Iowa 7-Day Forecast: Highs Climb From 71°F Friday to Mid-80s by Midweek
Thursday night (overnight): Low of 51°F
Memorial Day (May 25): High of 86°F
Wednesday (May 27): High of 84°F
What changed
The NWS forecast for central Iowa (Des Moines office, DMX) shows a clear warming trend over the next seven days:
- Thursday night (overnight): Low of 51°F
- Friday (May 22): High of 71°F / Friday night low of 56°F
- Saturday (May 23): High of 75°F / Saturday night low of 53°F
- Sunday (May 24): High of 82°F / Sunday night low of 57°F
- Memorial Day (May 25): High of 86°F / Monday night low of 61°F
- Tuesday (May 26): High of 86°F / Tuesday night low of 63°F
- Wednesday (May 27): High of 84°F / Wednesday night low of 64°F
- Thursday (May 28): High of 84°F
Highs jump about 15 degrees from Friday to Tuesday, then hold in the low-to-mid 80s. Lows warm from the low 50s into the low 60s by midweek.
Why it matters
For corn and soybeans already in the ground, this kind of sustained warmth in late May could help push emergence and early growth. Soil temperatures tend to follow air temps with a short lag, so several days of 80°F-plus highs with lows staying above 50°F could keep soils warm around the clock. That matters for corn stands and soybean germination alike.
The coolest overnight — 51°F Thursday night and 53°F Saturday night — are still well above any frost concern for Iowa at this point in the season.
What to watch next
- Whether the warm stretch holds into early June or a pattern shift brings cooler air back. Updated NWS forecasts later this week will fill in the picture.
- Rainfall alongside this warmth — heat without moisture is a different story than heat with timely rain. Check your local NWS office for precipitation outlooks.
- Soil temperature readings from Iowa State Extension's soil-temp network, which could confirm how quickly fields are responding.
Source notes
All temperature data from the U.S. National Weather Service API, Des Moines (DMX) forecast office, covering central Iowa. Forecast periods run from Thursday night (May 22) through Thursday daytime (May 28).
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