Iowa drivers wake to glowing brake lights and blurred taillights this morning as dense fog blankets the Quad Cities region. Moist air clings low to the ground, turning familiar routes into slow-moving corridors and making early travel feel uneasy.
According to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect through mid-morning for eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois. Visibility may drop to a quarter mile or less, especially along I-80, I-74, and river-adjacent roadways. Patchy drizzle adds slick spots to bridges and ramps.
Fog gradually thins late this morning, though pockets may linger longer in rural areas. Temperatures stay mild for late December, topping out near 50 degrees. That warmth offers only a short pause before the first full weekend of winter turns more active.
Saturday brings patchy fog early, then mostly cloudy skies. Travel conditions improve during the day, making it a better window for post-holiday trips. By Saturday night, clouds thicken and rain chances increase after midnight.
Sunday marks a clear shift. Rain becomes more likely during the afternoon as a cold front approaches. Winds turn northwest and strengthen quickly, with gusts nearing 40 to 45 mph by late day. Those winds usher in colder air and sharply reduced wind chills.
Sunday night into Monday, rain may briefly mix with snow before colder air fully settles in. Any moisture left on roads could freeze, raising black ice concerns during early morning travel. Blustery conditions continue Monday, making it feel much colder than the thermometer suggests.
Looking toward New Year’s Eve on Wednesday, colder air remains locked in across the Quad Cities. While major storms are not yet certain, winter conditions appear firmly in place as 2026 approaches.
Driving today or traveling this weekend? Let us know what conditions you’re seeing near you.
Five Day Outlook for the Quad Cities (Davenport–Moline Area)
• Today: Dense fog early, drizzle possible, high near 50
• Saturday: Patchy fog early, mostly cloudy, high near 51
• Sunday: Rain, windy late, high near 52
• Monday: Blustery and colder, chance of snow early, high near 24
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, cold, high near 33
