Iowa 7-Day Forecast: Highs Climbing From 86°F to 95°F Through July 14

What changed

The National Weather Service forecast for central Iowa (Des Moines area) shows a warming trend building through the week:

| Day | High | Overnight Low | |---|---|---| | Today (Tue, Jul 7) | 88°F | 69°F | | Wednesday, Jul 8 | 91°F | 70°F | | Thursday, Jul 9 | 86°F | 68°F | | Friday, Jul 10 | 86°F | 67°F | | Saturday, Jul 11 | 88°F | 68°F | | Sunday, Jul 12 | 91°F | 71°F | | Monday, Jul 13 | 95°F | 73°F |

The hottest day in the forecast is Monday at 95°F. Monday night's low of 73°F is the warmest overnight reading in the period, which limits the hours crops have to recover from daytime heat.

Why it matters

Mid-July is prime pollination time for much of Iowa's corn crop. Daytime highs in the low-to-mid 90s combined with overnight lows above 70°F can add up to heat stress on pollinating corn. The key number to watch is that Monday night low of 73°F — warm nights reduce the plant's ability to cool down and can affect kernel set.

For soybeans, this heat window falls during vegetative growth for most Iowa fields. Soybeans are generally more tolerant at this stage, but sustained heat with limited moisture could still matter.

This forecast covers one NWS grid point near Des Moines. Conditions across Iowa will vary — check your local NWS office for site-specific numbers.

What to watch next

• Updated forecasts later this week. The Monday 95°F high is six days out and could shift. Worth watching whether that number holds or moves higher.
• Overnight lows. If lows stay above 70°F for several consecutive nights, the cumulative effect on pollinating corn could be more significant.
• Rainfall. This temperature data doesn't include precipitation. Heat combined with dry conditions is a different story than heat with adequate soil moisture.

Source notes

All temperature data from the U.S. National Weather Service API, Des Moines (DMX) grid point 73,49 forecast. Data accessed July 7, 2026.