STRONG STORMS TO START THE 4TH...

There are still some question marks but there are certainly signs pointing to strong storms on the 4th of July. If you have outdoor plans, camping, boating, barbecues, etc. then you'll want to make sure you have multiple ways to get warning and keep an eye on the radar in the morning and in the evening.

The Storm Prediction Center increased odds for severe weather in Iowa and Illinois to a slight (2 out of 5) risk:

Storms will be likely after 7 am in eastern Iowa and continue to progress east through the morning:

Some of these storms could be strong with gusty winds, very heavy rain and hail. If storms come in later they may be even stronger. If storms arrive sooner that could allow the atmosphere to destabilize and trigger additional strong storms in the afternoon.

The HRRR shows some rain lingering in the early afternoon and not much else happening:

The NAM shows a different scenario with storms developing in the late evening, after 10 pm:

If storms develop in the early evening they could pose a tornado risk, but the primary threats would be damaging winds and hail.

Otherwise it is going to be toasty on the 4th:

And humid... dew points go way up! It's going to be a real summery day:

Tuesday is going to be hot and humid and dry for most of the day. Temperatures will climb into the 90s:

Humidity will also be terribly high:

The heat will be on and heat index values will be in the triple digits:

The heat and storms will remain throughout the week.

Have a fun and safe 4th and stay weather aware!

RK