CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Widespread rain could include a few severe storms as everything plays out this evening.

Your first alert: stormy conditions last until late at night

Showers and thunderstorms remain likely for the remainder of the evening, with heavier showers and frequent lightning a good possibility. A few of these storms could make the most of the environment we have and produce damaging winds or an isolated tornado. Some hail may occur during a few storms.

If a storm approaches your area, seek shelter indoors. If a warning is issued, go to the lowest floor of your home, away from windows. During a tornado warning, place as many walls as possible between you and the outdoors, such as in an indoor closet or bathroom. A basement is best if you have one. Cover your head and neck with pillows or blankets, or a bicycle helmet if you have one. If you are in a mobile home, abandon it for more substantial shelter. If you are caught outside, try to get to an indoor shelter. As a last resort, lie flat in a ditch while protecting your head and neck. Do not seek shelter under bridges or viaducts.

It’s important to make sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings. A NOAA weather radio is a great tool in this case. Make sure it’s plugged in and turned on, ready to receive warnings, before you go to bed. We also recommend the KCRG-TV9 First Alert weather app, which can give you personalized alerts for your location. Of course, we will also provide updates on KCRG.com and KCRG-TV9 as conditions dictate.

Areas of heavier precipitation totals are possible tonight, with amounts reaching 1 to 2 inches in some locations. Exactly where this band of larger amounts occurs will depend on who sees certain repeat storms. The slow pace of activity will contribute to this potential.

Tonight, around midnight, the most widespread activity will move eastward outside of the TV9 viewing area. Scattered showers continue throughout the night, accompanied by strong winds. They will pass from south to west by late this evening. As dawn approaches, expect temperatures in the mid-50s to low 60s.

Windy and cool during the day Thursday, cool for Trick-or-Treaters

A few lingering showers or light showers will be possible early Thursday, but most of us should just see cloudy and windy conditions. Wind gusts will likely reach the 25 to 40 mph range for most of the day, gradually shifting from a westerly direction to west-northwest or northwest by late afternoon.

Skies will gradually become a little clearer in the afternoon, but the lack of sunshine and the influx of a cold air mass will mean high temperatures are likely to be set at midnight on Thursday. By mid-afternoon, expect readings between 40 and 50 degrees.

By the time we get to evening prime time, the winds should start to ease a bit. Don’t expect calm air, though, and temperatures will drop fairly steadily. By late evening, temperatures could be as low as the 40s, with wind chills potentially a little lower than that. We’re really happy to see the dry weather, but you may need to make some layering decisions under costumes to keep the kids warm.

As winds continue to become lighter and skies clear, temperatures continue their downward trend through Thursday evening. Expect a cool start to the day Friday in the 20s to 30s. Temperatures rebound decently to the mid 50s in the afternoon under mostly sunny skies. All things considered, this type of weather is very typical of the first day of November.

Your first alert: the rain returns, with widespread activity until early next week

Saturday looks like another pretty typical fall day, with temperatures starting in the 30s and 50s and highs in the 50s and 50s. Skies will be a little clearer at first, but should become cloudier throughout the day.

Late afternoon and evening, rain showers will return to parts of the region. They become more and more widespread during the night from Saturday to Sunday, also with thunderstorms. Despite this, we could find ourselves a little warmer on Sunday as warm air will be drawn in ahead of this disturbance. Highs could reach the 60s.

Another disturbance is headed our way by Monday and Tuesday, providing another chance for widespread rain and storms. Both of these systems will have plenty of moisture to work with, and we might even see a stronger storm or two if things go well. Temperatures warm up a bit again for many of us on Tuesday, reaching the 60s once again.

Due to the moisture available in the atmosphere during this time, precipitation amounts could be significant again. 1 to 3 inches can add up for those experiencing the most repeated storms. In addition to what we expect after tonight, overall totals for next week could be between 3 and 5 inches. This would significantly reduce recent rainfall deficits.

The rain will stop later Tuesday night. This could lead to a somewhat wet Election Day in eastern Iowa, so plan your trip to the polling location accordingly!

Calmer at the end of next week with typical autumn conditions

By next Wednesday through next Friday, we will settle in for a good stretch of near normal temperatures. Lows will be in the 30s and highs in the 50s, generally close to what one would expect for early November.

Generally, clearer skies should also be in place as we avoid the most active parts of the weather pattern for at least a while.

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