ALERT DAY THURSDAY for the Weather First area!

Several counties in northeastern Iowa remain under the severe thunderstorm warning issued earlier today.

A cold front is expected to move through late Thursday afternoon and/or evening, bringing the potential for thunderstorms, some of which could be strong to severe.

The entire Weather First area is under a Level 2 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado or two. Heavy downpours are also likely where stronger thunderstorms develop and move, though flooding is likely to be minimal due to how dry it has been.

Severe thunderstorms are expected to occur between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM, but some thunderstorms could occur an hour or two earlier or later depending on the location and speed of the cold front.

It will be a warm and muggy day with highs in the low to mid 80s, providing plenty of fuel for strong thunderstorms to develop. After the cold front passes, drier air will move in and clear the clouds, leading to sunshine and lower humidity on Friday.

If you have any outdoor activities this afternoon into the evening, make sure you stay up to date with the latest weather forecast and keep an eye on Interactive Radar. We will have all the warnings and alerts here on kaaltv.com, on the radio and on our ABC 6 News app.