Iowa 7-Day Forecast: Highs From 91°F to 96°F Through July 22

What changed

The Des Moines NWS office (DMX) forecast shows a stretch of sustained heat across central Iowa for the next seven days. Here's the day-by-day breakdown:

| Day | High | Low | |---|---|---| | Today (Wed Jul 16) | 92°F | 73°F tonight | | Friday Jul 17 | 95°F | 75°F | | Saturday Jul 18 | 94°F | 70°F | | Sunday Jul 19 | 91°F | 73°F | | Monday Jul 20 | 96°F | 72°F | | Tuesday Jul 21 | 89°F | 66°F | | Wednesday Jul 22 | 86°F | 66°F |

Monday looks like the hottest day of the stretch at 96°F. Overnight lows stay warm — mostly 70°F to 75°F — through the weekend before dropping to 66°F Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Why it matters

Mid-July heat lands right in the corn pollination window for much of Iowa. Daytime highs in the 90s paired with overnight lows that stay above 70°F mean corn plants get limited nighttime recovery. That combination is worth watching closely, especially on fields that are actively tasseling and silking. The Tuesday–Wednesday cool-down to the upper 80s with lows near 66°F could offer some relief, but it's brief.

For soybeans in the flowering and early pod-set stages, extended heat can affect bloom retention. Keep an eye on soil moisture conditions in your area — heat stress and dry soils together are a tougher combination than heat alone.

What to watch next

• Monday's 96°F high — the peak of this heat stretch. Check your local NWS forecast for any updates as the weekend approaches.
• Whether the midweek cool-down holds or fades — forecasts this far out can shift.
• Rainfall chances — this forecast covers temperatures only. Local precipitation outlooks may matter just as much for crop stress.

Source notes

All temperatures from the U.S. National Weather Service API, Des Moines (DMX) office, covering central Iowa. Forecast retrieved July 16, 2026.