A stretch of unsettled weather is moving through parts of the Midwest this week, bringing rounds of severe storms just as holiday weekend plans start to take shape. From northeast Wisconsin to eastern Iowa to the Twin Cities, forecasters are tracking a mix of heat, humidity and repeated storm chances heading into the Fourth of July.
Wisconsin deals with flooding and storm damage
Parts of northeast Wisconsin saw significant rainfall overnight into Today, with some areas picking up close to three inches of rain that led to flooded streets and intersections. A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect for the southern portion of the region, including Fond du Lac and Green Lake counties, with additional storms capable of producing damaging wind and heavy rain moving through This afternoon.
The wet pattern followed storms earlier in the week that knocked down trees and caused power outages in the area. Today’s forecast called for partly cloudy skies with hot, humid conditions and a high near 90, with heat index values pushing toward 100 in the afternoon. Friday looked similarly warm and humid, with additional scattered storm chances expected into the evening.
Iowa faces a tornado warning as storms intensify
Conditions escalated further west, where a tornado warning was issued for Clayton County in eastern Iowa, part of a broader severe thunderstorm watch covering most of the eastern part of the state through the evening. Forecasters warned of large hail, damaging wind, flooding rain and the possibility of isolated tornadoes as storms tracked from the northwestern counties southeast through the evening hours.
Heat added another layer to the forecast, with dew points in the mid 70s pushing heat index values as high as 105 in southern parts of the state. The storm threat was expected to continue overnight before another round of potentially strong storms moves through Friday, this time with damaging wind as the primary concern.
Minnesota watches for evening storms
Further north, the Twin Cities area was tracking a chance of severe storms developing This evening across the western part of the state before spreading toward the metro after 9 p.m. Today was expected to stay mostly sunny and hot, with highs in the upper 80s and a heat index in the low to mid 90s, an improvement over the more intense heat earlier in the week.
What the holiday weekend itself looks like
Despite the storms working through the region this week, the outlook for the Fourth of July holiday itself is trending more favorable, though not entirely clear. In Wisconsin, Saturday is expected to be partly sunny and humid with a chance of a shower or storm and a high near 82. Iowa’s forecast for Independence Day carries a lower severe weather risk, with rain most likely in the morning before conditions potentially clear by afternoon, leaving highs in the mid to upper 80s. Minnesota’s forecast for the Fourth remains warm and muggy with a few thunderstorms possible, though details were still developing as of Today…