See highest Iowa rainfall totals from a soggy first day of school
Iowans woke up on Monday, Aug. 24, to rain across the western half of the state, making for a soggy start to classes for many kids.
Here's a look at the rainfall totals from Monday and a look ahead in the week.
Martha Santos, left, first grader Karitza Roman, Camilo Roman, 3, and Marina Roman, pose for a photo before dropping Karitza off for her first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Students arrive for the first day of school at Kurtz Opportunity Center on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Moulton Elementary students board the bus as they start the new school year at Kurtz Opportunity Center on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. Students will attend Kurtz for two years as Moulton is razed and rebuilt as part of the Reimagining Education initiative. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Students arrive for their first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Kids smile as they board the bus on the first day of school at Kurtz Opportunity Center on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Siblings Jhonsley and Anacuis Rosedaline board the bus together on the first day of school on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Sarah Snyder hugs Harrison Snyder, 6, before his first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Students arrive for their first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Eduardo Valiente helps his daughter, Abigail, put on her backpack on the first day of school on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Samryn Shannon waves goodbye to her daughter as she rides the school bus for the first time on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Students arrive for their first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Students arrive for their first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)SpEd Associate Kaci Kennedy holds a student’s hand as they arrive on the first day of school on Aug. 24, 2026, at Kurtz Opportunity Center in Des Moines. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Moulton Elementary students board the bus as they start the new school year at Kurtz Opportunity Center on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. Students will attend Kurtz for two years as Moulton is razed and rebuilt as part of the Reimagining Education initiative. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Students arrive for their first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Students arrive for their first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Zakia and Kazim Barati bring their daughter Asma to her first day of 1st grade on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Moulton Elementary students board the bus as they start the new school year at Kurtz Opportunity Center on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. Students will attend Kurtz for two years as Moulton is razed and rebuilt as part of the Reimagining Education initiative. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Students arrive for their first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Students arrive for their first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Students arrive for their first day of school at Woodland Hills Elementary, Monday, August 24, 2026 in Waukee. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register)Moulton Elementary students board the bus as they start the new school year at Kurtz Opportunity Center on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. Students will attend Kurtz for two years as Moulton is razed and rebuilt as part of the Reimagining Education initiative. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)Families arrive for the first day of school as kids wait for the bus to Kurtz Opportunity Center on Aug. 24, 2026, in Des Moines. (Cody Scanlan/The Register)
Rain showers dropped 0.2 inches of rain in Des Moines, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
Des Moines has received 5.48 inches in August as of Aug. 24. A typical August through this date normally sees 3.11 inches of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service. Much of that rainfall came during the opening days of the 2026 Iowa State Fair, when 3.34 inches fell Aug. 13-14.
In 2025, Iowa's capital city received 1.96 inches of rain in August.
The heaviest rainfall between Sunday, Aug. 23 and Monday, Aug. 24, was reported in western Iowa.
Here are the areas that saw the most rainfall over 24 hours as of Aug. 24 at 1 p.m.:
The forecast calls for a mostly dry and sunny week of Aug. 24 as many across Iowa head back to school, with highs in the low to mid-80s and lows in the 60s.
The NWS forecasts Des Moines' next chance of rain for early Saturday, Aug. 29, with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: See highest Iowa rainfall totals from a soggy first day of school
