Iowa sunshine is breaking through the clouds this morning, and Des Moines is already warming fast after a cool 41-degree start. The air feels crisp, but sidewalks are dry and winds remain light across Polk County. This is the beginning of a noticeable February thaw.
Highs climb to 63 degrees today under sunny skies. According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, northwest winds stay light at 3 to 5 mph. Tonight turns partly cloudy with lows near 42 as south winds increase and gust up to 20 mph.
Monday pushes even warmer. Highs reach 66 degrees with mostly sunny skies and gusts near 18 mph. By Tuesday, temperatures surge to 68 degrees. Winds turn breezy from the south-southeast, increasing to 18 mph with gusts up to 28 mph. Lightweight outdoor items could shift in the wind.
A slight 20 percent chance of rain develops Tuesday night before midnight. Wednesday stays sunny but breezy, with highs near 61 degrees. The bigger shift arrives Thursday. A 40 percent chance of rain develops during the day, and by Thursday night rain may mix with or change to snow as temperatures fall toward 25 degrees.
That late-week temperature drop raises a flash freezing concern. Wet pavement on I-35 and I-80 could refreeze quickly after sunset if colder air moves in as expected.
Looking into President’s Day week and the 6–10 day outlook, above-normal temperatures dominate much of the central U.S. Spring vibes are building, but Iowa’s late-winter swings are far from finished.
Five Day Outlook for Des Moines, Iowa:
Today: Sunny, high 63°.
Monday: Mostly sunny, high 66°.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny and breezy, high 68°.
Wednesday: Sunny and breezy, high 61°.
Thursday: Partly sunny with chance of rain, high 51°.
