Twista Sista Storm Spotter

Enjoy the beautiful day - before a strong cold front & storms move in this evening dropping temperatures dramatically. We are looking to see storms most probable over SE & Eastern portions of the state, with a few small cells possible closer to Central Iowa. The primary area of storms right now looks to be along and south of HWY 30 & along and to the east of HWY 63. Areas around Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, Burlington, Ottumwa & Keokuk - which is now in a 2/5 risk area - will have the highest risk of strong to severe weather. This threat will mainly be in the form of damaging winds and large hail after 4-5 pm. Stay safe & weather aware if you are in these areas.

Happy Sunday! We will see a beautiful Sunday and Monday with sunny skies and warm spring temps before a strong cold front moves in Monday afternoon and evening. Temps will drop from a high around 83 on Monday to only a high of 58 on Tuesday. This front will usher in some additional storm chances with the possibility of some stronger cells throughout Central and Southern Iowa towards the late afternoon & evening hours. Damaging wind and large hail are the main threats at this time. I’ll keep you updated!

Get outside and enjoy this beautiful day! ☀️

Hey y’all! The storm threats have continued to decrease, and the NWS has downgraded the threat potential this morning - great news! The early morning storm system has absorbed a lot of the energy, and the system as shifted farther to the S/SE. Additional rainfall for portions of the state is still expected along with the potential for large hail and possibly damaging winds, especially over the far SE portion of the state. We are still in a 1/5 risk and a 2/5 risk for much of the state. Continue to monitor the forecast in the event of severe weather warnings. I’ll update if needed!

A live 3:30 am look at early morning storms currently tracking a line from Missouri & Kansas into Central and North Central Iowa do remain under the severe level. These storms are bringing a lot of rainfall and frequent lightening. Storms will redevelop this afternoon and those are the ones we will watch closely for severe development with all modes of severe weather probable.

Two years ago tonight I was spotting tornadoes as cells were building over SW Iowa and moving in a northeasterly direction. The day had been an active one with several tornado warnings. Scanning the radar, I spotted a little blip of a cell on the radar between Corning and just south of Winterset that caught my attention. It was small but the continued rotation made me pin point it and continue to watch its progression. I sent a text to my son and his wife to let them know I was concerned it was on a path towards their home and may produce a tornado. I repeated this same message to them several times over about 25 minutes as I continued to spot other storms and post the warnings to my followers. When the cell was about 5 minutes from the Southwest side of Pleasant Hill it was obvious to me it was going to drop a tornado very close to my kids, and their home was likely in its path. I told them to get to their basement. My last message to them was it’s coming right at you and will be there any time, be sheltered! The response I received made my heart drop, “It’s here now, we’ve been hit!”

This Pleasant Hill tornado left many homes damaged and several were completely destroyed. One person was injured, a horse in the pasture directly behind my son & daughter in law’s home was killed, but everyone lived, thankfully!! Homes can be rebuilt, lives can not.

This is why I do what I do. I’ve never shared my stories with y’all that made me obsessed with severe weather, but I’ve had several close calls over the years beginning when I was 4 years old. When it comes for you, your family, and those you love, it’s personal.

Video courtesy of We Are Iowa.

DRONE FOOTAGE: Tornado damage in Pleasant Hill, Iowa The National Weather Service says preliminary data shows a tornado in Pleasant Hill, Iowa on Friday, April 26 was an EF-2 with estimated peak winds of 125 mph. ▶ Subscribe to Local 5 on YouTube: https://bit.ly/Local5YouTube_subscribe 💻 Stream Local 5 on WeAreIowa+: https://www.weareiowa.com/wat...

Storms tonight may become severe as they continue to build over SW Iowa and move across the state in an easterly direction throughout the evening into the overnight hours. Heavy rainfall with possible flash flooding and large hail are the primary threats, but damaging winds and tornadoes - especially over SW Iowa, does exist.

Today’s severe weather risk is generally confined to the western half of the state with concerns highest in the SW corner for development of tornadoes. Damaging winds and large hail with flash flooding potential exists across a large portion of the state. The Storm Prediction Center has SW Iowa in a 2/5 risk area with West Central, NW & Central Iowa in a 1/5 risk.

Storms look to fire mid to late afternoon and make their way across the state this evening, and the threat does extend into the overnight hours. Please stay aware.

Tomorrow afternoon’s storms look to have the potential of becoming a very dangerous situation, especially for eastern Iowa. The threat of large and destructive EF2 & EF3 level tornadoes continues to look probable. The early day weather pattern will determine timing, location, and energy of these storms. We will continue to monitor and update. It’s very important you’re staying aware of the weather and have multiple ways to receive warnings!

After a couple calm and beautiful days, severe weather chances return again tomorrow evening into the overnight Monday before reigniting again Monday afternoon and evening.

Tomorrow night/early Monday am storms look to be mainly a wind and large hail event, but tornadoes are possible, especially over SW Iowa. Timing for these storms will be after dark into the overnight hours, which makes them especially hard to spot and warn. So the level of danger increases.

Monday’s severe weather is one we will be watching very closely for all modes of severe weather. West Central Iowa is in a 2/5 risk and Central, Eastern & SE Iowa are in a 3/5 risk area. This looks to be an especially concerning system for all modes of severe weather, including strong tornadoes and damaging winds.

Now is the time to be sure you have your weather radio ready and weather alerts in place, and have a plan to shelter quickly, if needed. I’ll be posting updates.

Storms continue to stay severe in this line moving towards Oskalossa and Ottumwa. Please stay aware if you are in this path.

Things got real crazy, real quick tonight! I had not planned to spot much with my schedule today, but Mother Nature literally brought it to my doorstep!

I am calling it a night. Please have your weather alerts on and be ready to seek shelter quickly if you are in SE Iowa and eastern Iowa. I’ll be watching Sunday into Monday’s weather again closely. Night y’all!