Iowa
Are tornadoes in Iowa possible today? Here’s what forecasters say
National Weather Service tornado safety guidelines
What is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
Severe storms are expected to sweep across Iowa again in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 14, with forecasters warning of all severe weather hazards possible — including tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds — as multiple rounds of storms move through the region through midweek.
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of Iowa under an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for Tuesday, signaling a higher likelihood of organized severe thunderstorms, including supercells capable of producing strong tornadoes and very large hail.
What is the weather today in Iowa?
Forecasters expect storms to develop late Tuesday afternoon into the evening as a stalled frontal boundary sits across eastern Iowa into Wisconsin. A surge of warm, moisture-rich air moving north from the Missouri Valley will collide with steep mid-level lapse rates and strong wind shear, creating an environment supportive of severe storms.
If storms can form, they are expected to quickly become supercells.
“Large to giant hail and an intense tornado will be possible with the strongest storms,” the Storm Prediction Center noted, especially where wind shear is maximized near surface boundaries.
Are tornadoes in Iowa possible?
Yes — tornadoes are possible across Iowa Tuesday afternoon and evening, though forecasters say the setup is still uncertain and depends on how storms evolve during the day, according to the National Weather Service.
A key factor is a “cap” in the atmosphere that could delay or limit storm development, making the exact timing and placement of storms difficult to pin down early.
Even if afternoon storms remain scattered, activity is expected to increase later Tuesday night as a low-level jet strengthens over the Plains and Midwest. That pattern should help trigger more widespread thunderstorms, especially across southern and central Iowa.
Some of these storms may become elevated above the surface overnight, which could slightly reduce the tornado threat at that point. However, that setup would still support hazards such as heavy rainfall, frequent lightning and hail, particularly in stronger storm clusters.
Still, forecasters say all severe weather hazards remain on the table.
Tornadoes are possible, and a few could be strong if storms stay isolated and develop into discrete supercells.
Large to giant hail is also a concern within the strongest rotating storms that form along boundaries in the warm sector.
Damaging wind gusts may become more widespread later in the evening if storms organize into larger clusters or storm complexes moving across the state.
Storms continue through Friday
Additional severe weather is possible on Wednesday as another upper-level disturbance moves into the region. The exact risk will depend on how Tuesday’s storms evolve and how much instability remains in place.
If conditions recover, supercells with all hazards — including tornadoes — could redevelop across parts of Iowa during peak daytime heating. For now, forecasters have maintained a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for Wednesday.
The active pattern does not end midweek. Another strong system is expected on Friday, bringing a new round of severe storms across much of Iowa ahead of a fast-moving cold front.
Behind it, temperatures will drop sharply over the weekend, with highs falling into the 40s and 50s and a hard freeze possible in northern areas by Saturday night.
Iowa weather radar
Iowa weather watches and warnings
Here are the watches and warnings for the area.
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text.
Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at baddison@gannett.com.
One Iowa high school athletic department is facing extremely low numbers in multiple sports, prompting school officials to begin searching for programs to share with.
Exira-EHK High School has already cancelled the upcoming 2026 Iowa High School Athletic Association varsity football season, going instead with a junior varsity-only series of games. According to a report by Western Iowa Today, they have also shared softball with Audubon.
The Exira-EHK/Audubon softball team is currently ranked No. 1 in Class 1A of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. A total of 11 of the players on the 23-girl team are from Exira-EHK. They are 15th in the latest High School On SI Iowa Top 25 State Rankings as they prepare for postseason play.
Enrollment For Exira-EHK School District Continues To Drop
Enrollment at the high school level for the Spartans is down by over 20 students, with the expectation for even more of a drop in overall enrollment moving into the 2026-2027 school year.
Tom Petersen, the Exira-EHK athletic director, was part of a community-wide meeting earlier this week alongside Trevor Miller, the school superintendent.
“I’m going to continue to campaign, keep working (to get more kids out),” Petersen said. “It’s just part of being an AD and a coach. I have tried every scenario that I can to try and make it that our kids could go and play varsity (football).
“It’s not the state’s fault, it’s not our fault; it’s the middle of a two-year cycle. I coached here for 20 years in football and it’s crushing (to not have a program).”
Petersen also mentioned during the meeting that he is struggling to fill several coaching vacancies, including the head boys basketball position. He said that they have received zero applications for that coaching vacancy.
Spartans Currently Share Multiple Sports With Audubon
Along with baseball and softball, the Exira-EHK school district also shares girls basketball, boys wrestling, girls wrestling, boys tennis and girls tennis with Audubon. Petersen is proposing to the school board a share agreement for boys basketball, boys track and field, and girls track and field, in addition to the other sports.
Last fall, the Spartans went 4-5 overall, as they won 22 games over a stretch of seasons after going 0-7 in 2020. Exira-EHK was 12-1 in 2013 and had three consecutive years of at least eight wins after that.
The schools are a combination of the towns of Exira, Elk Horn and Kimballton.
Follow
CORALVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – Coralville Police say a person has drowned at the Coralville Aquatic Center Tuesday afternoon.
The call went out shortly after 4 p.m. to 1513 7th Street for a drowning report.
Officers, lifeguards and paramedics gave lifesaving aid to the person. They were taken to the University of Iowa Health Care, where they were pronounced dead.
The identity of the victim has not been released. The incident is under investigation.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Iowa City Man who ran over people in homeless encampment sentenced to nearly two decades in prison
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa City man who pleaded guilty to driving into five people at a homeless encampment last August has been sentenced to serve nearly two decades in prison.
On August 15, 2025, Roman Aguilar Ventura drove his vehicle while under the influence through an encampment near Shelter House, an organization that assists homeless people.
Ventura pleaded guilty to several charges in March, including Operating While Under the Influence, two counts of Willful Injury Resulting in Bodily Injury, and three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. He also pleaded guilty to Driving While Barred and Driving While License Denied or Revoked.
In addition to his sentence, Ventura will also be subject to a six-year suspension of his drivers license, in addition to substance abuse treatment.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
-
Los Angeles, Ca28 minutes agoLoved ones search for missing 34-year-old Southern California woman
-
Detroit, MI48 minutes agoChickens, geese found at vacant home after nonprofit reports them stolen
-
San Francisco, CA58 minutes agoWhat’s next for San Francisco Giants as MLB trade deadline approaches?
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoDallas millionaire files lawsuit against groundwater district
-
Miami, FL1 hour ago7 more women arrested at southwest Miami-Dade massage parlors, accused of prostitution in undercover sting
-
Boston, MA1 hour ago‘They’re my buddies’: 96-year-old Back Bay woman befriends French soccer team
-
Denver, CO1 hour agoDenver officers cited for separate incidents, 1 fired
-
Seattle, WA1 hour agoStudy finds dangerous chemicals in the breast milk of Seattle moms
