Weather on January 1
Des Moines, IA
55 Years of Data
About This Date
January 1st in Des Moines, IA typically brings very cold winter weather, with average highs around 28°F and lows near 12°F. Over 56 years of records, the warmest January 1st was in 2012 (42°F average), while the coldest was 2018 (-12°F) — a 54°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 18% of recorded January 1st dates, with snow falling 11% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 5"). The last decade has been 3.3°F cooler on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 3.3°F cooler on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for January 1st in Des Moines, IA? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 30° | 16° | 23° | — | — |
| 2025 | 32° | 24° | 28° | — | — |
| 2024 | 34° | 23° | 29° | — | — |
| 2023 | 42° | 28° | 35° | — | — |
| 2022 | 11° | 0° | 6° | 0.41" | 4.2" |
| 2021 | 27° | 17° | 22° | — | — |
| 2020 | 32° | 23° | 28° | — | — |
| 2019 | 20° | 10° | 15° | — | — |
| 2018coldest | -5° | -20° | -12° | — | — |
| 2017 | 32° | 16° | 24° | — | — |
| 2016 | 27° | 13° | 20° | — | — |
| 2015 | 20° | -1° | 10° | — | — |
| 2014 | 12° | 6° | 9° | 0.36" | 2.2" |
| 2013 | 19° | -3° | 8° | — | — |
| 2012warmest | 55° | 29° | 42° | — | — |
| 2011 | 34° | 7° | 20° | 0.03" | — |
| 2010 | 15° | -1° | 7° | — | — |
| 2009 | 23° | 3° | 13° | — | — |
| 2008 | 17° | 4° | 10° | — | 0.1" |
| 2007 | 50° | 24° | 37° | 0.79" | — |
| 2006 | 38° | 29° | 33° | — | — |
| 2005 | 40° | 23° | 31° | 0.05" | — |
| 2004 | 34° | 20° | 27° | — | — |
| 2003 | 42° | 15° | 29° | — | — |
| 2002 | 22° | 5° | 13° | — | — |
| 2001 | 12° | 5° | 9° | 0.46" | 2" |
| 2000 | 50° | 19° | 35° | — | — |
| 1999 | 10° | -15° | -2° | — | — |
| 1998 | 46° | 15° | 31° | — | — |
| 1997 | 35° | 18° | 26° | — | — |
| 1996 | 35° | 28° | 32° | — | — |
| 1995 | 29° | 4° | 16° | 5.72" | — |
| 1994 | 46° | 16° | 31° | — | — |
| 1993 | 5° | -2° | 2° | — | — |
| 1992 | 35° | 30° | 33° | — | — |
| 1991 | 22° | -5° | 8° | — | — |
| 1990 | 33° | 11° | 22° | — | — |
| 1989 | 31° | 22° | 26° | — | — |
| 1988 | 19° | 1° | 10° | — | — |
| 1987 | 36° | 21° | 28° | — | — |
| 1986 | 39° | 12° | 26° | — | — |
| 1985 | 17° | 3° | 10° | 0.51" | 2" |
| 1984 | 32° | 20° | 26° | 1.17" | 5" |
| 1983 | 33° | 22° | 27° | — | — |
| 1982 | 12° | -5° | 4° | — | — |
| 1981 | 35° | 27° | 31° | — | — |
| 1980 | 31° | 25° | 28° | — | — |
| 1979 | 7° | -4° | 1° | — | — |
| 1978 | 30° | -2° | 14° | 0.79" | — |
| 1977 | 6° | -8° | -1° | — | — |
| 1976 | 30° | 24° | 27° | — | — |
| 1975 | 39° | 21° | 30° | — | — |
| 1974 | 2° | -15° | -6° | — | — |
| 1973 | 26° | 12° | 19° | — | — |
| 1972 | 38° | 15° | 26° | — | — |
| 1971 | 38° | 19° | 28° | — | — |
Des Moines, IA Temperature Range by Month
Average monthly highs and lows. The shaded band shows the typical daily temperature range.
Des Moines, IA Monthly Precipitation
Average rainfall and snowfall per month, in inches.
Des Moines, IA Daily Temperature Calendar
Average daily high temperature for every day of the year. Each cell is the climatological mean for that calendar day across 55 years of NOAA data.
Best Time to Visit Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA has no months that meet our "pleasant" threshold — every season has tradeoffs.