DES MOINES, IA – Frost sparkles across windshields this morning as the December chill tightens its grip on central Iowa. The thermometer reads just 18°, but brisk air and calm skies create a bone-deep stillness across the city. The sunshine may return, but relief from the cold won’t come soon.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, temperatures will remain locked in a deep freeze through midweek, with highs near 30° and lows dropping into the single digits. The region could see a brief burst of light snow late Tuesday into Wednesday, mainly north of Interstate 80.
Drivers should remain alert — even minor flurries could create slick spots and “flash freeze” conditions as wet pavement re-freezes by nightfall. Gusty northwest winds Wednesday may push wind chills below zero across much of the metro.
Meteorologists say this Arctic air mass will linger through the weekend, keeping highs in the upper 20s and lows near or below zero. Dry skies dominate most of the week, but models hint at a possible system early next week that could bring another round of light snow to start December’s second weekend.
Five-Day Outlook (Des Moines, IA)
- Today: Mostly sunny, high 30°, low 26°.
- Wednesday: Slight snow chance, high 30°, low -11°.
- Thursday: Sunny, high 14°, low 4°.
- Friday: Partly sunny, high 30°, low 19°.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high 29°.
