Weather on January 3
Des Moines, IA
55 Years of Data
About This Date
January 3rd in Des Moines, IA typically brings very cold winter weather, with average highs around 31°F and lows near 12°F. Over 56 years of records, the warmest January 3rd was in 1997 (40°F average), while the coldest was 2014 (-3°F) — a 43°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 21% of recorded January 3rd dates, with snow falling 14% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 4"). Temperatures on this date have remained relatively stable over the past several decades.
Temperatures on this date have remained relatively stable over the past several decades.
Planning for January 3rd in Des Moines, IA? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35° | 23° | 29° | — | — |
| 2025 | 23° | 12° | 18° | — | — |
| 2024 | 39° | 24° | 32° | — | — |
| 2023 | 41° | 30° | 36° | 0.28" | — |
| 2022 | 33° | 0° | 17° | — | — |
| 2021 | 27° | 8° | 17° | — | — |
| 2020 | 47° | 30° | 38° | — | — |
| 2019 | 50° | 20° | 35° | — | — |
| 2018 | 20° | -11° | 4° | 0.05" | — |
| 2017 | 36° | 24° | 30° | — | — |
| 2016 | 36° | 14° | 25° | — | — |
| 2015 | 31° | 15° | 23° | — | — |
| 2014coldest | 5° | -12° | -3° | — | — |
| 2013 | 29° | 4° | 16° | — | — |
| 2012 | 27° | 9° | 18° | — | — |
| 2011 | 34° | 7° | 20° | — | — |
| 2010 | 9° | -6° | 2° | — | — |
| 2009 | 28° | 17° | 23° | 0.1" | 0.2" |
| 2008 | 30° | 4° | 17° | — | — |
| 2007 | 43° | 20° | 31° | — | — |
| 2006 | 37° | 33° | 35° | — | — |
| 2005 | 31° | 21° | 26° | 0.1" | — |
| 2004 | 56° | 25° | 40° | — | — |
| 2003 | 32° | 9° | 20° | — | — |
| 2002 | 23° | 11° | 17° | — | — |
| 2001 | 26° | -6° | 10° | — | — |
| 2000 | 39° | 30° | 35° | — | — |
| 1999 | 14° | -3° | 6° | — | — |
| 1998 | 55° | 21° | 38° | — | — |
| 1997warmest | 51° | 29° | 40° | — | — |
| 1996 | 28° | 4° | 16° | — | — |
| 1995 | 18° | 3° | 10° | — | — |
| 1994 | 28° | 5° | 17° | 0.79" | 4" |
| 1993 | 34° | 19° | 26° | 0.08" | — |
| 1992 | 36° | 31° | 33° | — | — |
| 1991 | 6° | -4° | 1° | — | — |
| 1990 | 46° | 22° | 34° | — | — |
| 1989 | 35° | 23° | 29° | — | — |
| 1988 | 28° | 16° | 22° | — | — |
| 1987 | 40° | 21° | 30° | — | — |
| 1986 | 35° | 24° | 30° | — | — |
| 1985 | 22° | -6° | 8° | — | — |
| 1984 | 39° | 10° | 25° | — | — |
| 1983 | 31° | 11° | 21° | — | — |
| 1982 | 28° | 3° | 16° | 0.38" | 2" |
| 1981 | 32° | 6° | 19° | — | — |
| 1980 | 29° | 21° | 25° | — | 0.1" |
| 1979 | 10° | -8° | 1° | — | — |
| 1978 | 13° | -3° | 5° | — | — |
| 1977 | 20° | 9° | 14° | 0.08" | — |
| 1976 | 28° | 4° | 16° | — | — |
| 1975 | 32° | 27° | 29° | 0.51" | 3" |
| 1974 | 10° | 4° | 7° | 0.25" | 1" |
| 1973 | 32° | 12° | 22° | 1.88" | 2" |
| 1972 | 36° | 16° | 26° | — | — |
| 1971 | 31° | 21° | 26° | 0.2" | 3" |
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.