Many areas of the state are drying out after record-breaking rainfall Tuesday. National Weather Service Meteorologist Brad Small says Des Moines recorded 2.46 inches of rain, topping the old record of 1.22 inches on August 18 of 1999.
“The worst hit sections of the state were west of I-35…Adair County had widespread amounts of three inches to spot locations of five to six inches,” Small said. Sections of northern Iowa also reported heavy rainfall totals; 5.5 inches around both Eagle Grove and Fort Dodge, and 4.75 inches in Eldora. Unseasonably cool temperatures and blustery winds have moved in Iowa today and lows tonight will drop into the low 50s.
Small doubts record low temperatures will be recorded overnight. Des Moines record low for this date was 49-degrees, set back in 1950. While highs today may not reach the 70s in many areas of the state, warmer weather arrives tomorrow.
“Normal highs for this time of year are in the mid-80s and we’ll start rebounding over the next several days. By Friday, we’ll be right back up to normal,” Small said. “The next chances of widespread rain look to be, unfortunately, over the weekend — moving from west to east Saturday into Saturday night.”
Many schools will be starting classes next week. The forecast for Monday calls for sunshine and highs in the mid-70s.