Forecasters are warning residents of Iowa and nearby states to stay alert to the likelihood of an explosive outbreak of severe weather today. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 10-a.m. for Fremont, Mills and Pottawattamie County. National Weather Service Meteorologist Kenny Podrazik, in Johnston, told KJAN News people need to be ready to react quickly, especially if you are planning to be outdoors. Severe storms popped-up early this morning in southeast Nebraska, and were moving toward western Iowa.

Podrazik says there will essentially be two rounds of storms today. The first round will move through this morning, bringing with it the possibility of large hail and heavy rain. After those storms move northeast and clear out by mid-day, that will allow the atmosphere to become even more unstable and set the stage for severe weather this afternoon and tonight. Podrazik says they’re expecting Super Cell tornadoes and large hail. The potential exists for large, long-tracking tornadoes with this event, which forecasters began warning about early Saturday morning.

He says while it’s hard to tell how bad the tornadoes might rate on the “Enhanced Fujita Scale”until after the damage is done, the experts have an idea of what we might expect. Podrazik says the Severe Storms Prediction Center in Norman, OK., does have a “10-percent ‘hatched’ area across much of central and southwest Iowa.” That means there’s a 10-percent chance of an EF-2 to EF-5 tornado within 25 miles of a certain point. An EF-2 consists of 111-to 135-mile per hour winds and causes considerable damage. An EF-5 packs winds of up to 200-miles per hour and cause “Incredible damage.”

He says that while 10% may not seem like a high probability, climatologically speaking, it’s a pretty good chance for Iowa. Podrazik says residents need to stay close to their NOAA Weather Radio, tune-in area TV and/or Radio stations, and be prepared to act if the sirens sound in their community. Other ways to follow the storm watches and warnings are on social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and at www.weather.gov/desmoines.

If severe weather strikes, get to the lowest level of your home or business, underneath a staircase or heavy-duty table. If that’s not available, go to an interior room in the building without windows, get as low as possible and cover yourself with blankets. Opening the windows during a tornado WILL NOT matter as far as equalizing pressure in the home and trying to prevent damage. Seeking shelter should be your first and only priority.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report two arrests early this (Sunday) morning. Just before 3-a.m., Joshua Allen Mills, of Red Oak, was stopped in the 200 block of Nuckols Street in Red Oak. Mills was charged with Possession of drug paraphernalia, and then released.

And, at around 3:15-a.m., deputies called to investigate a report of a subject walking along Highway 48 south of Red Oak, arrested Keaton Athur Dyche, of Shenandoah. Dyche was taken into custody for Public Intoxication. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — At the urging of Gov. Terry Branstad, lawmakers approved a bill last session aimed at making Iowa more attractive to military veterans and help them find jobs. The bill, called Home Base Iowa, exempts federal retirement pay from state income taxes and makes it easier to obtain licenses for civilian jobs based on military training. Branstad says he hopes to sign the bill on Memorial Day at Camp Dodge in Johnston.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Three people were critically injured and a five-month old girl died during a house fire Saturday night, in Council Bluffs. According to Council Bluffs Police Department spokesman, Sgt. Dave Dawson, firefighters and police were called to 747 Mill Street at around 7:55-p.m., for a working house fire. The fire had originally been called-in by two neighbors, who also attempted to get the victims out of the home, but were unsuccessful.

Firefighters entered the home and found four bodies inside. Six-month old Mayci J. Colburn-Lerette, was found dead in the living room. The remaining victims, identified as three-year old Gerad D. Lerette…30-year old Jeremiah D. Lerette, and 70-year old Terese M. Lerette, all of Council Bluffs, were found in various rooms inside the home.

They two adults and child were initially transported to Creighton University Hospital for treatment. They were later transferred to St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, NE, where they were last listed in critical condition.

The Council Bluffs fire marshal and Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the incident.

4:21-p.m. 1-inch diameter hail (quarter-size) 3 miles north of Greenfield in Adair County. (Adair County Emergency Management report)

3:37-p.m. 1-inch diameter hail 1 mile northwest of Gravity, in Taylor County. (Trained spotter)

3:22-p.m. Marble-sized hail in Atlantic (.50″) on 17th Street and near Redwood Drive (southeast part of town). Report from Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees and KJAN GM Jim Field. Earlier report of pea-sized hail on the south side of town.   (Rainfall at KJAN .09″)

Meteorologists are warning residents of the Midwest to stay pay close attention to the forecast for Mother’s Day. The Severe Storms Prediction Center in Norman, OK., says a severe weather outbreak with many tornadoes and very large hail is possible Sunday and Sunday night across parts of the central plains and mid-Missouri valley. Persons celebrating with loved ones and those attending graduations should be aware of a potentially explosive outbreak of severe weather. Much if Iowa, especially southwest and west central parts of the state, fall under the “Moderate” risk category.

Officials with the Iowa Storm Chasing Network say “Of particular concern here in Iowa is the conditions which will favor the development of a few, independent supercells, rather than a more linear bowing structure of storms.  This setup gives us concern that not only are tornadoes possible, but strong, long-track tornadoes as well.”

www.weather.gov/desmoines

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Audubon City Council will meet Monday evening to take care of some administrative matters. Among the items on their agenda, is a Public Hearing on an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances, with regard to the date and time of future City Council meetings. The amendment proposes changing the time to 5:30-p.m. instead of 7-p.m., and from the second and fourth Mondays of each month to the third Wednesday of the month. The hearing will be followed by a roll call vote on the first reading of the amended Ordinance.

The Council will also discuss and vote on a Resolution ordering the acquisition or condemnation, if necessary, of 408 Market Street, which is an old gas station. The hope is that the City can negotiate a purchase price for property not to exceed $10,000, so that the site may be cleaned up using state assistance.

In other business, the Council will act on appointing Jan Roberts as Deputy City Clerk and the appointment of Shelly Burr to the Board of Adjustment. The meeting begins at 7-p.m. Monday, at the Audubon City Hall.

Letter carriers across Iowa will be doing more than delivering the mail today (Saturday) — they’ll also be picking up donations for food pantries. Harley Tapper, the postmaster in Webster City, says the annual Stamp Out Hunger day was started 22 years ago. “It’s the largest (food drive) in the country…and millions of pounds of food get collected and distributed,” Tapper says. Nationwide, letter carriers collected 74.4 million pounds of food items during last year’s Stamp Out Hunger day. Iowans can help the effort by leaving canned food for their mail carrier to pick up.

“We ask for people to put non-perishable food items in a bag by their mailbox or mail receptacle,” Tapper says. Since the National Association of Letter Carrier’s food drive began in 1992, nearly 1.3 billion pounds of food has been collected.

(Radio Iowa)