Bettendorf, Iowa 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

572
FXUS63 KDVN 191941
AFDDVN

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
141 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Some temperature swings are expected this weekend before gradually
  warming up into Christmas day. Record highs are possible on
  Christmas day.

- Largely dry conditions will prevail through mid-week next
  week, with low PoPs (15-25% chances) for some light precipitation
  Saturday morning north after sunrise.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 139 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

Zonal flow aloft will lead to a few systems passing by our region
tonight through the day Saturday, mainly in the form of a shortwave
trough across the Upper Midwest late tonight, with an attendant
surface cold front passing through during the daylight hours
Saturday. However, the 19.12z HREF ensemble soundings are in very
good agreement for a warm, dry nose in the low-levels overnight
tonight, which should inhibit precipitation early on. However, there
is a signal among the ensembles of saturation after sunrise
Saturday, along with individual CAMs indicating some light
precipitation in the form of snow is possible over our far north.
Thus, we have introduced some low chances (15-25%) of snow, mainly
along the Highway 20 corridor. Accumulations should be very light,
if any.

Southerly flow and increasing cloud cover tonight will help keep
temperatures from falling much, with forecast lows in the middle
teens northeast to the upper 20s southwest. High temperatures
Saturday will warm further, into the upper 30s to middle 40s for
most locations. An area of high pressure is progged to build into
the Midwest post-frontal Saturday night with clearing skies, which
should result in a chilly night with lows falling to the lower teens
north near 20 south. Wind chills Sunday morning could fall to near
zero, especially for areas along and north of Highway 30.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 139 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

After a chilly start Sunday, temperatures look to warm up very
similar to today`s highs, although perhaps slightly warmer, with
highs in the middle 20s northeast to the middle 30s southwest. This
is a result of warm air advection in the wake of another high
pressure system passing through the area on Sunday.

For the remainder of the long-term period, the main focus will be on
a gradual warming trend as large-scale ridging commences over the
central CONUS. A large upper-level high pressure system will develop
across the south-central US, with high confidence in this occurrence
given the consistent signal among the GEFS, EC, and GEPS ensembles
per the LREF cluster analysis. This will pave the way for
temperatures well above average for late December. NBM high
temperatures on Monday range from the upper 30s northeast to the
middle 40s southwest. Temperatures get even warmer come Christmas
day, with NBM highs in the lower 50s north to the middle 60s(!)
south. There are some differences among the GEFS and EC ensembles in
terms of the magnitude of warming at the 850 mb level, with the EC
ensembles being nearly 2 to 3 degrees warmer compared to the GEFS
values (13 degrees C compared to 16 degrees C over the Quad Cities).
Either way you slice it, either of these values would exceed the
daily maximum for 850 mb temperatures per the SPC sounding
climatology for the Quad Cities area. With all of this said, we are
still several days out from Christmas day, so things can still
change, especially if the ECMWF guidance trends closer to the GFS,
but it`s possible for some daily record warmth for Christmas day.
Something to keep a eye on as we approach the holiday.

In terms of precipitation chances, the latest global models do
suggest a few passing systems that will ride overtop the building
ridge. However, there are some differences in the spatial coverage
and timing of these systems, so confidence is pretty low for
precipitation chances. Indeed, the NBM PoPs are low for any
particular system (less than 20%). Can`t rule out precip entirely,
but prospects are looking pretty good for a dry forecast for most
locations.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1127 AM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

VFR conditions are expected throughout the TAF period. The main
focus for local conditions continues to be on winds, especially
for this afternoon through tonight. Generally light and variable
winds are expected this afternoon as a high pressure ridge axis
sweeps through the area. Winds will turn more south-southeasterly
behind it at the surface, along with strengthening flow aloft
with a southwesterly low-level jet around 45 to 55 knots. This
will result in a period of low-level wind shear across the area,
especially between 02z-13z. Some thickening cirrus is expected
late tonight into Saturday morning, but ceilings will remain
around 15kft.

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...None.
IL...None.
MO...None.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Schultz
LONG TERM...Schultz
AVIATION...Schultz