Des Moines weather by month
Average highs run from 31°F in January to 86°F in July, and January nights average 14°F. It gets 36 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 36 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 128 times a year. The most comfortable months are July to October.
Best time to visit Des Moines
For comfortable weather, go in July to October. In those months the average high stays between 62°F and 86°F, nights average 42°F or warmer, and rain stays under 4.5 inches for the month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Snow | Wet days | Days 90°F+ | Nights below 32°F | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F | 14°F | 1.1 in | 9.4 in | 3 | 0 | 30 | very cold |
| February | 36°F | 18°F | 1.3 in | 10.2 in | 4 | 0 | 25 | cold |
| March | 49°F | 30°F | 2.2 in | 4.4 in | 5 | 0 | 19 | cool |
| April | 62°F | 41°F | 4.0 in | 1.2 in | 8 | 0 | 6 | mild days, chilly nights |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 5.2 in | 0.2 in | 9 | 1 | 0 | mild |
| June | 82°F | 62°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 4 | 0 | warm |
| July | 86°F | 66°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 9 | 0 | warm |
| August | 84°F | 64°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 6 | 0 | warm |
| September | 77°F | 55°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 2 | 0 | warm |
| October | 63°F | 43°F | 2.8 in | 0.5 in | 5 | 0 | 4 | mild |
| November | 48°F | 30°F | 1.9 in | 2.7 in | 4 | 0 | 17 | cool |
| December | 36°F | 20°F | 1.6 in | 7.9 in | 4 | 0 | 27 | cold |
| Year | 60°F avg | 41°F avg | 36.6 in | 36.5 in | 66 | 22 | 128 |
"Wet days" are days with at least 0.1 inch of precipitation. "Feels" is a plain-language label for the average high. Normals for 1991-2020 from NOAA NCEI, station Des Moines Intl. Airport, IA (USW00014933), 10.5 miles from the city center. Averages describe typical conditions, not a forecast.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Des Moines
The shortest day is December 21, with 9h 09m of daylight; the longest is June 21, with 15h 12m. The earliest sunset comes around December 3 (4:43 pm) and the latest around June 21 (8:52 pm). The sun sets after 8 pm on 127 days a year.
| On the 15th of | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:39 am | 5:08 pm | 9h 30m |
| February | 7:09 am | 5:47 pm | 10h 38m |
| March | 7:26 am | 7:20 pm | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:34 am | 7:54 pm | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:54 am | 8:27 pm | 14h 32m |
| June | 5:39 am | 8:50 pm | 15h 11m |
| July | 5:53 am | 8:46 pm | 14h 53m |
| August | 6:23 am | 8:13 pm | 13h 50m |
| September | 6:54 am | 7:23 pm | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:26 am | 6:32 pm | 11h 06m |
| November | 7:03 am | 4:53 pm | 9h 50m |
| December | 7:34 am | 4:44 pm | 9h 10m |
Calculated for 2026 at the center of Des Moines with NOAA's solar equations, in local clock time (Central Time, including daylight saving time where it applies). Times shift by a minute or two from year to year.
Is Des Moines getting warmer?
The last 10 years averaged 1.8°F warmer than the 20th century. See the climate stripes for Des Moines.Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Des Moines?
July is the warmest month, with an average high of 86°F and an average low of 66°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
What is the coldest month in Des Moines?
January is the coldest, with average lows of 14°F and highs of 31°F.
What is the rainiest month in Des Moines?
June gets the most precipitation, 5.3 inches on average. January is the driest at 1.1 inches.
Does it snow in Des Moines?
Yes. Des Moines averages 37 inches of snow a year.
When is the best time to visit Des Moines?
For comfortable weather, July to October. Those months average highs between 62 and 86°F with lows of 42°F or more and modest rain.
Thinking of moving to Des Moines?
See what homes, rent and everyday prices cost, who lives there and how it compares with nearby cities on the full Des Moines profile.
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