Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Altoona, Iowa Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Altoona weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Altoona, IA
Saturday, July 4 at 4:56 PM
84
°
Overcast
Feels like
90°
Humidity
59%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
12:45 AM
Sunset
3:51 PM
Altoona, IA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastAltoona, IA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 67 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 67°H 84°
Altoona, IA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Light Showers
    76%
    0.98″
    84°67°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    11%
    —
    82°67°-2°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Drizzle
    —
    —
    82°67°0°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Drizzle
    —
    —
    84°64°+2°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    T-storm w/ Hail
    32%
    —
    87°66°+3°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Drizzle
    36%
    —
    81°67°-6°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Drizzle
    17%
    —
    81°66°0°
Altoona, IA
Next 24 hours · Warm now
62°75°88°12p6p12a6anow 84°high 84°low 67°PRECIP %
Altoona, IA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NNW
332° · veering 80°
Direction
NNW
332°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
6
mph
Peak 24h
27
avg 7
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 7 · pk 27 @ 1:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 147SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Altoona, IA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
981.1
-1.1 mb in 3h · falling · 28.97 inHg
Now
981.1
mb
3h
-1.1
mb
12h
+0.6
mb
24h
+1.1
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 979–983
970975980985990-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW982.5978.5981.3
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low still deepening — rough seas, strong wind, persistent rain.
Altoona, IA
Air quality
34
AQI
Good
→0 in 6h

AQI 34 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Ozone at AQI 43 — peak already passed at 1 PM under partly cloudy skies. Levels should ease through evening.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
6.8μg/m³
PM 10Good
8μg/m³
NO₂Good
3μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERModerate
90μg/m³
UV IndexLow
1.6

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 43 — peak already passed at 1 PM under partly cloudy skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 43
UV peak
1.4 at earlier today
Sky at peak
partly cloudy
Projected peak
AQI 43

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 6.8 µg/m³, PM10 at 8.4 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.81
Wind
light
Recent rain
1h in last 6h
Pattern
background

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Altoona, IA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
88%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
66.5mi
UNLIMITED
70 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
21:56 UTC · Altoona, IA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
21:56 UTC · Altoona, IA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Altoona, IA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Altoona, IA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Altoona, IA
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:12 AM
Sunrise
12:45 AM
Daylight
15h 06m
Sunset
3:51 PM
Civil dusk
9:26 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Altoona, IA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
78% illuminated
Moonrise
11:11 PM
Moonset
10:18 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Altoona, IA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Altoona at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 14°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 26 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 50009

16-Day Forecast — Altoona

  1. Sat84°67°76%
  2. Sun82°67°11%
  3. Mon82°67°1%
  4. Tue84°64°1%
  5. Wed87°66°32%
  6. Thu81°67°36%
  7. Fri81°66°17%
  8. Sat76°59°7%
  9. Sun78°59°8%
  10. Mon80°58°6%
  11. Tue81°61°5%
  12. Wed80°57°13%
  13. Thu85°64°17%
  14. Fri88°67°26%
  15. Sat78°63°27%
  16. Sun73°61°23%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Altoona

SPC includes Altoona in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3NONENo severe risk

