Des Moines, Iowa – Thick haze from Canadian wildfire smoke will blanket Iowa skies through early Thursday, keeping outdoor air quality in the danger zone.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, an Air Quality Alert remains in effect for all of Iowa through 6 a.m. Thursday, with conditions rated “unhealthy” for sensitive groups — and even healthy individuals may feel the effects after prolonged exposure. Those with asthma, heart conditions, or respiratory illness should avoid outdoor activity and limit physical exertion.
Des Moines and surrounding areas, including roads like Interstate 235 and U.S. Highway 69, could see visibility dip slightly at times due to lingering smoke. The Iowa DNR strongly urges residents to take breaks indoors and refrain from intense outdoor activity until the air clears Thursday morning.
The weekend ahead looks more typical for early June, but it won’t be entirely dry. Light showers may develop Friday morning, with isolated thunderstorms possible Friday night into Saturday, especially across central Iowa. No severe storms are expected, but periods of rain could disrupt outdoor plans.
Sunshine returns Sunday, and early next week looks drier, offering a welcome break from both smoke and showers.
🌤 Five-Day Forecast for Des Moines, IA (June 5–10)
- Thursday: Partly sunny, high near 78°F
- Friday: Slight chance of showers before 7 a.m., then partly sunny, high near 78°F
- Saturday: Chance of storms after 1 p.m., high near 77°F
- Sunday: Sunny, high near 79°F
- Monday: Mostly sunny, high near 76°F
