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

Fairfax, Iowa Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

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

Fairfax, IA
Sunday, July 5 at 5:21 AM
68
°
Overcast
Feels like
72°
Humidity
91%
Wind
3 mph
Sunrise
12:38 AM
Sunset
3:45 PM
Fairfax, IA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastFairfax, IA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 67 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 67°H 85°
Fairfax, IA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    85°67°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Mostly Clear
    —
    —
    86°66°+1°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    82°63°-4°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Thunderstorm
    40%
    —
    84°64°+2°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Showers
    54%
    0.07″
    77°67°-7°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    29%
    —
    79°64°+2°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Overcast
    14%
    —
    81°67°+2°
Fairfax, IA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°62°76°90°12a6a12p6pnow 68°high 85°low 67°
Fairfax, IA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
N
011° · veering 158°
Direction
N
011°
Sustained
3
mph
Gust
10
mph
Peak 24h
27
avg 7
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 7 · pk 27 @ 6:00a
010MPHB1B2B3B4-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 124SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 158° from the n.
Fairfax, IA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
988.1
+0.4 mb in 3h · steady · 29.18 inHg
Now
988.1
mb
3h
+0.4
mb
12h
+0.8
mb
24h
-0.4
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 985–989
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW989.3985.0988.2
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Fairfax, IA
Air quality
25
AQI
Good
↓-17 in 6h

AQI 25 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI down 17 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply.

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

PM 2.5Good
2.1μg/m³
PM 10Good
2μg/m³
NO₂Good
8μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERGood
37μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

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 TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Fairfax, IA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
27.9mi
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
10:21 UTC · Fairfax, 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
10:21 UTC · Fairfax, IA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Fairfax, IA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Fairfax, IA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Fairfax, IA
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:04 AM
Sunrise
12:38 AM
Daylight
15h 07m
Sunset
3:45 PM
Civil dusk
9:20 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Fairfax, IA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
74% illuminated
Moonrise
11:27 PM
Moonset
11:19 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Fairfax, IA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

weather
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Fairfax at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 68°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: April 28 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 52228

15-Day Forecast — Fairfax

  1. Sun85°67°7%
  2. Mon86°66°2%
  3. Tue82°63°2%
  4. Wed84°64°40%
  5. Thu77°67°54%
  6. Fri79°64°29%
  7. Sat81°67°14%
  8. Sun84°68°8%
  9. Mon85°66°7%
  10. Tue86°69°14%
  11. Wed86°66°9%
  12. Thu85°69°23%
  13. Fri85°68°19%
  14. Sat84°67°23%
  15. Sun87°67°18%

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

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, 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 — Fairfax

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

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • 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 186 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

Fairfax's warmest month is July (~73°F mean) and its coldest is January (~20°F). Rainfall peaks in June (5.6 inches) and bottoms out in January (0.9 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January20°0.9″3
February24°1.2″3
March37°2.0″5
April49°3.6″7
May60°4.3″8
June70°5.6″9
July73°4.4″6
August71°4.1″6
September63°3.4″6
October51°2.9″5
November37°2.0″4
December25°1.6″4

Regional context

Fairfax's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 20°F Januarys with 73°F Julys — a 53°F swing. About 35.9 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 67 days a year.

Precipitation in Fairfax runs summer-dominant: June averages 5.6 inches across 8.5 days of warm-season storms, while January drops to 0.9 inches over 2.9 rainy days of drier cool air. That summer-storm rhythm groups Fairfax with places like Walford, IA, Cedar Rapids, IA and Atkins, IA.

By mid-April the frosts ease in Fairfax, opening the season for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. In Fairfax, warm-season transplants — tomatoes, peppers, basil — wait two weeks past Fairfax's frost date. It shuts near mid-November, when freezes return to Fairfax and tender plants need cover. In Fairfax, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging Fairfax's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Walford, IA, Cedar Rapids, IA, Atkins, IA, Swisher, IA, Norway, IA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Fairfax?
In Fairfax, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Fairfax's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Fairfax?
Fairfax sees its heaviest rain in June (around 5.6 inches), part of roughly 36 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Fairfax?
Fairfax peaks in July, when the mean runs near 73°F.
What is the coldest month in Fairfax?
January is Fairfax's coldest month, averaging about 20°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Fairfax?
In Fairfax, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-April; Fairfax's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Fairfax get?
Expect roughly 67 wet days a year in Fairfax.
What hardiness zone is Fairfax?
With January around 20°F, Fairfax's zone reflects that minimum — the USDA ZIP map confirms Fairfax's band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Fairfax?
Fairfax'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 Fairfax?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Fairfax in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Fairfax?
Current conditions for Fairfax and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Fairfax forecast updated?
The Fairfax forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Fairfax?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Fairfax 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 Fairfax?
The next few days in Fairfax's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a warm-summer humid continental zone, Fairfax, Iowa swings from 20°F in the heart of winter to 73°F at midsummer — a 53°F arc.

Rain and snow bring Fairfax roughly 36 inches a year across approximately 67 measurable-precipitation days.

Fairfax's 53°F range, set by its 41.9°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Fairfax.

All cities in Iowa →

Cedar Rapids, IA weather →

ZIP codes in Fairfax

  • 52228

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.