09/06/2026
Quite a difference in the weather across Iowa today as we head through the afternoon and evening.
Western Iowa will have the greatest opportunity for showers and thunderstorms, especially across northwestern Iowa. Areas around Spencer, Storm Lake and Le Mars have the highest rain chances, while scattered thunderstorms will also be possible farther south toward Sioux City, Council Bluffs and Red Oak. Not everyone in western Iowa will see rain, but this is clearly the portion of the state with the greatest chance for thunderstorms today.
Temperatures across western Iowa will vary quite a bit depending on clouds and thunderstorms. Northwestern Iowa should generally remain in the lower 80s, while areas farther southwest could still climb into the upper 80s and lower 90s where more sunshine develops.
Central Iowa will be more of a transition zone. Des Moines and Pella should see periods of sunshine with highs in the middle 80s, while areas around Ames, Fort Dodge and Winterset have at least some opportunity for a shower or thunderstorm. Marshalltown and Mason City should see more cloud cover at times, with temperatures generally in the lower to middle 80s.
Across eastern Iowa, the forecast is considerably quieter. Muscatine, Davenport and Dubuque are looking partly sunny, while Iowa City and Cedar Rapids may see a little more cloud cover. Most of eastern Iowa should remain dry through much of the day, with afternoon temperatures generally reaching the lower to middle 80s. Burlington should reach around 85, with Keokuk among the warmer locations near 87.
For Muscatine, I’m expecting a partly sunny day with a high around 84.
So the overall setup today is pretty straightforward: the farther west you travel across Iowa, the greater the opportunity for thunderstorms, while eastern Iowa stays much quieter with a mixture of sunshine and clouds.
Forecast is sponsored by Dittmer Tree Service
