Iowa City in Fall
In fall (September, October and November), Iowa City sees average daytime highs around 61°F and overnight lows near 43°F, with 9.2 in of precipitation over about 24 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 79°F in early September to 41°F by late November. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels dry.
Fall is Iowa City's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Iowa City's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 61°F
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 43°F
- Precipitation
- 9.2 in
- 24 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 mph
- Travel score
- 4.8
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Sep · Oct · Nov
Temperature in Iowa City in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 79°F in early September to 41°F by late November.
A typical fall day in Iowa City reaches about 61°F and drops to 43°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is September, the coolest November.
How fall really feels in Iowa City
Once humidity and wind are folded in, fall brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 34 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in fall is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Iowa City weather by month
How the three fall months (September, October and November) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29° / 14° | 1.5 | 7.1 | 5.3 | 9.3 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 33° / 18° | 1.8 | 6.4 | 4.2 | 10.3 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 47° / 29° | 2.7 | 9.2 | 2.8 | 11.7 | 1.6 |
| Apr | 60° / 41° | 4.4 | 11.8 | 0.8 | 13.1 | 4.5 |
| May | 71° / 52° | 4.9 | 13.4 | 0 | 14.3 | 6.0 |
| Jun | 80° / 62° | 5.1 | 11.7 | 0 | 15 | 6.3 |
| Jul | 83° / 65° | 3.7 | 9.6 | 0 | 14.7 | 6.1 |
| Aug | 81° / 63° | 3.8 | 9.1 | 0 | 13.7 | 6.8 |
| Sep | 75° / 55° | 3.9 | 8.2 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.2 |
| Oct | 62° / 43° | 2.9 | 8.6 | 0.2 | 10.9 | 5.5 |
| Nov | 47° / 31° | 2.3 | 7.7 | 1.5 | 9.7 | 1.7 |
| Dec | 34° / 20° | 1.9 | 6.9 | 4.5 | 9 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Iowa City gets around 9.2 in of rain and snow over 24 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 9 mph across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 13 hours in early September to 9 h 12 min by late November. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 3.3 kWh/m².
Is fall a good time to visit Iowa City?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is a reasonable time to visit Iowa City for sightseeing.
What to pack for Iowa City in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Iowa City sees daytime highs around 61°F and nights near 43°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 24 days see rain.
UV index in Iowa City in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Iowa City peaks around June 19 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in Iowa City in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Iowa City is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Moderate |
| Feb | 14 | Moderate |
| Mar | 14 | Moderate |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 13 | Moderate |
| Jun | 13 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 15 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Good |
| Oct | 8 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Iowa City?
Iowa City sits at 41.7°N, 91.5°W, 669 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Coralville, 3.1 mi away.
Topography around Iowa City
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Iowa City.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Iowa City has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 223 ft around an average of 715 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 384 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 646 ft.
The land around Iowa City is covered by trees (50%) and artificial surfaces (31%) within 2 miles, cropland (57%) within 10 miles, and cropland (72%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Iowa City (41.6611°, -91.5302°, elevation 669 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.