DAVENPORT, Iowa – The first true taste of late fall arrives across the Quad Cities region this week, with a sharp chill and widespread frost expected before sunrise Thursday. Fields, rooftops, and parked cars may glisten with frost by dawn as calm winds and clear skies combine for a cold start to the day.
According to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, a Frost Advisory is in effect from midnight through 9 a.m. Thursday for much of eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois, and northeast Missouri. Temperatures could dip to near 30°F in rural valleys, with frost likely even in urban edges around Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island. A few spots north of the Quad Cities — near Galena, Clinton, and Cedar Rapids — could flirt with the season’s first freeze by early Friday morning.
Residents should take quick precautions: cover or bring in tender plants, protect outdoor spigots, and allow time to scrape frost from windshields before morning travel. Light frost can also make bridges and overpasses along I-80 and I-74 briefly slick. Farmers and gardeners should assume this frost marks the close of the growing season.
By Friday, sunshine returns with a slow rebound into the 60s. The weekend looks calm and seasonable, with highs near 60°F and plenty of dry hours for outdoor cleanup or early Halloween setup. To be fair, no snow is on the Midwest radar yet — but this cold snap feels like the quiet prelude to winter. Across the region, everyone’s watching for the first flake, and this week’s frost is a strong reminder that it’s coming soon.
Five-Day Forecast for Quad Cities, IA–IL:
Wed: 55/33 – Breezy; clouds decreasing late.
Thu: 57/34 – Clear and frosty early; sunny and cool.
Fri: 60/40 – Patchy frost early; mild afternoon.
Sat: 62/43 – Partly sunny; crisp fall air.
Sun: 66/46 – Pleasant and dry; ideal for outdoor plans.
