Question: What is driving the severe weather in Iowa this week?
It is June 19, 2026, and another round of storms moved through the state earlier this week, bringing high winds and rain. This is yet another storm that has impacted the state in the past week.
So far in June, Iowa has experienced
- 10 tornado reports
- 25 severe hail reports
- 130 severe wind reports
- Dubuque and Iowa City have had 5 days with precipitation greater than 1 inch
- A total of 7.89 inches of rain has fallen at Dubuque Regional Airport
- Only 0.14 inches of rain have fallen at Spencer Municipal Airport
Thunderstorms require moisture, lift, and instability. During the past week, sufficient moisture has moved from the Gulf into the Midwest. A strong low-level jet (LLJ), along with a deepening (or strengthening) low-pressure system, provides the instability and lift required for updrafts. These updrafts continue to fuel the storm and provide conditions for hail to form. The LLJ was particularly strong due to a cooler than normal air mass in the northern U.S., contrasted with a warmer than normal air mass in the southern U.S.
The cooler and wetter pattern is expected to stick around for a few more days. The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook, valid June 24-28, shows a 33-40% chance of temperatures leaning below normal and a 40-50% chance of precipitation leaning above normal.
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- Weather and Climate Extension Specialist