Iowa starts the day under a clear sky, but the cold bites hard. Temperatures sit at 27 degrees in Des Moines, with a northwest breeze pushing wind chills near 19. The air feels crisp and sharp against exposed skin.
Sunshine takes over by midday, and highs climb to 51 degrees. That swing from a subfreezing morning to mild afternoon warmth is classic February. Melting will be noticeable on sidewalks and parking lots. After sunset, however, temperatures fall quickly.
Tonight drops to around 34 degrees with increasing clouds. A slight chance of rain develops late. Early Thursday brings a brief window for a rain and snow mix between 7 and 9 a.m. Temperatures hover near the mid-30s, so impacts should remain limited. Still, watch for slick patches during the morning commute along I-35 and I-80.
Skies turn sunnier Thursday afternoon with highs near 53. Friday warms even more, reaching 57 under bright sunshine. Valentine’s Weekend, February 13-15, looks pleasant for midwinter. Saturday reaches 56 with mostly sunny skies. Sunday climbs near 60, a true spring tease for central Iowa.
That warming trend continues into early next week. Highs move into the low 60s Monday and mid-60s by Tuesday. Longer-range outlooks favor temperatures running 10 to 20 degrees above average across much of the central U.S. Rain chances may increase as the pattern turns more active, but no major winter storms are in sight for now.
For today, dress in layers and stay alert for refreezing tonight. February can flip the script fast. Are you ready for this midweek thaw in your neighborhood?
Five Day Outlook for Des Moines, Iowa:
Today: Sunny, high 51.
Thursday: Slight early rain/snow, then mostly sunny, high 53.
Friday: Sunny, high 57.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 56.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 60.
