Des Moines, IA Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Des Moines
A 30°C spread between its warmest and coolest months puts Des Moines among the more strongly seasonal places we cover. July averages 85°F (29°C) by day; January averages 31°F (-1°C), with nights at 15°F (-9°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 85°F (29°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 31°F (-1°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 101°F (38°C) high · -23°F (-30°C) low
- Wettest month: May (14 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (12.7 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 15 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 4
- Average humidity: 68%
Temperatures through the year
Warmth peaks in July: highs of 85°F (29°C), lows of 68°F (20°C). January bottoms out at 31°F (-1°C) in daylight, 15°F (-9°C) after dark. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 101°F (38°C) and the lowest daily minimum -23°F (-30°C). Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 4 months, December through March.
Rain, sun and snow
Precipitation concentrates in May - 5.3 inches (135 mm) on 14 days - and thins out by February. Between the average July and the average January lie 30°C, a wider spread than 96% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.
How Des Moines compares
- Des Moines sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 52°F (11°C) as an annual average, 37.6 inches (956 mm) of precipitation and 9.0 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 15° | 7 | 1.6 in | 5.8 h/day | 9.5 h | 22% | 75% |
| February | 36° | 17° | 6 | 1.3 in | 7.8 h/day | 10.5 h | 22% | 68% |
| March | 50° | 31° | 8 | 2.8 in | 7.9 h/day | 11.8 h | 27% | 66% |
| April | 60° | 41° | 10 | 3.5 in | 9.0 h/day | 13.3 h | 35% | 63% |
| May | 72° | 53° | 14 | 5.3 in | 9.9 h/day | 14.5 h | 46% | 69% |
| June | 83° | 65° | 11 | 4.6 in | 12.3 h/day | 15.2 h | 37% | 67% |
| July | 85° | 68° | 9 | 3.9 in | 12.7 h/day | 14.9 h | 29% | 71% |
| August | 83° | 66° | 10 | 3.5 in | 11.3 h/day | 13.8 h | 33% | 71% |
| September | 78° | 61° | 8 | 3.4 in | 10.3 h/day | 12.4 h | 28% | 68% |
| October | 64° | 47° | 8 | 3.6 in | 8.2 h/day | 11.0 h | 26% | 64% |
| November | 49° | 33° | 7 | 2.1 in | 6.9 h/day | 9.8 h | 24% | 68% |
| December | 39° | 24° | 6 | 1.9 in | 5.9 h/day | 9.2 h | 21% | 70% |
Des Moines month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Des Moines's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 5.8 h
- Daylight
- 9.5 h
- Snow
- 4 days
February
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 7.8 h
- Daylight
- 10.5 h
- Snow
- 4 days
March
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 2 days
April
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 9.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.3 h
May
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 14.5 h
June
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 12.3 h
- Daylight
- 15.2 h
July
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 12.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.9 h
August
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 13.8 h
September
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.0 h
November
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 6.9 h
- Daylight
- 9.8 h
December
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 5.9 h
- Daylight
- 9.2 h
- Snow
- 2 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Des Moines
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Des Moines is mild, with daytime highs averaging 60°F (16°C) and nights around 42°F (6°C); rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days, plus about 3 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Des Moines is hot, with daytime highs averaging 84°F (29°C) and nights around 66°F (19°C); rain falls on around 30 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 12.1 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Des Moines stays on the cool side of mild: 64°F (18°C) by day, 47°F (8°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 24 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Des Moines is frigid: 35°F (2°C) by day, 18°F (-8°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 20 days across the season, plus about 10 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 Des Moines cold in winter?
How hot does Des Moines get in summer?
How humid does Des Moines get?
How warm is Des Moines on average?
Best time to visit Des Moines
Aim for August to October and April if you get the choice: these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year, and highs average 74°F (23°C) against roughly 10 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in August.
Pack for Des Moines 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 68°F (20°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Des Moines temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.