Des Moines, Iowa – A pale red glow seeps through thick morning fog as traffic crawls along wet streets across Polk County this Saturday, one week before Thanksgiving’s peak travel surge. Moist air clings to windshields, and headlights scatter in the mist, creating a muted scene that demands slower speeds on I-80, I-35, and local routes. Travelers should budget extra time this morning and keep low-beam lights on until visibility improves.
According to the National Weather Service Des Moines office, patchy fog lingers through the early morning before clouds take over. Light winds limit clearing, which slows warming and keeps roads damp well into the afternoon. According to Iowa DOT, drivers should watch for shifts in visibility near river valleys and open fields where the fog tends to rebuild. This early-week pattern marks a classic November setup, with mild air trapped near the surface and cooler flow aloft.
Partly sunny conditions return Thursday, but models hint at a weak system arriving late Thursday night into Friday. That system carries a 20 percent chance of light rain, which may coincide with heavier holiday traffic. Amounts stay low, yet even steady drizzle can slow travel across central Iowa. A “Winter Tease” remains possible early next week as colder air gathers in the Northern Plains. To be fair, temperatures in Des Moines remain too warm for meaningful snow, but a brief mixed patch north of Ames cannot be ruled out early Tuesday.
The weekend looks pleasant with highs near 60 Sunday, inviting yard cleanup, downtown errands, or early Christmas decorating before next week’s colder trend begins. After all, November often turns quickly, and early travelers should keep an eye on changing skies.
Five-Day Forecast for Des Moines, IA:
Sat: 47/40 – Fog early; cloudy and cool.
Sun: 60/38 – Sunny; mild and pleasant.
Mon: 58/37 – Mostly sunny; light breeze.
Tue: 52/34 – Cloudy; slight mixed patch north.
Wed: 50/32 – Cool; gradual clearing.
