Concrete Pouring Weather in Iowa: Best Months by City
Concrete Pouring season in Iowa, city by city: peak months, season boundaries, and annual workable-day counts from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Des Moines leads with 129 workable days a year; Sioux City runs the shortest at 114.
Across Iowa's 6 listed cities, annual workable days for concrete pouring run from 114 (Sioux City) up to 129 (Des Moines). Every number comes from NOAA 1991–2020 normals scored against the same label ruleset; every city name links to its live 10-day check.
Statewide, August is the strongest month — it tops or ties the table in most listed cities. The live strips on each city page decide the week; this table decides the month. Scoring rules: methodology; the national playbook: the concrete pouring guide.
Cities in Iowa
| City | Peak months | Season | Workable days/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | Aug, Sep, Jul | April–October | 129 |
| Davenport | Aug, Jul, Sep | May–October | 125 |
| Cedar Rapids | Aug, Sep, Jul | May–October | 115 |
| Iowa City | Jul, Aug, Sep | April–October | 122 |
| Waterloo | Aug, Jul, Sep | May–October | 119 |
| Sioux City | Sep, Aug, Jul | May–October | 114 |
The rules behind these numbers
| Check | Threshold | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Air temperature | 40–90°F — ideal 50–85°F | DIY pours work from 40–90°F; 50–85°F is the sweet spot. |
| Overnight low | ≥40°F during the first 48 h | A low under 40°F inside the first 48 hours puts you in cold-weather concreting — not a DIY window. |
| Dry before | no soaking (≥1.0") in the prior 24 h | Rain before the pour only matters if the ground is soaked or standing in water. |
| Dry after | <0.1" rain for 6 h after (12 h light rain after finishing still risks surface marks) | A downpour in the first 6 hours can wash the surface; after final set, rain actually helps curing. |
| Wind | ≤20 mph (rapid surface drying up to 28 mph) | Hot wind pulls bleed water out faster than the slab can handle. |
Always follow your product label — formulas vary. The table above is the typical range across major manufacturers, not a promise about your can.
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