Quad Cities, IA/IL – Residents in eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois should prepare for scattered severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening, capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and a brief tornado. The primary window for volatile weather is expected to begin this afternoon and extend through the evening, with the potential for localized flash flooding in urban and low-lying areas.
According to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, all modes of severe weather are possible as a warm and humid airmass settles over the region. A Level 2 of 5 “Slight Risk” for severe weather covers a broad area including Davenport, Moline, Cedar Rapids, and Dubuque. Forecasters are also monitoring the threat of torrential rainfall, which could lead to rapid flooding of fields, basements, and city streets.
In Iowa, the threat extends west to Ottumwa, while in Illinois, communities from Peoria and Macomb up to Freeport and Sterling are included in the risk area. The multi-day event carries continued storm chances into Wednesday, with another Level 2 “Slight Risk” posted for areas generally southeast of a line from Dubuque to Burlington…