CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Widespread rain could include a few strong thunderstorms as everything expands tonight.

Your first alert: Stormy conditions last into the night

Showers and thunderstorms remain likely for the rest of the evening, with heavier rain 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. A little hail could occur in a few storms.

If a storm is approaching your area, seek shelter indoors. If a warning is issued, get to the lowest floor of your home, away from windows. In the event of a tornado warning, put as many walls as possible between you and the outside, such as 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’re in a mobile home, ditch it for a more substantial shelter. If trapped outdoors, try to get to an indoor shelter. As a last resort, lie down in a trench while protecting your head and neck. Do not seek shelter under bridges or overpasses.

It’s important to make sure you have multiple ways to receive alerts. A NOAA weather radio is an excellent tool in this case. Make sure it’s connected and turned on, ready to receive alerts, before you go to bed. We also recommend the KCRG-TV9 First Alert Weather app, which can provide alerts tailored to your location. Of course, we’ll also provide updates on KCRG.com and KCRG-TV9 as conditions warrant.

Areas of heavier rainfall are possible this evening, with amounts reaching 1 to 2 inches in some places. Where exactly this area of ​​heavier amounts occurs will depend on who sees some repeat storms. The slow movement of activity will be a contributing factor to this potential.

After about midnight tonight, the most widespread activity will move east out of the TV9 viewing area. Scattered showers continue overnight, along with strong winds. They will change from south to west by late tonight. Near daylight, expect temperatures in the mid-50s to low 60s.

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

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

Skies will clear up a bit in the afternoon, but a lack of sunshine and the influx of a cold air mass will mean high temperatures are likely to set in by midnight on Thursday. By mid-afternoon, expect readings in the 40s to 50s.

By the time we get to Trick-or-Treating in the evening, 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 40 degrees, with wind chills potentially slightly lower than that. We’re definitely glad to see dry weather, but you may need to make some layering decisions under suits to keep the kids warm.

As winds continue to lighten and skies clear, temperatures continue their downward trend into Thursday night. Expect a cool start to Friday in the low 20s to low 30s. Temperatures return to decently low to mid 50s by mid-afternoon under mostly sunny skies. All in all, this type of weather is very typical of the first day of November.

Your first alert: Rain returns, with widespread activity through early next week

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

By late afternoon and evening, rain showers will return to parts of the area. They become more widespread Saturday night into Sunday, with thunderstorms also involved. Despite this, we may end up a bit warmer on Sunday as warm air is pulled in ahead of this disturbance. The highs could reach 60 years.

Another disturbance heads our way Monday through Tuesday, offering another chance at some widespread showers and thunderstorms. Both systems will have plenty of moisture to work with and we could even see a stronger storm or two if things play out right. Temperatures warm up even more for many of us on Tuesday, reaching 60 degrees again.

Due to the moisture available in the atmosphere during this time frame, precipitation amounts could again be substantial. 1 to 3 inches may be added for those with the most frequent storms. In addition to what we expect after tonight, totals for next week could be in the 3 to 5 inch range. This would significantly affect recent rainfall deficits.

Rain will end later Tuesday through Tuesday night. This could make for a somewhat wet Election Day in eastern Iowa, so plan your trip to the polls accordingly!

Quieter late next week with typical fall conditions

By next Wednesday through next Friday, we’ll settle in for a nice stretch of near-normal temperatures. Lows will be in the 30s and highs in the 50s, generally close to what you might expect for early November.

There should also be generally clearer skies as we avoid the more active portions of the weather pattern for at least a stretch.

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