Tonight: Mostly clear. Low: 63-66. Wind: S 5-10 mph.

Saturday: Partly cloudy, hot and humid with a 20% chance of a storm. High: 89-94. Wind: W 5-10 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Low: 67-71. Wind: light.

Sunday: Partly cloudy, hot and humid. High: low 90s.

Monday: Partly cloudy, hot and humid. High: upper 90s.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy, hot and humid. High: upper 90s.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy, hot and humid with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: upper 90s.

Thursday: Partly cloudy, hot and humid with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: mid 90s.

Friday: Partly cloudy, hot and humid with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: low 90s.

The last two days have been relatively pleasant with high temperatures close to normal for this time of year. A front will slowly drift south tonight and may trigger a stray storm Saturday. Here is the forecast position of the front early Saturday afternoon.

More burn bans were issued today in central Iowa. Click here to see more details on the burn bans.

We are going to be in for a stretch of hot and humid conditions next week. Highs will be in the mid to upper 90s all week with the heat index in most locations 100+ each day. There will be little to no relief from the heat at night as lows will only drop to the mid 70s by morning. The reason for this heat and humidity is due to another large ridge of high pressure spreading east a bit. We will be under the hottest part of the ridge during the first half of next week. By Thursday, the ridge might flatten out a little bit and a surface cold front may cool temperatures to the low-mid 90s. I know that is not much but, it just may be better than the first half of the week. Wednesday through Friday there is a slight chance of a storm each day. Again don’t get too excited about the rain chances at this point…they are only 20%. Here is how the upper level pattern is forecast for Monday through Friday.

Due to the expected heat and period of time it will last, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Des Moines has issued a HEAT WARNING for central Iowa. The warning part that is in eastern Iowa begins on Sunday. The NWS offices in the Quad Cities and La Crosse will hold off for the moment on issuing any headlines until possibly Saturday or Sunday…depending on the conditions.

Here is the heat index forecast for Tuesday. Most locations and most of the week will have the heat index 100+.

RAGBRAI begins on Sunday in Sioux Center and this year as the riders pedal east it will be one of the hottest ones in a few years.

Posted under Drought, Fire, Forecast Discussion