Daily brief · United States
Record from Oct 20, 2026. Back to current conditions

Des Moines Oct 20, 2026

Review recorded on Oct 21, 2026, 6:40 AM UTC.

Weather-risk signals · signal engine (Open-Meteo)

A heavy rain day could hit

medium

A single day could bring around 9.2mm of rain on 2026-10-26 — close to the local heavy-rain reference for this time of year (around 15.8mm in a day). This comparison adds historical context; it does not assess impacts on a specific activity.

Reading evidence

Reading calculated Oct 20, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC.

Valid until Oct 25, 2026, 12:03 PM UTC.

Source: Open-Meteo.

Forecast period: 2026-10-20 to 2026-10-26.

Forecast source: open-meteo.

Years with usable data: 10 of 10.

Historical dataset: era5.

Samples: 150.

Method: heavy-rain-percentile-max-v1-2026-09-22.

outdoor events · drainage operators · agriculture · grain farmers

Frost is possible this week

active

Lows could dip to about -0.5°C on 2026-10-30 — under the 2°C frost line that damages buds and tender leaves. Orchards, gardens, and tender crops may face damage.

Reading evidence

Reading calculated Oct 20, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC.

Valid until Oct 23, 2026, 12:02 AM UTC.

Source: Open-Meteo.

grain farmers

A dry stretch is forming

medium

6 dry days in a row could start 2026-10-20. A dry day here means 1mm of rain or less; the important number is the length of the run. Crops in flowering or fruit-set windows are most exposed.

Reading evidence

Reading calculated Oct 20, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC.

Valid until Oct 25, 2026, 12:02 AM UTC.

Source: Open-Meteo.

agriculture · grain farmers

A cold stretch is on the way

high

9 days in a row could stay below 15°C, starting 2026-10-25. Longer than this region usually sees at this time of year. Crops in flowering, livestock, and rooftop venues may be exposed.

Reading evidence

Reading calculated Oct 20, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC.

Valid until Oct 23, 2026, 12:02 AM UTC.

Source: Open-Meteo.

crop growers · outdoor hospitality · grain farmers

Heat is building above the usual range

low

Daily highs may average around 21.5°C over the next week — above the 19°C typical for this time of year. Outdoor work, livestock, and crops in flowering can come under stress.

Reading evidence

Reading calculated Oct 20, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC.

Valid until Oct 27, 2026, 6:02 AM UTC.

Source: Open-Meteo.

Forecast period: 2026-10-20 to 2026-10-26.

Forecast source: open-meteo.

Years with usable data: 10 of 10.

Historical dataset: era5.

Samples: 150.

Method: heat-stress-avg-v1-2026-09-22.

outdoor farmers · tourism · energy demand · grain farmers

Recorded daily weather · Open-Meteo

Rain 0 mmMax 21.8 °CMin 5 °CGusts 22 km/h

Comparison unavailable for this edition.

What people were seeing · community field reports

No field observations were posted for this place on Oct 20, 2026.