It’s a very unusual situation developing in the Plains as a small but intense storm develops today through tonight. I am using the social media meteorological phase “Landcane” to explain this little but powerful storm.

The airmass across the Plains is warm and humid and that airmass will feed into the storm helping to produce a concentrated area of very intense rainfall and bands of thunderstorms.

Using the HRRR model as a guide to helping to pinpoint the area of heaviest rains, it appears that parts of Iowa and Nebraska will see over 6 inches of rain that could lead to dangerous flooding given the already soggy conditions. For example, Sioux, City, IA is already 163% of normal rainfall for the month of June. Any additional rain, especially what is shown on the model will cause extensive flooding. Flash flood watches are already out for much of Iowa into Nebraska.

Along with the rainfall, strong winds will occur with with gusts 30 mph to 50 mph behind the storm.

Thunderstorms, developing in bands, will produce sudden intense rainfall and strong winds across parts of Iowa, northern Missouri into Illinois. Some of the storms will be severe.

The storm peak in intensity Thursday morning then weaken some during the day as is loop around and heads southeast. Eventually the storm will bring rain to a wide area from the Ohio valley, Great Lakes to the Northeast Friday into the Weekend.