Severe weather, rising waters, send volunteers home for the day

University of Iowa and City of Iowa City officials have sent volunteers home after the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning this afternoon.

University officials were already planning to wind down volunteer operations this afternoon after building temporary dikes around all facilities that can be protected.

For city volunteers, the West Side Sandbagger Shuttle (commuter lot across from West High School) is suspended for today. If storms are occur, East Side Sandbag Shuttle (Regina High School) will suspend as well. Volunteers are encouraged to call ahead at 887-6202 (24/7) for current status/other area volunteer locations.

At 4 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a thunderstorm warning for, among other locations, Johnson County until 4:45 p.m. Doppler Radar indicates that a storm capable of producing golf-ball size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph could reach North Liberty and Coraville by 4:20 p.m. and Iowa City by 4:30 p.m.