Des Moines weather: Windy and cooler with high fire danger today A strong north breeze is bringing cooler air and elevated fire risk to Iowa today, with gusts expected to persist through Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for high fire danger, covering central and southwest Iowa, including the Des Moines metro area, through 9 p.m. This warning highlights the combination of dry conditions, strong winds, and low humidity, which create ideal conditions for wildfires to spread quickly. Temperatures are significantly below average for this time of year, with the metro area experiencing morning lows in the 30s. Wind chills dropped into the teens due to the persistent north winds, which are blowing at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph. These winds are keeping temperatures cool, with the Des Moines area seeing highs in the upper 40s, while southern and southwestern Iowa may reach the low 50s. Northern Iowa remains cooler, with highs in the mid-40s. The cold air is expected to linger through Friday night, with overnight lows falling into the mid-20s. This marks the coldest air seen in the state in the past 10 days. However, the winds are set to shift temporarily overnight, allowing for slightly warmer conditions. Despite this, the overall trend remains chilly, with temperatures remaining below average for this season. The warming trend is expected to return on Saturday as south winds pick up, with gusts reaching 25 mph. This will help push temperatures back into the upper 50s and possibly the 60s by Saturday afternoon. Sunday’s forecast shows a gradual increase, with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s. Monday is expected to be the warmest day of the week, with temperatures reaching the upper 70s and possibly the low 80s.#national_weather_service #iowa #red_flag_warning #des_monmouths #des_monroe
