The storm system that brought high winds to the middle of the country yesterday will track through Iowa today. This will lead to strong and gusty winds continuing through the day across the region. Winds may gust to 45 to 50 mph through the day Thursday. That storm system will be exiting the region Friday with a clearing trend to the clouds by the afternoon hours. The rest of the week looks dry with sunny to partly cloudy skies but cooler than normal temperatures. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: A chance of rain, mainly after 10 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 23 to 25 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: A chance of rain before midnight, then a slight chance of snow between midnight and 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light west after midnight.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 50. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.