Iowa 7-Day Forecast: Highs Climb From 87°F to 94°F Through July 16

What changed

The National Weather Service forecast for central Iowa shows a clear upward trend in daytime highs over the next seven days:

• Today (Fri, July 10): High of 87°F
• Tonight: Low of 68°F
• Saturday, July 11: High of 88°F
• Sunday, July 12: High of 89°F
• Monday, July 13: High of 91°F
• Tuesday, July 14: High of 93°F
• Wednesday, July 15: High of 94°F
• Thursday, July 16: High of 94°F

That's a 7-degree climb from Friday to mid-week, with the hottest days landing Wednesday and Thursday.

Why it matters

Mid-July heat in the low-to-mid 90s lines up with corn pollination across much of Iowa. Sustained highs above 90°F—especially if overnight lows stay warm enough to limit plant recovery—could affect pollen viability and silk receptiveness. Soybeans in the vegetative stage generally handle heat better, but moisture demand goes up fast when temps stay in this range.

The overnight low of 68°F tonight is moderate, but it's worth watching whether nighttime temps creep higher as the week progresses. Warm nights during pollination can compound daytime heat stress.

What to watch next

• Updated NWS forecasts later this week for any shift in the Thursday–Friday outlook. A break back below 90°F would ease pressure.
• Overnight lows mid-week. If those push into the mid-70s, heat stress risk goes up.
• Rainfall chances. The temperature data here doesn't include precipitation—check your local NWS office for rain odds, which could offset some heat impact.
• Your own fields. Corn at or near tassel is the most sensitive. Timing varies field to field.

Source notes

All temperature data from the U.S. National Weather Service API, Des Moines (DMX) grid point forecast. This is a single-point forecast and conditions may vary across the state.