Iowa 7-Day Forecast: Highs 92°F to 97°F Through July 20
Today's high is forecast at 92°F
What changed
The National Weather Service forecast for central Iowa lays out a sustained run of heat:
| Day | High (°F) | Night Low (°F) | |---|---|---| | Sunday, Jul 13 (Today) | 92 | — | | Tuesday, Jul 14 | 94 | 71 (Tue night) | | Wednesday, Jul 15 | 95 | 73 (Wed night) | | Thursday, Jul 16 | 96 | 75 (Thu night) | | Friday, Jul 17 | 97 | 75 (Fri night) | | Saturday, Jul 18 | 96 | 73 (Sat night) | | Sunday, Jul 19 | 94 | 71 (Sun night) |
Today's high is forecast at 92°F. From there, temperatures climb to 94°F on Tuesday, 95°F on Wednesday, 96°F on Thursday, and peak at 97°F on Friday before easing slightly to 96°F Saturday and 94°F Sunday. Overnight lows range from 71°F early in the week to 75°F Thursday and Friday nights.
Why it matters
This is a week-long heat event landing right in the window when much of Iowa's corn crop could be pollinating. Sustained daytime highs in the mid-to-upper 90s, combined with overnight lows that don't dip much below the low 70s, may matter for both corn pollination and soybean flowering. Warm nights mean the crop doesn't get much of a recovery period. Fields with limited soil moisture could feel the stress more.
The Friday peak of 97°F is worth watching — that's the hottest day in the forecast. The back half of the week (Thursday through Saturday) stays at 96°F or above during the day with overnight lows of 73–75°F.
What to watch next
- Updated NWS forecasts — Seven-day outlooks shift, so check for any changes to the Friday–Saturday peak or any rain chances that could moderate temperatures.
- Crop condition reports — USDA's weekly Crop Progress report (typically released Monday) may reflect early stress if this heat holds.
- Local soil moisture — Fields that went into this week dry could show stress faster. County-level conditions vary.
Source notes
All temperature data from the U.S. National Weather Service API, Des Moines (DMX) grid point, covering July 13–20, 2026.
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