Des Moines, IA – Central Iowa residents should enjoy a quiet and unseasonably warm stretch of weather before a multi-hazard storm system targets the region on Thursday. Tuesday is off to a beautiful start with a high near 82 degrees and light southwesterly breezes. While the afternoon remains clear, the National Weather Service warns that scattered thunderstorms could develop in far southeast Iowa this evening, potentially bringing gusty winds and small hail to areas well away from the metro.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, a much more significant threat arrives Thursday. Forecasters have placed Western Iowa under a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather, with a Marginal Risk extending across the eastern half of the state. Damaging winds are the primary concern, though large hail and an isolated tornado or two are possible as a cold front sweeps through. Commuters on I-80 and I-35 should prepare for a messy Thursday evening drive, as precipitation chances climb to 80 percent after sunset.
The transition will be blustery even before the rain begins. Thursday will see southerly winds gusting as high as 32 mph, which could create difficult handling for high-profile vehicles on open stretches of highway. Following the storms, temperatures will take a sharp dive; after Thursday’s high of 75, Friday will struggle to reach 68 degrees. This shift marks a return to more seasonal conditions, ending the brief flirtation with summer heat.
Conditions are expected to turn much cooler by Friday morning as the front exits, leaving behind breezy northwest winds. Spotters may be needed on Thursday afternoon to monitor storm development across the state. For now, residents should secure loose outdoor items and stay weather-aware as the Thursday severe window approaches.
Five Day Forecast for Des Moines, IA
- Tuesday: Sunny, High 82
- Wednesday: Sunny, High 81
- Thursday: Showers and Thunderstorms Likely, High 75
- Friday: Mostly Sunny, High 68
- Saturday: Partly Sunny, High 64
