Des Moines, Iowa – Thick smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to smother much of Iowa, prompting an Air Quality Alert through Friday night for all 99 counties, including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Sioux City.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the National Weather Service in Des Moines, particulate levels are high enough to pose health risks to sensitive groups—particularly those with respiratory or heart conditions, children, seniors, and people working outdoors. Visibility in Des Moines dropped to 5 miles overnight, with similar hazy conditions reported in Waterloo, Ames, and Council Bluffs.
The Department of Natural Resources is urging residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activity and limit time outside, especially during the afternoon and evening when smoke concentrations peak. Conditions are expected to improve gradually this weekend, but air quality may remain poor in some central and eastern parts of the state through Saturday morning.
A Hazardous Weather Outlook also warns that the smoke could persist into early next week. Thunderstorms are likely to return to western Iowa Sunday into Monday, though no severe weather is expected at this time.
More updates may follow if smoke levels remain elevated or new health advisories are issued.
🌤 Five-Day Outlook for Des Moines
- Today: Areas of smoke, high near 78°F. East wind 3–7 mph
- Tonight: Smoke lingers, low around 58°F. Calm winds
- Saturday: Partly sunny, high near 77°F. Light southeast breeze
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, high near 78°F
- Monday: Mostly sunny, high near 79°F. Smoke may return briefly
- Tuesday: Sunny and warmer, high near 84°F
