Severe Weather Risk Increase for Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri Prompts Tornado Watches This Evening

Large Hail, Damaging Winds, and Strong Tornadoes Possible in the Upper Mississippi Valley

07/02/24 5:08pm ET

Upper Mississippi Valley Satellite 07/02/24 5:06pm ETPhoto byNWS

Good evening everyone. Severe weather has erupted once again around the perimeter of our heatwave and dome of hot air sitting over the Midwest, Gulf, and Central States.

With the help of some upper air energy, combined with Gulf moisture streaming north, and sunshine working the atmosphere, we are seeing some shear possible within some of these storms. This will increase the risk for some strong tornadoes possible, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a tornado watch in some areas until 9:00pm CDT.

Areas such as west & central Wisconsin, most of Iowa, and parts of northern Missouri have already seen heavy showers with embedded thunderstorms. Some of those storms have already reached severe limits in parts of Iowa, with large hail, damaging winds, and radar-indicated rotation.

We will continue to watch these storms grow in strength and scope, impacting parts of Illinois as well as the evening wears on. There could also be smaller, isolated areas of severe weather popping up in western Oklahoma during the overnight hours.

Please stay tuned to your local agencies for the latest watches and warnings.

National Weather Service - Tornado Watch - Iowa City, IA