What you need to know about weather predictions before riding across Iowa on RAGBRAI
It's that special time of year in Iowa again — RAGBRAI time.
The 49th edition of the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa starts July 24 in Sergeant Bluff on the Missouri River and reaches Lansing on the Mississippi River seven days later.
With more than 17,000 participants expected for the world's biggest annual bicycle tour, here's what you need to know about the weather along the route before riding — or watching — RAGBRAI.
Day 0, July 23: Sergeant Bluff
As riders gather Saturday in preparation for Sunday morning's start, more than 80 exhibitors will offer bike-related goods from noon to 9 p.m. at the RAGBRAI XLIX Bike Expo in downtown Sergeant Bluff.
The National Weather Service predicts a mostly sunny morning Saturday, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Sergeant Bluff will see a high temperature around 94 degrees, with winds blowing south at 12 mph and some gusts up to 31 mph.
With temperatures reaching the 90s, RAGBRAI spokesperson Anne Lawrie emphasized the importance of staying hydrated and monitoring for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
"We just want to make sure they're filling up their water bottles, they're making sure they're eating throughout the day, that they're finding shade when they can find shade and they're really checking in with themselves and their bodies to see where they're at," Lawrie said. "And if they need assistance, we obviously have assistance on route to help them."
Overnight Saturday will hit a low temperature around 65 degrees, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m.
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Day 1, July 24: Sergeant Bluff to Ida Grove
Cyclists will pedal 53.2 miles from Sergeant Bluff to Ida Grove on the first day of RAGBRAI, with a stop in the meeting town of Anthon approximately halfway through.
Sunday along the route will be mostly sunny, with a high temperature near 84 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Winds are expected to blow east/northeast at 9 mph with some gusts up to 17 mph.
Overnight Sunday will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature around 63 degrees.
More: Check out RAGBRAI's pass-through and meeting towns with details, highlights
Day 2, July 25: Ida Grove to Pocahontas
RAGBRAI participants will bike 71.2 miles on day two as they leave Ida Grove, stop in the meeting town of Newell and end the day in first-time overnight town Pocahontas.
Monday brings a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms to northwest Iowa, with a high temperature near 85 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Winds will be blowing east/southeast at 8 mph, with some wind gusts up to 14 mph.
Towns and counties along the RAGBRAI route have been working with the National Weather Service on weather contingency plans in the event of storms, according to Lawrie.
"We've identified shelter locations across the entire route. We've also identified ways to get riders off the route if needed," Lawrie said. "And then we've worked with the National Weather Service to determine what the conditions need to be in order for them to sound alarms and start notifying riders."
The National Weather Service only predicts weather seven days in advance. However, AccuWeather's long-range forecast predicts a 25% chance of showers and thunderstorms overnight Monday, with a low temperature around 65 degrees.
More: See the full RAGBRAI 2022 route, maps and day-by-day distance, towns and details
Day 3, July 26: Pocahontas to Emmetsburg
On day three, cyclists will travel 56.4 miles from Pocahontas to the meeting town of West Bend, and finally to the overnight destination of Emmetsburg.
Tuesday will bring a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms along the route, according to AccuWeather, with a high temperature around 86 degrees. Winds will be blowing south/southwest at 7 mph, with gusts up to 15 mph.
A 66 degree low temperature is expected overnight Tuesday, with a 29% chance of precipitation.
More: New to RAGBRAI? Here's everything rookies need to know before riding across Iowa
Day 4, July 27: Emmetsburg to Mason City
From Emmetsburg to Mason City on day four, cyclists will tackle a 105-mile century route, a tradition that has returned after 37 years as part of the main ride in homage to late RAGBRAI co-founder John Karras.
If 105 miles sounds daunting, don't worry — RAGBRAI will have two additional Support and Gear Wagons on the route to serve those who aren't able to finish under their own power.
The weather along the route will be in cyclists' favor on Wednesday, with mostly sunny conditions and a high temperature of 84 degrees, according to AccuWeather. Winds will blow northwest around 9 mph, with some gusts up to 27 mph.
As RAGBRAI participants cycle across 105 miles of the state, they should remain aware of the heat and take breaks to drink water, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Cory Martin.
"Every RAGBRAI, the heat is a concern, especially as we're in a time of year where it's typically hot and humid," Martin said. "It's important to pay attention to your body. Make sure you're taking breaks, make sure you're drinking enough and make sure you're allowing yourself time to cool off, especially overnight, to give your body some recovery."
Overnight Wednesday will see a low temperature of 61 degrees.
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Day 5, July 28: Mason City to Charles City
Cyclists will get some reprieve after the 105-mile century day with a comparatively short 47.9 mile trek from Mason City to Charles City on day five.
Thursday's route will see sunny conditions and a high temperature of 80 degrees. Wind is expected to blow northwest at 9 mph, with some gusts up to 23 mph, according to AccuWeather.
A 63 degree low is expected overnight Thursday in Charles City.
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Day 6, July 29: Charles City to West Union
The RAGBRAI route will take cyclists through 63 miles of eastern Iowa on day six, starting in Charles City and stopping in the meeting town of Lawler before wrapping up the day in West Union.
Friday's route is forecasted to be sunny with a high temperature of 81 degrees, according to AccuWeather. Winds will blow south/southwest at 4 mph, with some gusts up to 12 mph. Overnight Friday will see a low of 63 degrees.
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Day 7, June 30: West Union to Lansing
In the last leg of RAGBRAI, cyclists will tackle 65.4 miles, beginning in West Union and making a stop in the meeting town of Postville before ending the ride in Lansing.
Saturday's route will have a 55% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high temperature of 83 degrees, according to AccuWeather. Winds will blow south/southeast at 8 mph, with some gusts up to 21 mph.
For those camping one last night at RAGBRAI, overnight Saturday will see a low temperature of 67 degrees, with an 85% chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Grace Altenhofen is a news reporter for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at galtenhofen@registermedia.com or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: RAGBRAI 2022 weather day-by-day from heat to rain along the route
