textproduct: Des Moines

KEY MESSAGES

- Warm and dry conditions continue Saturday and Sunday for most of Iowa with highs in the mid to upper 70s.

- Spotty showers possible in northern Iowa on Sunday, along with cooler temperatures in the mid 50s to low 60s.

- Off and on spotty light rain chances through the upcoming week with temperatures in the 60s to low 70s.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 214 AM CDT Sat Oct 24 2026

Scattered clouds cover the area early this morning with light wind from the south-southeast. A surface low sits across North Dakota and Manitoba with trailing trough axis across the plains and attached to the developing southern stream cutoff low. As northern and southern streams separate today the approaching cold front stalls out. This keeps Iowa dry and warm today with precipitation across South Dakota and Nebraska. Winds may occasionally gust near 20 mph, but will be lighter than what occurred on Friday. By later this evening the surface boundary begins to sag into northern Iowa with spotty light showers possible. These continue off and on Sunday as the cloud front stalls out across northern Iowa. This will result in a rather notable temperature gradient across the area with far northern Iowa in the mid 50s while most of the state reaches the 70s.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 238 PM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

On Monday the southern stream closed low will transition into a negatively tilted more open wave and slip north into the midwest. Some CAPE is tucked right in the triple point, but the speed of the system keeps the warm sector out of the state until the overnight hours. CAPE will build on the warm sector of the front as it stalls across the middle of the state. Much of next week will have split weather between the north and southern half. The northern half will have more seasonal temperatures in the low 60s whereas 70 degree highs will be common across the south. Rain and some thunderstorms will remain in the picture. This pattern will remain until the east CONUS ridge is broken down by a stronger system from the west.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1222 PM CDT Sat Oct 24 2026

VFR conditions prevail this TAF period. Winds around 10 to 15 kts are ongoing over the area today, with gusts up to 20 kts possible in northern Iowa. Winds are generally out of the south, although become more southwesterly over northwest Iowa. A front passing southeastward today and tonight will steadily shift winds to more southwesterly then northerly. Expectation is for this to reach KFOD and KMCW, but stall near KDSM and KALO tomorrow morning. Cloud cover will also increase overnight, although low clouds are expected to stay over northwest Iowa and outside TAF sites at this time.

DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.