DES MOINES, Iowa — The early-morning air feels mild, the kind of calm that often comes before a shift in the sky. Light fog lingers over the Des Moines River, while the horizon glows through a soft overcast. Iowa wakes up this Sunday on the edge of change — sunshine now, rain later, as a new system sets up for the week ahead.
Today stays partly sunny and dry, a comfortable pause before the next weather shift. Highs reach near 64°F, with light east winds picking up slightly through the day. Travel across central Iowa — along I-80 or I-35 — will be easy, though a few gusts may stir up dust by afternoon.
Monday keeps that pleasant fall rhythm, with sunshine and highs near 60°F, but clouds build late. The first showers arrive late Monday night and continue into Tuesday, when rainfall becomes more widespread. Expect steady rain and slick roads, especially for early commuters. Southeast winds increase to 15–20 mph, pulling in cooler air behind the system.
By Wednesday, scattered showers linger, but most areas dry out by evening. Temperatures slide into the low to mid-50s, signaling a transition toward late fall’s chill.
Looking toward Halloween Friday, models show drier conditions returning — cool and crisp, ideal for trick-or-treat plans, with temperatures likely dipping into the 40s after sunset.
After all, this is Iowa’s late-October pattern at its best: calm, then breezy, then brisk — and a chilly November waiting just beyond.
Five-Day Outlook for Des Moines, IA:
Sun: 64/46 – Partly sunny; light east breeze.
Mon: 60/47 – Sunny early; clouds late.
Tue: 55/42 – Rain likely; breezy.
Wed: 54/39 – Scattered showers; cooler.
Thu: 55/37 – Mostly sunny; crisp.
