering into this weekend. There is no
apparent severe weather risk at this time. Locally heavy rainfall
may occur, but widespread flooding is not expected.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated, but reports of funnel
clouds and rainfall totals are appreciated.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
336 PM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0336 PM     Hail             1 S Waterloo            42.47N 92.35W
09/16/2025  E0.88 Inch       Black Hawk         IA   Trained Spotter

&&

Fowle

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Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
425 PM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0425 PM     Hail             Swaledale               42.98N 93.32W
09/16/2025  M1.00 Inch       Cerro Gordo        IA   Public

            Reported from the public library.

&&

Fowle