Iowa Braces for First Severe Storms of 2026 Tonight

Forecasters at the National Weather Service predict Iowa's initial severe weather outbreak of the year will strike after 11 p.m. tonight, targeting western and central areas including Sioux City, Council Bluffs and Des Moines. 'It’s going to start generally around 11 pm and then beyond, so it’ll be late tonight into early Friday morning,' said Meteorologist Dylan Dodson. The primary threats include large hail and strong winds, with a second, more potent storm system following Friday afternoon into evening, moving west to east across the state.[1] Damaging winds, large hail and even tornadoes loom with the Friday storms, Dodson noted, as warmer air surges in behind the fronts. Highs will climb into the 50s and 60s today, potentially reaching the 70s tomorrow in cities like Ames and Iowa City. This early-season severe weather marks a shift from recent mild conditions, though Dodson cautioned snow remains possible even in April for northern Iowa spots like Mason City.[1] Meanwhile, at the State Capitol in Des Moines, lawmakers push urgent animal welfare reforms amid the legislative session's first funnel deadline. Senate File 2099, backed by Iowa animal welfare leaders, law enforcement and advocates, seeks to elevate companion animal torture to a felony on the first offense—making Iowa no longer the sole state treating it as a misdemeanor. The bill survived initial cuts as the legislature sifted hundreds of measures in its first six weeks.[2][3]