kcci radar is tracking active weather across Iowa on Wednesday, April 15, with multiple severe storm chances unfolding through the afternoon and evening ET. Much of central and southeastern Iowa remains under a tornado watch until 9 p. m. ET, while parts of the state also face severe thunderstorm warnings and a broader severe thunderstorm watch. The main threats are hail, damaging winds, and a low risk of tornadoes.
Storm threat spreads across central and western Iowa
Active weather is ahead for Iowa this week, and the situation remains fluid as storms continue to develop in different parts of the state. A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Polk, Story, and Jasper counties until 4: 30 p. m. ET, and the warning continues to move east and northeast into the northern half of Boone County and the southern half of Webster County.
Most of central Iowa is now under a severe thunderstorm watch until 7 p. m. ET, issued by the National Weather Service. Another warning remains in effect until noon ET for parts of Greene, Guthrie, Audubon, Sac, Calhoun, Crawford, and Carroll counties, where hail and strong wind gusts have already been reported. A separate thunderstorm with golf ball-sized hail and 60 mph wind gusts was reported about 23 miles southwest of Denison.
Damage reports and live updates from the field
Storm damage is already being documented in multiple communities. In Carroll, Wednesday’s hail broke windows and windshields and left cars dented, based on photos shared by viewer Michael Woodhouse. The overnight storms also hit the Albia Municipal Airport hard, leaving behind damage that is still being assessed.
Storm Chaser Dr. Reed Timmer is in Des Moines, Iowa, where he warned that another round of supercell storms is expected to develop over Iowa, with the threat of hail and damaging winds on April 15. KCCI meteorologist Zane Satre provided an update shortly after 2 p. m. ET as the severe weather threat continued to shift.
What forecasters are watching next
Forecasters say hail is the main concern for any storms that fire north of I-80 before 3 p. m. ET. After that, more storms are expected to develop in a scattered fashion across central Iowa, keeping the state under threat for much of the afternoon and evening.
The Storm Prediction Center could issue either a severe thunderstorm watch or possibly a tornado watch later today. For now, the weather pattern remains active, and kcci radar continues to show why Iowa is facing a long stretch of severe storm risk on April 15.
