Loess Hills, IA

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An Example of the Thin Ridge That Forms the "Spine" of the Loess Hills.
An Example of the Thin Ridge That Forms the "Spine" of the Loess Hills. - BillyBlueJay, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Today’s Forecast:

Overnight:A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 4am. Mostly cloudy. Low around 63, with temperatures rising to around 65 overnight. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday:Patchy fog between 7am and 10am. Partly sunny. High near 74, with temperatures falling to around 72 in the afternoon. East southeast wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night:Mostly cloudy. Low around 61, with temperatures rising to around 64 overnight. East southeast wind around 3 mph.
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Today’s Report:

🥾 Hiking

Fair
  65 /100

Fair for hiking. High near 73°F. Low rain risk (14%). Slight chance of thunderstorms.

  • Temp: Favorable conditions
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Marginal weather factor
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Excellent for hiking. High near 71°F. Low rain risk (3%). Light wind (9 mph).

🚲 Biking

Fair
  65 /100

Fair for biking. High near 73°F. Low rain risk (14%). Slight chance of thunderstorms.

  • Temp: Favorable conditions
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Marginal weather factor
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Excellent for biking. High near 71°F. Low rain risk (3%). Light wind (9 mph).

⛺ Camping

Fair
  65 /100

Fair for camping. High near 73°F. Low rain risk (14%). Slight chance of thunderstorms.

  • Temp: Favorable conditions
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Marginal weather factor
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Excellent for camping. High near 71°F. Low rain risk (3%). Light wind (9 mph).

About Loess Hills

Loess Hills is a broad western Iowa destination for steep prairie ridges, woodland valleys, scenic-byway drives, public preserves, trails, and campgrounds.

Make the Most of a Loess Hills Day

Choose one or two preserves rather than underestimating driving distances along the byway. Ridge exposure makes wind, heat, lightning, and dry vegetation central planning factors.

Weather Tips for Loess Hills

  • For Loess Hills, check temperature, wind, rain timing, and thunderstorm potential before choosing the day’s route.
  • If thunder is possible, complete exposed overlooks, prairie routes, golf, and event grounds early and keep shelter close.
  • Check overnight lows, wet ground, drainage, and the nearest substantial shelter before settling into camp.
  • Open-country wind and summer humidity can make biking and hiking feel harder than the mileage suggests.

Nearby Towns and Areas

This page can also be useful when planning outdoor time near:

  • Loess Hills National Scenic Byway
  • Turin
  • Moorhead
  • Pisgah
  • Little Sioux
  • Hitchcock Nature Center
  • Broken Kettle Grasslands
  • Preparation Canyon

Plan Around the Conditions

Use the forecast to choose the best version of a Loess Hills day. Match wind, storm timing, water levels, trail surfaces, road conditions, and temperature to the activity that gives your group the safest and most comfortable plan.

7-Day Forecast for Loess Hills

Sun 🌫
74° 61°
14%
Mon ☁
72° 61°
3%
Tue ⛈
69° 61°
96%
Wed 🌧
71° 59°
60%
Thu 🌧
68° 53°
50%
Fri 🌧
66° 54°
24%
Sat ⛅
66° --°
12%

7-Day High Temperature Trend

74° Sun 72° Mon 69° Tue 71° Wed 68° Thu 66° Fri 66° Sat

7-Day Low Temperature Trend

61° Sun 61° Mon 61° Tue 59° Wed 53° Thu 54° Fri 50° Sat

📊 7-Day Outdoor Outlook

Good Fair Poor 100 Sun 100 Mon 21 Tue 94 Wed 95 Thu 100 Fri 100 Sat
Forecast data from the National Weather Service  |  Last Updated: September 27, 2026 12:59 am CDT

Loess Hills Weather by Season

Winter

Winter at Loess Hills brings cold, wind chill, snow, and freeze-thaw ice. Shaded paths, stairs, bridges, and rural roads may stay slick after sunny areas clear. Check road and facility status before a long drive.

Spring

Spring around Loess Hills is changeable, with rain, muddy surfaces, rising waterways, and severe thunderstorms. Give natural-surface trails time to drain after heavy rain. Lightning, hail, and strong wind can arrive well ahead of a rain core.

Summer

Summer days at Loess Hills are often warm and humid, with strong sun, mosquitoes, and afternoon thunderstorm potential. Earlier starts make exposed routes and event grounds more comfortable. Ventilate tents and keep a dry shelter plan for overnight storms.

Fall

Fall is often one of the most comfortable seasons at Loess Hills, with lower humidity, cooler nights, and changing color. Dry spells can produce excellent trail and cycling conditions. Watch for harvest traffic on rural roads and hunting activity near public lands.

Key Climate Data Points

  • Annual average temperature: around 51–53°F based on the surrounding Iowa region.
  • Annual snowfall: generally 25–30 inches, with meaningful year-to-year variation.
  • Warmest months: June through August are typically warmest, with July often bringing the highest heat and humidity.
  • Coolest months: December through February are coldest, and January commonly has the strongest winter chill.
  • Wettest season: late spring and early summer usually brings the greatest rainfall and thunderstorm frequency.
  • Driest season: winter is normally driest, although snow, ice, and frozen ground still affect plans.
  • Best outdoor window: April through October, especially spring and fall for ridge hiking.