Cedar Rapids, IA Climate & Monthly Averages

Iowa, United States 🇺🇸 · humid continental climate
Annual avg
50°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
110
Sunshine
8.8 h/day
Right now: 86° and sunny - see live conditions

The climate of Cedar Rapids

A 30°C spread between its warmest and coolest months puts Cedar Rapids among the more strongly seasonal places we cover. July averages 83°F (28°C) by day; January averages 29°F (-2°C), with nights at 14°F (-10°C).

Climate quick facts

  • Hottest month: July - highs near 83°F (28°C)
  • Coldest month: January - highs near 29°F (-2°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 100°F (38°C) high · -32°F (-36°C) low
  • Wettest month: June (10 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (12.4 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: humid continental
  • Annual swing: 30°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
  • Snow: about 18 days a year
  • Months with freezing average lows: 4
  • Average humidity: 70%

Temperatures through the year

Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 4 months, December through March. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 83°F (28°C) by day and 66°F (19°C) overnight. January sits at the other end of the year: 29°F (-2°C) by day, 14°F (-10°C) at night. Sunshine averages 8.8 hours a day over the year, peaking in July at 12.4 hours.

Rain, sun and snow

Precipitation concentrates in June - 4.7 inches (118 mm) on 10 days - and thins out by February. Snow falls on roughly 18 days a year, mostly October through April. Between the average July and the average January lie 30°C, a wider spread than 96% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 100°F (38°C) and bottoms at -32°F (-36°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.

How Cedar Rapids compares

  • Cedar Rapids sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 50°F (10°C) as an annual average, 38.3 inches (972 mm) of precipitation and 8.8 hours of sun a day.

Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.

Monthly climate table

Monthly averages for Cedar Rapids based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 29° 14° 8 1.9 in 5.6 h/day 77%
February 33° 15° 6 1.5 in 7.5 h/day 71%
March 48° 30° 9 2.8 in 7.9 h/day 67%
April 59° 39° 11 3.8 in 8.8 h/day 64%
May 71° 52° 12 4.5 in 10.0 h/day 69%
June 81° 63° 10 4.7 in 12.0 h/day 68%
July 83° 66° 10 3.3 in 12.4 h/day 75%
August 81° 64° 10 3.6 in 11.4 h/day 74%
September 77° 59° 9 3.6 in 10.0 h/day 71%
October 62° 46° 10 3.7 in 7.6 h/day 67%
November 48° 32° 7 2.7 in 6.7 h/day 70%
December 37° 23° 7 2.2 in 5.4 h/day 72%

Cedar Rapids month by month

Cedar Rapids weather in January

January brings highs around 29°F (-2°C), lows near 14°F (-10°C), about 8 wet days and roughly 6 snowy days - typically the coldest month of the year in Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids weather in February

February brings highs around 33°F (1°C), lows near 15°F (-9°C), about 6 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days - typically the driest month of the year in Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids weather in March

March brings highs around 48°F (9°C), lows near 30°F (-1°C), about 9 wet days and roughly 2 snowy days.

Cedar Rapids weather in April

April brings highs around 59°F (15°C), lows near 39°F (4°C), about 11 wet days and roughly 1 snowy days.

Cedar Rapids weather in May

May brings highs around 71°F (22°C), lows near 52°F (11°C), about 12 wet days.

Cedar Rapids weather in June

June brings highs around 81°F (27°C), lows near 63°F (17°C), about 10 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids weather in July

July brings highs around 83°F (28°C), lows near 66°F (19°C), about 10 wet days - typically the hottest month and the sunniest month of the year in Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids weather in August

August brings highs around 81°F (27°C), lows near 64°F (18°C), about 10 wet days.

Cedar Rapids weather in September

September brings highs around 77°F (25°C), lows near 59°F (15°C), about 9 wet days.

Cedar Rapids weather in October

October brings highs around 62°F (17°C), lows near 46°F (8°C), about 10 wet days.

Cedar Rapids weather in November

November brings highs around 48°F (9°C), lows near 32°F (0°C), about 7 wet days and roughly 1 snowy days.

Cedar Rapids weather in December

December brings highs around 37°F (3°C), lows near 23°F (-5°C), about 7 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days.

Seasons in Cedar Rapids

Spring (March through May)

Spring in Cedar Rapids stays on the cool side of mild, with daytime highs averaging 59°F (15°C) and nights around 40°F (5°C); rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days, plus about 4 snowy days.

Summer (June through August)

Summer in Cedar Rapids brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 82°F (28°C) and nights around 64°F (18°C); rain falls on around 30 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.9 hours of sun a day.

Fall (September through November)

Through fall, Cedar Rapids is crisp but comfortable: 62°F (17°C) by day, 46°F (8°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 25 days across the season.

Winter (December through February)

Winter in Cedar Rapids runs to hard cold, with daytime highs averaging 33°F (1°C) and nights around 17°F (-8°C); expect showers on roughly 22 days across the season, plus about 12 snowy days. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.

Climate questions, answered

Is Cedar Rapids humid?
Relative humidity averages 70% across the year, which reads as fairly humid. Paired with July heat, muggy afternoons are routine.
Is Cedar Rapids cold in winter?
January nights average 14°F (-10°C). Serious winter clothing territory.
How hot does Cedar Rapids get in summer?
July averages 83°F (28°C). Hot afternoons happen but extremes are not the norm.
What should I wear in Cedar Rapids?
It depends on the month: July runs to 83°F (28°C) while January holds at 29°F (-2°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.
How sunny is Cedar Rapids?
8.8 hours a day averaged over the year, peaking in July at 12.4 hours.
When does Cedar Rapids drop below freezing?
Average overnight lows sit at or below 0°C in 4 months of the year, December through March.

Best time to visit Cedar Rapids

Aim for June to October if you get the choice: these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year, and highs average 77°F (25°C) against roughly 10 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in June.

Pack for Cedar Rapids with light clothing for the warm months, a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Even in July, lows of 66°F (19°C) make an extra layer worth the space.

Cedar Rapids temperature records (2015-2024)

Highest recorded
100°
in August
Lowest recorded
-32°
in January
Annual precipitation
38.3"
Snowy days / yr
18

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.