Iowa 7-Day Forecast: 76°F Friday, Then Heat Surge to 96°F Sunday–Monday

What changed

Today (Wednesday, July 23) sits at 81°F with a cool 63°F tonight. Friday drops to 76°F — the week's low daytime reading — with a 65°F overnight. Then the ramp begins:

| Day | High | Overnight Low | |---|---|---| | Friday (Jul 24) | 76°F | 65°F | | Saturday (Jul 25) | 90°F | 71°F | | Sunday (Jul 26) | 96°F | 76°F | | Monday (Jul 27) | 96°F | 72°F | | Tuesday (Jul 28) | 92°F | 70°F | | Wednesday (Jul 29) | 91°F | 70°F |

Saturday jumps to 90°F, and Sunday–Monday hit 96°F — a 20-degree swing from Friday's high in just two days. Overnight lows on Sunday night reach 76°F, the warmest night in the forecast.

Why it matters

Late-July heat in the mid-90s lands right when many Iowa corn fields are at or near pollination and soybeans are moving through reproductive stages. Two consecutive days at 96°F with overnight lows in the 70s mean plants get limited nighttime cooling. That combination could affect pollination success and pod set more than a single hot afternoon would. The drop back to the low 90s by Tuesday and Wednesday offers some relief, but the Sunday–Monday window is the stretch worth watching closely.

What to watch next

• Updated NWS forecasts over the next 48 hours — a shift of even a few degrees at the 96°F level could change the stress picture.
• Overnight lows — if Sunday night stays at or above 76°F, heat stress accumulates faster. If lows drop, plants get more recovery time.
• Local rainfall chances — the temperature data here doesn't include precipitation; check your local NWS office for rain timing that could moderate afternoon highs.

Source notes

All temperatures from the U.S. National Weather Service API, Des Moines (DMX) grid point 73,49. Forecast retrieved July 23, 2026. These are point forecasts for central Iowa; conditions may vary across the state.