Des Moines, IA — An unusual temperature pattern unfolded in Des Moines heading into the weekend before Christmas, as the city recorded both its daily low and daily high outside of normal daytime hours.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, Friday, December 19, featured a rare setup in which the daily low temperature of 10 degrees occurred early Friday morning, before sunrise. The daily high of 34 degrees was then reached not during the afternoon, but at the midnight observation late Friday night.
Meteorologists say it is uncommon for a single calendar day to record both the low and high temperature during overnight hours. Typically, lows occur near sunrise and highs during the afternoon. In this case, warming conditions arrived late in the day as weather patterns shifted, allowing temperatures to climb steadily into the night.
The National Weather Service noted that the unusual timing was the result of changing air masses and increasing southerly flow, which helped temperatures rise after sunset instead of falling. While the temperature range itself was not extreme for December, the timing of the readings made the day notable.
Despite the odd temperature behavior, weather impacts across Des Moines and central Iowa remained minimal. Skies were generally quiet, and no significant precipitation or travel disruptions were reported.
Looking ahead to the pre-Christmas weekend, forecasters expect seasonable winter conditions to continue across central Iowa. Temperatures are expected to remain near or slightly above average for late December, with relatively light winds and dry conditions dominating the forecast.
The calmer weather should be welcome news for residents with holiday travel or shopping plans, as no major storms are currently expected through the weekend.
The National Weather Service encourages residents to stay updated on forecasts as Christmas week approaches, noting that temperature swings are common this time of year even if their timing is not.
