textproduct: Des Moines

KEY MESSAGES

- Breezy northwest winds decrease this evening into Friday, with dry and chilly conditions expected.

- The cooler trend continues through the weekend, with highs in the upper 30s to 40s and lows in the upper teens to 20s, while remaining dry.

- Gradual warming with dry conditions are expected through the first half of the upcoming work week through the 50s, followed with returning chances for precipitation late Wednesday or Thursday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 218 PM CST Thu Nov 12 2026

Chilly and breezy conditions have settled across the forecast area today, with cold air advection continuing to stream into the region. Surface observations early this afternoon are reporting temperatures in the upper 30s to mid 40s, warmest south, while northwest winds range between 15-25 mph. A look at the larger synoptic features shows the large trough over Ontario/Quebec extending down into the Great Lakes through the northeastern CONUS, while further west, the upper ridge continues to build over the Northwest Pacific, with Iowa remaining in strong north/northwest flow aloft. Further analysis of satellite imagery is showing cloud cover increasing across central Iowa, given the presence of moisture in the low levels and elevated instability forming stratocumulus. While winds will slowly subside into this evening, patchy cloud cover is expected to remain more prevalent this evening over roughly the eastern half of the state where thicker cloud cover is present into eastern Minnesota and Wisconsin, while clearing is occurring further west and north. Temperatures overnight tonight, despite areas of cloud cover will be cooler than last night across Central Iowa, with values expected in the low 20s to the north and in the upper 20s south. Despite one more weak wave descending the western Great Lakes into early Friday, a large area of elongated Canadian surface high pressure will drop down into the Central Plains, allowing for dry and chilly conditions to remain through the end of the work week. High temperatures will be a touch cooler Friday, with values only expected in the upper 30s to low 40s.

The start of the weekend will feature very chilly conditions, as clear skies under high pressure will lead to very efficient radiational cooling. Morning lows Saturday given these conditions are expected to read into the upper teens north and in the low 20s over central and southern Iowa. Sunny skies and a gradual shift in light winds turning more southeasterly into the afternoon will allow for some warming to occur, though remaining rather chilly, as highs reach into the low to mid 40s. The large upper trough to the east will depart further away from the region as the western ridge pushes closer into Iowa, leading to reinforced surface high pressure through the remainder of the weekend. After another brisk morning Sunday in the low to mid 20s Sunday morning, low level flow becoming more southwesterly will push somewhat warmer air into the state, with highs a touch warmer in the mid to upper 40s.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 218 PM CST Thu Nov 12 2026

The weather pattern through the upcoming early to mid work week favors a continued dry trend as the upper ridge moves over the Central US, and a gradual return to above average temperatures as values increase into the upper 40s to low 50s Monday, and in the mid to upper 50s Tuesday and Wednesday as surface winds remain generally out of the south. A shift back to larger-scale troughing returns through Wednesday over the western CONUS, with a mid-level shortwave and associated surface low lifting northeast across the Four Corners region through the Dakotas per long range guidance, leading to a return of moisture and forcing near or in Iowa that indicates the next potential for precipitation. With this being several days out though, slight changes in track and strength are certainly possible, so will have to watch trends through the next several forecast updates.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 540 PM CST Thu Nov 12 2026

Mostly VFR conditions are expected through this TAF period. A stratocumulus deck with sporadic MVFR ceilings is slowly fading out across Iowa with MVFR observations across northern and eastern TAF sites. TEMPO mentions of MVFR ceilings were introduced at KALO and KDSM for the next couple of hours while clouds should clear out of KMCW and KFOD shortly after 00z. No MVFR mentions were made at KOTM due to lower confidence. Statewide, winds will be light and from the north through the entire TAF period, generally under 10kts. Once the stratus clears, skies should remain clear through much of tomorrow.

DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.