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Winter settles deep on the plains.January 6–10: Arctic cold grips the heartland.January 11–15: Sunlight returns to the sloped terrain.January 16–20: Ring-necked pheasants call from cover.January 21–25: Deepest cold locks the prairie.January 26–31: Deep winter's pivot point.February 1–5: February's first breath.February 6–10: Subtle shifts in the light.February 11–15: Bald eagles concentrate on open water.February 16–20: Cold rebound before the final thaw.February 21–25: First killdeer return to thawed fields.February 26–28: Winter's veil grows thin.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the land.March 6–10: Hibernators wake to open air.March 11–15: Spring arrives with fury and grace.March 16–20: Sandhill Cranes Rise from the Platte.March 21–25: Equinox — Night and Day Hold Balance.March 26–31: First Green Breaks Through Brown Earth.April 1–5: Thunder Voices Wake the Prairie.April 6–10: Cliff Swallows Return to Mud Nests.April 11–15: Wild Geese Wing North in Massive Flocks.April 16–20: Rainbows Follow Afternoon Storms.April 21–25: Prairie Sedges Push Through Wet Soil.April 26–30: Last Frost Retreats North.May 1–5: Wildflowers Erupt Across the Prairie.May 6–10: Grain Rains Feed the Growing Fields.May 11–15: Seedlings Rise From Frost-Free Soil.May 16–20: Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows.May 21–25: Summer Arrives Early in Wind and Heat.May 26–31: Frogs Begin Their Nightly Chorus.June 1–5: Prairie lightning bugs rise.June 6–10: Earthworms surface after rain.June 11–15: Toward the solstice glow.June 16–20: Lesser ripening, greater heat.June 21–25: Solstice—sun at zenith.June 26–30: Fireflies in the darkening oak.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Warm wind sweeps the tallgrass.July 11–15: Thunder builds every afternoon.July 16–20: Corn tassels and reaches peak.July 21–25: Dog days settle in haze.July 26–31: Katydid chorus erupts at dusk.August 1–5: Great rains sometimes fall.August 6–10: Autumn's edge approaches.August 11–15: Cool wind rises from the north.August 16–20: Late summer wind through tallgrass.August 21–25: Dew settles on the tallgrass.August 26–31: Monarchs gather on prairie.September 1–5: Corn tassels and heavy skies.September 6–10: Purple asters rise on the prairie.September 11–15: Hawks ride thermal currents south.September 16–20: Equinox brings balance to day.September 21–25: Thunder stills across the plains.September 26–30: Snow geese wheel through the flyway.October 1–5: Prairie enters dormancy slowly.October 6–10: Geese gather on autumn waters.October 11–15: First widespread freeze arrives.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Frost deepens through the night.October 26–31: Light rains fall on frozen ground.November 1–5: Tallgrass turns gold.November 6–10: North wind strips the oak.November 11–15: Frost locks the prairie.November 16–20: Open sky grows cold.November 21–25: First snow falls soft.November 26–30: Blizzard drives the herds.December 1–5: Deep winter takes hold.December 6–10: Sky closes cold, winter reigns.December 11–15: Darkness deepens, life retreats.December 16–20: Rivers turn to stone.December 21–25: Solstice — sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

Millions of periodical and annual cicadas emerge, their droning chorus filling the summer heat; the soundtrack of midsummer settles over prairie and wetland.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

In Altoona, July runs warmest near 75°F and January coldest around 21°F, while June is the wettest month (5.4 inches) and January the driest (1.0 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January21°1.0″3
February25°1.0″3
March37°2.0″5
April50°4.0″7
May61°5.3″9
June71°5.4″8
July75°4.2″6
August73°4.7″7
September65°3.6″5
October52°2.7″5
November38°1.9″4
December26°1.4″3

Regional context

In Altoona, NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals put January near 21°F and July near 75°F — a 55°F seasonal arc — with about 37.1 inches of precipitation over 64 rainy or snowy days.

Altoona's rain peaks in summer: June brings 5.4 inches over 7.5 thunderstorm-fed days, while January sees just 1.0 inches across 2.5 days under cooler, drier air. That summer-storm rhythm groups Altoona with places like Bondurant, IA, Pleasant Hill, IA and Mitchellville, IA.

Once Altoona passes mid-April, overnight freezes fade and kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips can be sown. Tomatoes and peppers do best set out two weeks later in Altoona, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. Frost returns to Altoona near mid-November, ending the tender-crop season. A creek-bottom lot in Altoona can lag Altoona's last frost 7-10 days behind a south slope.

Similar climates: Bondurant, IA, Pleasant Hill, IA, Mitchellville, IA, Saylorville, IA, Ankeny, IA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Altoona?
Frost typically leaves Altoona by mid-April and returns to Altoona near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Altoona?
Altoona sees its heaviest rain in June (around 5.4 inches), part of roughly 37 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Altoona?
The warmest stretch in Altoona comes in July, around 75°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Altoona?
On average January is the chilliest month in Altoona, about 21°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Altoona?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-April in Altoona; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Altoona get?
Altoona records around 64 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Altoona?
Altoona sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 21°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Altoona?
Altoona's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Altoona?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Altoona in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Altoona?
Current conditions for Altoona and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Altoona forecast updated?
The Altoona forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Altoona?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Altoona are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Altoona?
The next few days in Altoona's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Altoona's warm-summer humid continental climate in Iowa pairs 21°F Januarys with 75°F Julys, 54°F apart across the seasons.

Across the year, Altoona collects about 37 inches of precipitation over roughly 64 days with measurable rain or snow.

The 54°F gap between Altoona's summer and winter, at 41.6°N, shapes Altoona's frost calendar.

All cities in Iowa →

Des Moines, IA weather →

ZIP codes in Altoona

  • 50009

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.