Mild Days Ahead with Rain Chances Later This Week

Short-Term Forecast (Tonight through Monday Night)

Confidence: High

The next few days will be generally quiet, with milder temperatures moving in as a warm front lifts across the state. Currently, a weak low pressure system over the Dakotas is bringing much milder air into the region. By this evening, the warm front will be northeast of Iowa, and while moisture remains scarce over much of the nation, a narrow ribbon of weak moisture moving northward could bring some light precipitation to the northern parts of the state overnight. However, the moisture is expected to be minimal, and any precipitation that does reach the ground will be very light—just a few flurries with no significant accumulation.

Lows tonight will be mild, ranging from the mid-20s in the northwest to the mid-30s in the southeast. Winds will shift to the northwest tomorrow, bringing slightly cooler air into the region, and cloud cover will likely persist through the day. Highs on Monday will be similar to Sunday, ranging from the low 30s in the north to the mid-40s in the southeast. As Monday evening approaches, skies will remain partly to mostly cloudy, and overnight lows will drop into the upper teens to mid-20s.

Long-Term Forecast (Tuesday through Sunday)

Confidence: Low to Medium

The weather pattern for the remainder of the week will be mild but mostly cloudy. A weak high-pressure system will move over the region early Tuesday, but a trough aloft will keep cloud cover in place. There’s a chance of rain for southeastern Iowa Tuesday afternoon and night as a system passes southeast of the state, but much of Iowa will remain dry with just extensive cloud cover.

Christmas Day itself will be quiet, with continued cloudiness. The next system to watch will arrive Thursday night into Friday, bringing better chances for moisture and a more significant precipitation event. While the system is expected to bring rain, the track of the storm is still somewhat uncertain, and the GFS and EC models differ on its exact path. Regardless, the Thursday-to-Sunday period looks wet, with persistent rain and the possibility of fog or lower visibility, especially in areas where snow cover from earlier in the week begins to melt. This could impact travel, so it’s important to stay updated on the latest weather conditions, particularly for travel across northern and eastern Iowa.

Temperatures for the remainder of the week will stay mild, with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s and 30s, well above the seasonal average.

Aviation Forecast (00Z TAFs through 00Z Tuesday)

Mostly VFR conditions for much of the forecast period, though northern Iowa may experience some MVFR ceilings on Monday. Winds will shift overnight, from the south to the west and then northwest as a low pressure system moves through northern Iowa. Precipitation will remain mostly to the north and northeast, with the best chance for any precipitation staying out of the main forecast area.

Looking Ahead

While the start of the week will be mild and quiet, prepare for wetter conditions toward the end of the week, particularly Thursday through Sunday, with rain and possibly fog or lower visibility. Temperatures will remain above normal, with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s and 30s. Stay informed as we track the development of rain and fog, especially for those planning to travel during the holiday week.