Polk County · Iowa
Des Moines, IA weather averages
NOAA climate normals for 1991-2020, measured at Des Moines Intl Ap, 8.3 km from the city centre — month by month temperature, rain and snow.
Quick answer
Des Moines averages a daily high of 60.4°F and a daily low of 41.5°F across the year, with 36.02 inches of precipitation. July is the warmest month at 85.7°F and January the coldest at 14.3°F.
- Average annual high
- 60.4°FWarmest month July
- Average annual low
- 41.5°FColdest month January
- Precipitation per year
- 36.02 inWettest month June
- Snowfall per year
- 35.3 in124.7 days at or below 32°F
Des Moines weather month by month
Normal daily high and low, precipitation and snowfall for each month, 1991-2020.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip in | Snow in | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 14.3 | 1 | 8.5 | 14.3 to 31 degrees |
| February | 36.1 | 18.8 | 1.28 | 7.9 | 18.8 to 36.1 degrees |
| March | 49 | 29.7 | 2.3 | 5.2 | 29.7 to 49 degrees |
| April | 62.3 | 41.1 | 3.86 | 1.8 | 41.1 to 62.3 degrees |
| May | 72.4 | 52.2 | 4.74 | 0 | 52.2 to 72.4 degrees |
| June | 81.6 | 62 | 4.94 | 0 | 62 to 81.6 degrees |
| July | 85.7 | 66.8 | 4.47 | 0 | 66.8 to 85.7 degrees |
| August | 83.8 | 64.8 | 4.13 | 0 | 64.8 to 83.8 degrees |
| September | 76.1 | 55.2 | 3.05 | 0 | 55.2 to 76.1 degrees |
| October | 63.1 | 43 | 2.64 | 0.4 | 43 to 63.1 degrees |
| November | 47.9 | 30.5 | 2.19 | 2.5 | 30.5 to 47.9 degrees |
| December | 34 | 18 | 1.42 | 9 | 18 to 34 degrees |
Source: NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 — station USW00014933, Des Moines Intl Ap · rates as published for 1991-2020 normals
How to read Des Moines climate normals
What a climate normal is, and what it is not.
A normal is the average of thirty years of daily observations at one station — here Des Moines Intl Ap, 8.3 km from the centre of Des Moines. It describes a typical year, so any single year will run warmer, cooler, wetter or drier. Readings taken at an airport on the edge of town usually sit a degree or two below a dense downtown on summer nights. Des Moines sees about 18.4 days a year at or above 90°F and about 66 days with a tenth of an inch of precipitation or more.
Keep going
Other Des Moines data on this site.