The calendar shows it’s early May, but it’ll feel a bit like July or August the next couple days. National Weather Service Meteorologist Brad Small says dew points are rising along with temperatures. Normal highs this time of year are in the 70s, but they’ll reach near 90 in parts of the state today and the low 90s tomorrow.
“The heat today is going to be a tremendous change from what people have experienced…this is going to be very summer-like and people need to prepare for the heat,” Small said. Temperatures reaching the 90s in Iowa in early May is unusual, but not unprecedented, according to Small.
“We’re getting close to some records, our record high for today is 94. So, it is unusual, but it’s not record setting,” Small said. The record high of 94 for this date was set in 1895 in Des Moines. More seasonal temps will return later in the week with highs back in the 60s and 70s by Thursday.
There’s also a chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.