3:41 pm CT

When will severe weather hit Iowa? See timing for Des Moines, Ames and Iowa City

Kate Kealey

Friday’s storm will travel across Iowa from 2 p.m.. to 10 p.m and move from the southwest to northeast. The highest risk for severe weather is between 4 and 10 p.m.

Thunderstorms are expected to reach the Des Moines area between 4 and 6 p.m. and arrive in Ames shortly after.

Iowa City, which is not currently in the severe thunderstorm watch, is expected to see storms arriving between 6 and 8 p.m.

3:33 pm CT

NWS issues severe thunderstorm watch for western, central Iowa

Kate Kealey

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for much of Iowa until 10 p.m. It stretches from Iowa’s southwestern corner up north toward Waterloo and Fort Dodge. Dallas, Polk and Story counties in the Des Moines metro are among the dozens of counties under watch.

The National Weather Service warns storms could develop and produce wind gusts up to 90 mph. A couple of tornadoes are possible along with scattered hail up to the size of a ping pong ball.

The total watch impacts 2.98 million people, 1,267 schools and 112 hospitals, according to the National Weather Service.

2:59 pm CT

Des Moines weather radar: Track storm’s progress across Iowa

Brian Smith

Rain and thunderstorms will lift from southwest Iowa and move across central Iowa on Friday afternoon. Heavy winds are expected during the storms.

Track the storm’s progress with the latest weather radar loop from the National Weather Service in Des Moines.