Iowa – Wind scours the Mississippi River corridor this morning, rattling signs and cutting through coats as temperatures struggle to climb. Sidewalks gleam under early sun, but the cold bites hard, especially before midmorning.
According to the National Weather Service Quad Cities office, wind chills dipped as low as 7 degrees below zero near the Highway 20 corridor early today. Actual air temperatures sit near 10 degrees, with gusty northwest winds pushing chills even lower for exposed areas. Travel remains dry, but cold pavement and bridges along I-80, I-74, and U.S. 61 cool rapidly, increasing the risk of slick spots where moisture lingers.
Conditions improve slowly this afternoon. Sunshine helps highs reach the upper 20s, though winds stay brisk. Drivers should watch shaded ramps, river crossings, and parking decks where frost may persist longer than expected.
Tonight, clouds increase as temperatures fall into the lower 20s. Any melting from the afternoon refreezes quickly after sunset. Saturday brings a noticeable warmup, with highs climbing into the low 40s by afternoon and lighter winds improving travel conditions across Davenport, Moline, Rock Island, and Bettendorf.
Sunday cools again but stays dry, with highs near freezing. Early next week trends warmer, with temperatures rising into the 40s and near 50 by Tuesday. Meteorologists are monitoring that shift closely. Late-December warmups can signal pattern changes, and while no snow is expected immediately, models hint at a possible system closer to Christmas. A rain-to-snow changeover cannot be ruled out later next week, especially for holiday travelers.
For now, bundle up, protect exposed skin, and allow extra travel time during cold starts. Winter’s grip remains firm across the Quad Cities.
Five-Day Outlook for the Quad Cities
- Saturday: Becoming sunny, high near 41
- Sunday: Sunny, high near 32
- Monday: Partly sunny, high near 41
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, high near 49
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, milder, high near 52
