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Carter Lake, Iowa Weather

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

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

Carter Lake, IA
Saturday, July 4 at 4:30 PM
83
°
Overcast
Feels like
90°
Humidity
62%
Wind
3 mph
Sunrise
12:56 AM
Sunset
4:00 PM
Carter Lake, IA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastCarter Lake, IA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 68 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 68°H 91°
Carter Lake, IA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    72%
    —
    83°70°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Heavy Showers
    —
    0.33″
    91°68°+8°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    —
    —
    85°69°-6°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    87°67°+2°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Drizzle
    40%
    —
    92°69°+5°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Showers
    40%
    0.07″
    84°67°-8°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Showers
    21%
    0.13″
    83°65°-1°
Carter Lake, IA
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°60°80°100°12p6p12a6anow 82°high 91°low 68°
Carter Lake, IA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WSW
240° · veering 48°
Direction
WSW
240°
Sustained
3
mph
Gust
5
mph
Peak 24h
20
avg 5
Beaufort · 1 · LIGHT AIR
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 5 · pk 20 @ 9:00a
010MPHB1B2B3B4-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 114SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Carter Lake, IA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
980.8
+0.2 mb in 3h · steady · 28.96 inHg
Now
980.8
mb
3h
+0.2
mb
12h
+3.3
mb
24h
+1.5
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 977–982
970975980985990-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW982.1976.7980.8
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Carter Lake, IA
Air quality
39
AQI
Good
→-1 in 6h

AQI 39 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Ozone at AQI 49 — peak already passed at 1 PM under overcast 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
7.4μg/m³
PM 10Good
9μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
103μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
4.4

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 49 — peak already passed at 1 PM under overcast skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 49
UV peak
4.0 at earlier today
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 49

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 7.4 µg/m³ (AQI 41) with a 0.84 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.84
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

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/m³330
Carter Lake, IA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
59.3mi
UNLIMITED
58 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
21:30 UTC · Carter Lake, 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
21:30 UTC · Carter Lake, IA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Carter Lake, IA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Carter Lake, IA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Carter Lake, IA
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:23 AM
Sunrise
12:56 AM
Daylight
15h 04m
Sunset
4:00 PM
Civil dusk
9:34 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Carter Lake, IA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
78% illuminated
Moonrise
11:21 PM
Moonset
10:29 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Carter Lake, IA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Carter Lake at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 13°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 24 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 51510

16-Day Forecast — Carter Lake

  1. Sat83°70°72%
  2. Sun91°68°5%
  3. Mon85°69°3%
  4. Tue87°67°1%
  5. Wed92°69°40%
  6. Thu84°67°40%
  7. Fri83°65°21%
  8. Sat79°59°6%
  9. Sun79°60°6%
  10. Mon81°60°5%
  11. Tue81°62°3%
  12. Wed83°62°7%
  13. Thu92°67°13%
  14. Fri90°67°16%
  15. Sat80°64°20%
  16. Sun77°59°10%

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 — Carter Lake

SPC includes Carter Lake 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

July is Carter Lake's warmest stretch (~78°F) and January its coldest (~24°F); precipitation crests in May at 4.7 inches and ebbs in January to 0.8 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January24°0.8″2
February29°0.9″3
March41°1.8″4
April53°3.2″6
May64°4.7″8
June74°4.4″7
July78°3.5″6
August76°4.6″6
September68°3.0″5
October54°2.3″4
November40°1.4″3
December29°1.2″3

Regional context

Carter Lake swings from 24°F in January to 78°F in July (54°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Carter Lake runs about 31.9 inches on roughly 57 measurable days.

Summer convection drives Carter Lake's precipitation: May logs 4.7 inches on 7.8 rainy days, against January's 0.8 inches on 2.3 — warm-season storms carry Carter Lake's moisture. It is a warm-season-wet pattern Carter Lake shares with places like Council Bluffs, IA, Crescent, IA and Weston, IA.

Around mid-April, Carter Lake sheds its freezing nights — kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips go into Carter Lake's beds. Carter Lake's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Carter Lake's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. By mid-November, frost is back in Carter Lake — protect or harvest anything tender. A creek-bottom lot in Carter Lake can lag Carter Lake's last frost 7-10 days behind a south slope.

Similar climates: Council Bluffs, IA, Crescent, IA, Weston, IA, McClelland, IA, Underwood, IA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Carter Lake?
Frost typically leaves Carter Lake by mid-April and returns to Carter Lake near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Carter Lake?
Carter Lake sees its heaviest rain in May (around 4.7 inches), part of roughly 32 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Carter Lake?
The warmest stretch in Carter Lake comes in July, around 78°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Carter Lake?
On average January is the chilliest month in Carter Lake, about 24°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Carter Lake?
Time tomatoes in Carter Lake for two weeks after mid-April; peas and greens start at Carter Lake's frost line.
How many rainy days does Carter Lake get?
Expect roughly 57 wet days a year in Carter Lake.
What hardiness zone is Carter Lake?
Carter Lake sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 24°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Carter Lake?
Carter Lake'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 Carter Lake?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Carter Lake in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Carter Lake?
Current conditions for Carter Lake and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Carter Lake forecast updated?
The Carter Lake forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Carter Lake?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Carter Lake 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 Carter Lake?
The next few days in Carter Lake's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Carter Lake's warm-summer humid continental climate in Iowa pairs 24°F Januarys with 78°F Julys, 54°F apart across the seasons.

Carter Lake sees close to 32 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 57 wet days.

The 54°F gap between Carter Lake's summer and winter, at 41.3°N, shapes Carter Lake's frost calendar.

All cities in Iowa →

Council Bluffs, IA weather →

ZIP codes in Carter Lake

  • 51510

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.