Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, May 24, 2024

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
327 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- An active day of thunderstorms is on tap, with widespread
  strong to severe storms possible later this morning through
  the afternoon hours

- Drying off and cooling down for tonight

- Active flow regime will keep periodic chances for
  precipitation Saturday night into Tuesday. Strong to severe
  thunderstorms are expected Saturday night into Sunday.

- Quiet weather is expected for the middle of the period as
  ridging builds across the central US, bringing NW flow to the
  region. Late in the period the chance for precipitation returns.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 322 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

Our severe weather season rolls on today, with our next round(s) of
thunderstorms in our area. Synoptically, we are tracking an
approaching shortwave trough, which is becoming negatively-tilted
with time. The leading shortwave can be seen very well over western
South Dakota on mid-level water vapor imagery. At the surface, an
area of low pressure over north-central South Dakota will lift
northeastward and strengthen with time. An attendant cold front will
sweep through the area this afternoon, as well. So we will have at
least a few rounds of strong to severe convective potential today.

As of 3 AM this morning, there have been already been a few severe
thunderstorms in northern Missouri into south-central Iowa, which
should gradually creep northward across our western CWA. Strong
winds and large hail will be the main threats with these storms, as
we already have a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for our
western two tiers of counties. Attention then turns to a large MCS
that has developed over eastern Nebraska and is currently making its
way towards our area, picking up speed. The high-res guidance have
been very inconsistent on the timing of this MCS, but in general, it
should arrive around or after sunrise this morning coinciding with a
southerly 30 to 40+ kt low-level jet. Most-unstable CAPE ahead of
the MCS is progged around 1000 to 2000 J/kg, per the HREF ensemble
mean, as well as deep-layer shear of around 30 to 40 knots.
Additionally, one concern with this convective line is the
possibility for QLCS mesovortex tornadoes embedded in the line
(there have been several developing along the line earlier this
morning!). 0-3 km bulk shear vectors are oriented southwest to
northeast, with magnitudes around 30 to 40 knots per the RAP
guidance, so although the MCS is expected to move from west to east,
any convective elements that translate northeastward and surge/bow
out could tap into this low-level shear to generate a brief tornado.

The AM MCS is expected to exit the region by mid-day, but we aren't
done with convection! The aforementioned cold front will quickly
follow the departing MCS, leading to additional convection as
southerly warm air advection should help with temperature recovery
and leading to destabilization. Initial storm modes could be
supercellular before becoming more of a multi-cell cluster with
time, so all modes of hazards are expected, once again. Mixed-layer
CAPE values will increase to around 1500 to 2500 J/kg, with
sufficient deep-layer shear for organized updrafts. SPC has expanded
the Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe storms to include nearly
the entire CWA. To top this all off, Pwat values of 1.4 to 1.8
inches, and enhanced water vapor transport, along with dew points in
the lower to middle 60s, will result in a pretty moist atmosphere,
so heavy rainfall and flooding is also a potential. As such, we have
issued a Flood Watch to include areas of eastern Iowa from Highway
92 and points north. We will have to watch out for both flash
flooding and exacerbated river flooding.

Eventually, the cold front convection will end from west to east
late this afternoon into the early evening hours, and we will have a
quiet, but cool, night tonight into Saturday morning. Overnight lows
should fall to the middle 40s northwest to the lower 50s
southeast.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 322 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

The period starts out with a nearly stationary closed low located
over central Canada.  A series of shortwaves are expected to rotate
south of this low and into the area for the weekend.  The first two
are expected Sunday and Monday morning, with another two expected
later Monday and again on Tuesday.  The effective boundary between
better BL moisture is just south of the area.  As each of these
waves approaches, the boundary is expected to move north and then
south again after each wave passes. Where this boundary sets up
will drive the better convection during each event. After
Tuesday, ridging builds into the area. This is short-lived as
another trof digs into the western CONUS.

