Des Moines, IA – Warm sunshine and breezy conditions across Iowa this week are setting the stage for a sharp shift later this week. After temperatures push near 80°F today, residents will see a noticeable cool-down beginning late Thursday as a cold front brings rain chances and ends this brief taste of summer.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, highs will stay unseasonably warm through midweek — near 88°F Tuesday and upper 50s to low 60s by Thursday. Breezy south winds will increase Wednesday, gusting up to 30 mph before cooler, drier air arrives.
Thursday marks the turning point. Clouds increase during the afternoon with a 30% chance of rain developing by late evening. The front pushes through by early Friday, leaving highs near 61°F and much cooler air spreading into the weekend.
Saturday will feel more like November, with highs around 55°F and lows dipping into the 30s by nightfall. The first widespread frost risk of the season may arrive early next week as clear skies and calm winds allow for colder overnight readings in rural areas.
To be fair, this change won’t bring snow just yet — but meteorologists say early models hint at a colder pattern taking hold mid-month, possibly bringing Iowa’s first snowflakes before Thanksgiving. Travelers planning early Veterans Day events or weekend getaways should prepare for gusty winds Thursday and cooler, damp conditions to follow.
For now, Iowa’s record warmth is about to give way to reality — a quick return to crisp, jacket weather and a reminder that winter is closing in.
