textproduct: Des Moines

KEY MESSAGES

- Significant heat relief arrives today with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

- Mainly dry conditions prevail through Wednesday.

- Shower and storm chances (60-80%) return by Thursday afternoon.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 257 AM CDT Tue Jul 28 2026

Showers and storms are currently positioned over in eastern/central Nebraska this morning, though they are expected to weaken as they track southeastward. Far southwest Iowa could see an isolated shower or storm overnight into early Tuesday morning, but a passing boundary will work to shunt this complex and the better instability south of the area.

Aside from the slight chance for a stray shower in far southwest Iowa this morning, the main story is the end of the extreme heat for central Iowa. Relief has finally arrived and looks to stick around through much of the week. Highs today will top out in the upper 80s, which is roughly 10 degrees cooler than Monday. Dew points will also fall into the upper 60s to lower 70s, providing a noticeable drop in humidity. While it will still be a warm day, heat indices are only expected to peak in the lower 90s... a welcome change from the 110 degree day we saw yesterday.

A few models try to initiate a spotty shower or storm in far northwest Iowa during peak daytime heating today, but lack of deep moisture should cause any convection to struggle to maintain strength. Temperatures may tick upward slightly on Wednesday as a western ridge shifts eastward, potentially bringing a few locations back to the lower 90s.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 246 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Warm and humid conditions continue through Friday before a pattern change starts to take place. The 500mb ridge that Iowa sits on the periphery on begins to shrink and move to the west. Temperatures through most of the long-term will be cooler, with highs generally in the 80s and overnight lows falling into the 60s across much of the state. The long term looks to be fairly dry as well. There are some lower thunderstorm chances Wednesday night into Thursday as a shortwave is expected to ride overtop of the ridge. Most of the activity should be out west in Nebraska. The placement of the shortwave as it moves through will be better assessed tomorrow and Wednesday. Thursday night, a low develops over the Dakotas and will move to the east. This low will drive higher shower and thunderstorm chances as it moves through, bringing with it a cold front, leading to much lower temperatures than we've seen to start the weekend.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1058 PM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

VFR conditions to prevail through the period. Winds will be light out of the east and will become variable after 00z. Have continued to withhold mention of smoke aside from a SCT250 deck.

DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.