Omaha, NE / Council Bluffs, IA – A hazy dawn rises over the Missouri River, light glinting off the calm water as fields shimmer with frost. The quiet start hides a pattern in motion — a short stretch of mild, sunny days before a crisp, late-week cool-down sweeps across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
Through Thursday, conditions stay ideal for travel and outdoor cleanup. Skies remain mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s, well above early-November norms. South winds will pick up midweek, gusting near 25 mph at times, adding a touch of warmth and energy to the air.
By Thursday evening, a subtle front begins to slide south, bringing more clouds and a few wind shifts across the I-80 corridor. The true change arrives Friday into Saturday, when cooler northwest winds return, pulling daytime highs down into the 50s and lows into the 30s — cold enough for light frost in rural areas by early Sunday.
No major rainmakers are on the horizon yet, but the atmosphere is hinting at larger temperature swings ahead of Thanksgiving week. Models suggest another front by mid-month could introduce the first light snow chances across parts of the upper Midwest, including far northern Iowa and Minnesota.
For now, residents can expect a calm, mild stretch — perfect for fall chores, travel, or early holiday decorating. But by the weekend, sweaters and jackets return as November reminds the Plains that winter isn’t far behind.
