Iowa begins Christmas morning wrapped in thick gray fog, swallowing taillights and softening streetlights across central parts of the state.
Visibility has dropped to one-quarter mile or less in many areas, prompting a Dense Fog Advisory until 9 a.m. CST, according to the National Weather Service. The fog stretches across Des Moines and surrounding communities, making early holiday travel slow and cautious.
Drivers should expect rapidly changing visibility, especially on I-35, I-80, and rural highways. Light drizzle mixes in at times, keeping pavement damp and slick. Calm winds and saturated air are allowing fog to linger longer than usual.
Conditions gradually improve later this morning. Fog thins toward midday as temperatures climb into the mid-40s, helping visibility recover for afternoon travel. For now, Christmas plans can proceed, but patience is required early.
Looking ahead, post-Christmas travel conditions improve Friday and Saturday. Skies turn mostly sunny Friday, with highs near 52 degrees. Saturday stays mild and cloudy, offering decent driving conditions across much of Iowa.
Attention shifts sharply to Sunday.
Forecast guidance shows strong northwest winds gusting over 35 mph developing Sunday. Temperatures fall quickly, and colder air pours in behind the front. A chance of rain and snow develops before noon, followed by blustery, colder conditions through the day.
While snow amounts remain uncertain, even brief bursts could reduce visibility, especially on open roads and elevated stretches. By Sunday night, lows plunge into the lower teens, signaling a true Winter Weather return.
Monday stays cold and breezy, with highs only in the low 20s. Any leftover moisture may refreeze, raising the risk for black ice during early commutes.
Plan extra time this morning, use headlights in fog, and stay alert. Central Iowa’s Christmas calm gives way quickly to winter’s bite as December travel continues.