Saturday night into Sunday, a compact shortwave will move through
the area.  Short-lived moisture return associated with the height
falls and strong LLJ of 55-60kts, will try to bring a warm
front north overnight. Models indicate convection will form and
move across the area. Deep layer shear is strong, leading to
updraft organization. The main question is how far north does
the instability get. It does seem as though some of the southern
CWA could see strong to severe storms with large hail and
damaging winds. The larger issue may be heavy rain from this
system. 1 to 3 inches of rain could fall Sunday AM. This would
likely exacerbate any river flooding across the area as well
and could even lead to some flash flooding, especially after the
rainfall today.

Unfortunately, it looks like there may be a chance for rain/storms
on Memorial Day.  Confidence is lower as POPs are around 30%.  Some
guidance has showers and storms; others are dry. This is tied
to a wave later into day on Monday. Some guidance is a little
more robust on it and thus have some showers and storms. We will
need to watch the trend in the guidance to see if this threat
will materialize.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1255 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

VFR conditions were observed across the area early this morning,
but this will be short-lived as a period of thunderstorms will
move through the area later on this morning, lasting through the
afternoon hours. The latest high-res models are showing various
solutions for coverage of these thunderstorms, so confidence in
timing is rather low. However, we are confident that the
thunderstorms, along with heavy rainfall, will lead to MVFR/IFR
conditions, and perhaps some isolated LIFR visibilities, along
with gusty winds in excess of 30 knots. We have used TEMPO
groups to highlight the most likely time frame for this
morning's storms. Then, a cold front will sweep through the area
this afternoon, which will bring yet another round of storms.
We have used PROB30 groups for this activity as timing will be
dependent on how things play out this morning.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 1025 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

The flood warning for the North Skunk River near Sigourney has
been upgraded to Major flood category. Routed water from a
sparse data area upstream where the heaviest rain fell a few
days prior has led to a rapid rise in the last 6 hours and is
now above Major flood stage. The forecast calls for a crest of
24.5 feet by Friday afternoon, but there is uncertainty in the
amount of water that remains to move through the reach and the
crest may need to be further adjusted.

The Wapsipinicon River near DeWitt was upgraded to a Flood
warning. Major flood stage is being forecast based on routed
flow, and is supported in output from the Hydrologic Ensemble
Forecast Service Model Simulation (HEFS), which places high
confidence on reaching Major Flood stage (12.5 feet). The
forecast has gone up this evening with a crest now over 13 feet
next week. This fits near the most likely range from HEFS of
12.8-13.1 feet. Some attenuation is possible as the routed
flow moves through the river system, but at the same time there
will be additional rounds of rain Friday and Sunday of which
could total over 1 to 2 inches. There will likely be changes to
the forecast in the coming days as the rain lays out and the
extent of the routed flow is better known, so stay tuned!

Routed water and additional rain through the weekend is leading
to rises on most other tributary rivers and the mainstem of
the Mississippi, especially south. Flood warnings or watches
are in effect for portions of the Cedar, Iowa, Skunk and
southern sections of the Mississippi river so please refer to
the latest Flood Statements and Flood Warnings for details.

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...Flood Watch from 7 AM CDT this morning through this afternoon
     for IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078.
IL...None.
MO...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...Schultz
LONG TERM...Gibbs
AVIATION...Schultz
HYDROLOGY...McClure

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
343 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-250845-
Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson-
Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson-
Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll-
Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson-
Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark-
343 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east
central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A few rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms are expected today,
with the main rounds coming after sunrise this morning and then
again this afternoon. Nearly the entire area is under a Slight
Risk, or level 2 of 5, for severe weather today, with all hazards
possible. Damaging wind gusts to 70 mph, large hail to the size
of quarters, and a few tornadoes are possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday. The best area
for severe thunderstorms will be south of I-80 where portions of
the area are in an Enhanced Risk (level 3 out of 5).

Thunderstorms are possible again on Monday and Tuesday. The
threat for severe weather appears low at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is likely this morning through this afternoon.

GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:

Towards the east at 45 to 55 mph this morning, and then to the
east-northeast around 30 to 40 mph this afternoon.

JTS

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
510 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

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

0500 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 NNE Cedar Rapids      42.01N 91.66W
05/24/2024  E60 MPH          Linn               IA   Trained Spotter

            Spotter is estimating wind speeds around 60
            mph.

&&

EH