Des Moines, IA – The cold morning air bites across central Iowa, with temperatures barely reaching 8°F under an overcast sky. The wind is light for now — but changes are coming fast as the next system approaches the Midwest.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, Monday stays mostly cloudy and calm, but by late Tuesday night, winds strengthen sharply, gusting between 25 and 35 mph. That burst of southerly flow will temporarily lift temperatures into the 40s on Tuesday before another cold front barrels in midweek.
By Wednesday, highs drop back to the low 30s as clouds thicken and colder air sweeps in behind the front. Light snow becomes possible Wednesday night into Thursday, with the highest chances across northern and central Iowa. Accumulations look light — generally under an inch — but slick travel conditions could develop early Thursday, especially on untreated roads or rural routes west of I-35.
Thursday also brings a renewed blast of Arctic air, sending temperatures plummeting again by the weekend. Highs Friday and Saturday stay in the upper teens and 20s, with wind chills near zero across open areas.
5-Day Outlook for Des Moines, IA:
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, high 42°F, low 26°F.
- Wednesday: Windy, high 31°F, low 16°F.
- Thursday: Chance of snow, high 27°F, low 11°F.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, high 18°F, low 10°F.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 21°F.
