Iowa State Fair forecast: Fair’s first few days are missing something — heat

Updated: 11:14 AM CDT Aug 9, 2024

Happy State Fair, everybody, biggest outdoor event we have here in Iowa every year. So weather plays *** big role. Now, once we’re in August, usually we’re *** little bit after the normal hottest time of the year in Iowa. That usually happens in mid to late July. But obviously it’s still warm. Your average highs here in the Des Moines metro area are usually right around the low to middle eighties during that state fair time. Middle of the month though, you know, 11 days, it’s usually about an inch and *** half of rain that we get over the past 30 years. That’s at least the average. Of course, there’s *** lot of variation around that. Let’s talk about some of the extremes that we’ve seen in temperature, particularly during state fair time, at least during the recent decades. Actually, if you go back in state fair history, way back in the day, the state fair used to be held in different places in eastern Iowa for the 1st 25 years of its existence used to be held *** little bit later in the year as well. So we’re going to look at recent decades to take *** look at some of these things here. So for example, warmest state fair ever, 1983 s six days where we had 100 degree temperatures. Those are the only days in history. Actually during the state fair, we’ve had triple digit readings and they’re all during that fair. Hottest number was 108 degrees. We do have cold weather though during the state fair as well. For example, since the state fair has been held in only in August, which has been basically since the 19 sixties, 2004 is our coolest fair. We had eight of the 11 days of the fair that never even got to 80 degrees. Coolest high temperatures. Actually back in the 19 sixties, we only had *** high of 58. That’s pretty cool and we actually don’t have heat all the time either. You look at that bottom bar over the past 60 fairs only about *** third of them. We didn’t actually have *** 90 degree day. So we actually do have *** fair number of fairs that aren’t hot. Now, of course, guess what the humidity you got to factor in that as well. If you’re looking for your hottest heating index during the Iowa State fair, you got to go back to 1951 111 degrees. We had *** heat index of at one point during that fair. It’s been *** couple numbers closer than that though. Uh, for example, back in 2016. We had *** 110 degree heat index. So obviously we get plenty of that periodically wettest fair on record eight and almost 8.5 inches of rain during the 1977 fair. That’s *** ton of moisture. Guess what’s number two? You’ll never guess it’s 1993. The second wettest fair on record either way, whatever happens this year around, get out there. Enjoy it. Get your funnel cakes, your corn dogs and go see the butter cow. The grandstand shows everything like that. Just make sure you check the forecast before you go.

Iowa State Fair forecast: Fair’s first few days are missing something — heat

Updated: 11:14 AM CDT Aug 9, 2024

Major heat is absent for at least the first few days of this year’s Iowa State Fair. Thursday saw a high of 85 in Des Moines and, starting Friday, there will be a stretch of days in the 70s that’ll make perfect conditions on the fairgrounds. Expect a high of 75 on Friday, followed by highs in the upper-70s through Monday. Video above: A history of Iowa State Fair weatherFor comparison, Des Moines’ average high during this part of August is 85 degrees.We’ll see 80s next on Tuesday, with highs in the mid-80s through most of the rest of the fair. Get KCCI’s latest forecast here. Rainfall outlookRainfall doesn’t look to be a major factor in the fair’s early days, either. The overall weather pattern isn’t favorable for rain again until Sunday, when there’s a chance for showers — especially later in the day. There’s a slight chance for rain most of the rest of the fair, but nothing severe is expected.KCCI at the 2024 Iowa State FairYou can see KCCI 8 News live at 4:30 p.m. every weekday during the fair from the MidAmerican Energy Stage.You can also stream KCCI 8’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair for free on the Very Local app. Click here to download Very Local to your phone.See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Major heat is absent for at least the first few days of this year’s Iowa State Fair.

Thursday saw a high of 85 in Des Moines and, starting Friday, there will be a stretch of days in the 70s that’ll make perfect conditions on the fairgrounds.

Expect a high of 75 on Friday, followed by highs in the upper-70s through Monday.

Video above: A history of Iowa State Fair weather

For comparison, Des Moines’ average high during this part of August is 85 degrees.

We’ll see 80s next on Tuesday, with highs in the mid-80s through most of the rest of the fair.

Get KCCI’s latest forecast here.

Rainfall outlook

Rainfall doesn’t look to be a major factor in the fair’s early days, either.

The overall weather pattern isn’t favorable for rain again until Sunday, when there’s a chance for showers — especially later in the day. There’s a slight chance for rain most of the rest of the fair, but nothing severe is expected.

KCCI at the 2024 Iowa State Fair

You can see KCCI 8 News live at 4:30 p.m. every weekday during the fair from the MidAmerican Energy Stage.

You can also stream KCCI 8’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair for free on the Very Local app. Click here to download Very Local to your phone.

See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.