(Des Moines, IA) -- The State of Iowa is at elevated risk of severe storms tonight, starting about 8:00 p.m. in far Western Iowa, including Council Bluffs, and then spreading east across the state.
The greatest threats with these storms, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Andrew Ansorge is large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. The tornado risk is highest in Western Iowa, but the possibility remains as the storms reach Des Moines area about 9 to 11 p.m.
Ansorge tells iHeartMedia News the storms will likely lose power as they reach Eastern Iowa and the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City area.
There is a much lower risk of severe storms by the time the weather system reaches the Quad Cities area.
Ansorge says a second wave of storms is expected in the Des Moines area around 3:00 a.m.
We'll break in with warning tones and more information if life-threatening weather approaches our area.