Weather on January 21
Des Moines, IA
55 Years of Data
Avg High
29°F
Avg Low
10°F
Warmest
1997
40°F avg
Coldest
1994
-5°F avg
About This Date
January 21st in Des Moines, IA typically brings very cold winter weather, with average highs around 29°F and lows near 10°F. Over 56 years of records, the warmest January 21st was in 1997 (40°F average), while the coldest was 1994 (-5°F) — a 45°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 27% of recorded January 21st dates, with snow falling 20% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 6"). The last decade has been 1.4°F cooler on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 1.4°F cooler on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for January 21st in Des Moines, IA? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold. Check road conditions if traveling, as snow is possible.
Cooling Trend
0.8°F per decade on this date
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 41° | 14° | 28° | — | — |
| 2025 | 14° | -13° | 1° | — | — |
| 2024 | 29° | -2° | 14° | — | — |
| 2023 | 32° | 25° | 29° | 0.15" | 0.6" |
| 2022 | 22° | -9° | 7° | — | — |
| 2021 | 44° | 17° | 31° | — | — |
| 2020 | 11° | -5° | 3° | — | — |
| 2019 | 19° | 3° | 11° | — | — |
| 2018 | 50° | 25° | 37° | 0.05" | — |
| 2017 | 43° | 35° | 39° | 0.15" | — |
| 2016 | 22° | 1° | 11° | — | — |
| 2015 | 45° | 31° | 38° | — | — |
| 2014 | 42° | -7° | 18° | 0.03" | 0.5" |
| 2013 | 13° | -3° | 5° | 0.08" | 0.2" |
| 2012 | 11° | 4° | 7° | 0.05" | — |
| 2011 | 16° | -6° | 5° | — | — |
| 2010 | 33° | 29° | 31° | 0.61" | 0.3" |
| 2009 | 25° | 5° | 15° | — | — |
| 2008 | 20° | 10° | 15° | 0.25" | 1.6" |
| 2007 | 27° | 7° | 17° | 0.66" | 6" |
| 2006 | 29° | 25° | 27° | 0.05" | 1" |
| 2005 | 31° | 24° | 27° | — | — |
| 2004 | 24° | 13° | 18° | — | — |
| 2003 | 23° | 4° | 13° | — | — |
| 2002 | 45° | 21° | 33° | — | — |
| 2001 | 23° | -4° | 10° | — | — |
| 2000 | 19° | -1° | 9° | — | — |
| 1999 | 35° | 11° | 23° | — | — |
| 1998 | 27° | 20° | 23° | — | 5" |
| 1997warmest | 49° | 31° | 40° | — | — |
| 1996 | 17° | 3° | 10° | — | — |
| 1995 | 30° | 10° | 20° | — | — |
| 1994coldest | 10° | -20° | -5° | — | — |
| 1993 | 31° | 21° | 26° | 0.48" | — |
| 1992 | 45° | 21° | 33° | — | — |
| 1991 | 13° | -8° | 3° | — | — |
| 1990 | 32° | 12° | 22° | 0.03" | 0.5" |
| 1989 | 48° | 19° | 34° | — | — |
| 1988 | 23° | 15° | 19° | — | — |
| 1987 | 37° | 25° | 31° | 0.03" | 0.1" |
| 1986 | 37° | 30° | 34° | — | — |
| 1985 | 27° | -4° | 11° | — | — |
| 1984 | 16° | -15° | 1° | — | — |
| 1983 | 38° | 18° | 28° | — | — |
| 1982 | 24° | 17° | 21° | — | — |
| 1981 | 43° | 16° | 29° | — | — |
| 1980 | 32° | 21° | 27° | — | — |
| 1979 | 27° | 16° | 21° | — | — |
| 1978 | 17° | -10° | 4° | — | — |
| 1977 | 30° | 5° | 18° | — | — |
| 1976 | 40° | 2° | 21° | — | — |
| 1975 | 37° | -1° | 18° | — | — |
| 1974 | 36° | 29° | 32° | 0.28" | — |
| 1973 | 32° | 28° | 30° | 1.07" | 5.5" |
| 1972 | 24° | 6° | 15° | — | — |
| 1971 | 37° | 15° | 26° | — | — |
56 years of data from ANKENY