DES MOINES, IOWA — The Storm Prediction Center has introduced an Enhanced Risk Level 3 out of 5 across Iowa today, Friday May 15, 2026, valid until 7:00 AM CDT Saturday May 16. Initial supercells will bring very large hail and damaging winds before quickly transitioning to a line of storms producing hurricane-force damaging winds as the system sweeps southeastward across the state. An embedded tornado or two is also possible.
Threat Zone Breakdown for Friday
Enhanced Risk core zone covering:
- Fort Dodge, Ames, Carroll, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Des Moines, and Atlantic
- This corridor faces the greatest risk of all hazards including the hurricane-force wind threat
Slight Risk surrounding zone covering:
- Sioux City, Spencer, Mason City, Decorah, Dubuque, Davenport, Burlington, and Ottumwa
Marginal Risk outer fringe:
- Extends beyond Iowa state borders into surrounding states
How the Storms Will Evolve Friday
The severe weather threat will unfold in two distinct phases:
Phase 1 Supercell Stage:
- Initial discrete supercells bring very large hail and damaging winds
- Tornado threat present during this early phase
Phase 2 Linear Stage:
- Storms quickly transition into a fast-moving line
- Hurricane-force damaging winds become the primary threat
- Embedded tornado or two still possible within the line
Kansas and the Oklahoma-Texas Panhandles Also at Risk
Farther southwest, high-based storms with a damaging wind threat are also possible from Kansas into the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles as an additional arm of this same severe weather setup…