Warming Trend Continues in Iowa

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The warming trend will continue in Ottumwa, Iowa today, with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s and mostly cloudy skies. Winds will be calmer than yesterday, staying out of the south at 10 to 20 mph. Partly cloudy skies will move in tonight with temperatures falling to the low to mid 40s. The warm weather is expected to continue into the start of the week, with record highs in the mid to upper 80s on Monday, before a series of thunderstorms move in bringing the risk of large hail and damaging winds.

Why it matters

The warming trend and severe weather patterns are indicative of the broader climate changes impacting the Midwest region, with more extreme temperature swings and unpredictable storm systems becoming more common.

The details

Monday will bring record warmth as highs climb to the mid to upper 80s, starting with partly cloudy skies that will increase through the evening. This is ahead of thunderstorms that will move in during the late evening and overnight hours, bringing the risk of large hail and damaging winds. A second round of storms will also move in on Tuesday, with the threat of damaging winds and large hail, and winds picking up to 20 to 30 mph with a northerly flow. Showers will continue into Wednesday and Thursday, with highs falling close to normal in the upper 40s.

• Highs today will be in the upper 60s to low 70s.
• Partly cloudy skies will move in tonight with temperatures falling to the low to mid 40s.
• Monday will bring record warmth as highs climb to the mid to upper 80s.
• Thunderstorms will move in on Monday night and continue into Tuesday, bringing the risk of large hail and damaging winds.
• Showers will continue overnight Wednesday and into Thursday, with highs remaining in the upper 40s.