Weather on December 17
Des Moines, IA
55 Years of Data
Avg High
32°F
Avg Low
15°F
Warmest
1977
42°F avg
Coldest
1983
-5°F avg
About This Date
December 17th in Des Moines, IA typically brings cold winter weather, with average highs around 32°F and lows near 15°F. Over 55 years of records, the warmest December 17th was in 1977 (42°F average), while the coldest was 1983 (-5°F) — a 47°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 16% of recorded December 17th dates, with snow falling 7% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 4"). The last decade has been 4.0°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 4.0°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for December 17th in Des Moines, IA? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
Warming Trend
1.5°F per decade on this date
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49° | 32° | 40° | — | — |
| 2024 | 39° | 25° | 32° | 0.08" | 0.4" |
| 2023 | 42° | 33° | 38° | — | — |
| 2022 | 20° | 10° | 15° | — | — |
| 2021 | 40° | 24° | 32° | — | — |
| 2020 | 26° | 11° | 18° | — | — |
| 2019 | 27° | 11° | 19° | — | — |
| 2018 | 48° | 24° | 36° | — | — |
| 2017 | 53° | 27° | 40° | — | — |
| 2016 | 19° | 12° | 16° | — | — |
| 2015 | 34° | 27° | 30° | — | — |
| 2014 | 24° | 12° | 18° | — | — |
| 2013 | 29° | 9° | 19° | — | — |
| 2012 | 35° | 21° | 28° | — | — |
| 2011 | 37° | 16° | 26° | — | — |
| 2010 | 25° | 6° | 15° | — | — |
| 2009 | 31° | 2° | 16° | — | — |
| 2008 | 8° | 2° | 5° | 0.36" | 2.4" |
| 2007 | 20° | 7° | 13° | — | — |
| 2006 | 57° | 27° | 42° | — | — |
| 2005 | 20° | 10° | 15° | — | — |
| 2004 | 43° | 15° | 29° | — | — |
| 2003 | 37° | 17° | 27° | — | — |
| 2002 | 35° | 30° | 33° | — | — |
| 2001 | 48° | 27° | 37° | — | — |
| 2000 | 23° | -9° | 7° | — | — |
| 1999 | 24° | 7° | 15° | 0.13" | — |
| 1998 | 45° | 22° | 33° | — | — |
| 1997 | 40° | 16° | 28° | — | — |
| 1996 | 34° | 11° | 22° | — | — |
| 1995 | 40° | 16° | 28° | — | — |
| 1994 | 34° | 18° | 26° | 0.03" | — |
| 1993 | 38° | 27° | 32° | 0.18" | — |
| 1992 | 28° | 24° | 26° | — | — |
| 1991 | 47° | 14° | 30° | — | — |
| 1990 | 36° | 24° | 30° | — | — |
| 1989 | 15° | 1° | 8° | — | — |
| 1988 | 28° | 14° | 21° | — | — |
| 1987 | 25° | 3° | 14° | — | — |
| 1986 | 38° | 31° | 34° | — | — |
| 1985 | 12° | -2° | 5° | 0.76" | 4" |
| 1984 | 28° | 15° | 22° | — | — |
| 1983coldest | 4° | -13° | -5° | 0.08" | 1" |
| 1982 | 44° | 21° | 33° | — | — |
| 1981 | 11° | -5° | 3° | — | — |
| 1980 | 50° | 31° | 40° | — | — |
| 1979 | 26° | -3° | 12° | — | — |
| 1978 | 40° | 20° | 30° | — | — |
| 1977warmest | 50° | 34° | 42° | 0.38" | — |
| 1976 | 50° | 23° | 37° | — | — |
| 1975 | 30° | 0° | 15° | — | — |
| 1974 | 27° | 16° | 21° | 0.23" | — |
| 1973 | 18° | 4° | 11° | — | — |
| 1972 | 14° | -1° | 7° | — | — |
| 1971 | 29° | 12° | 20° | — | — |
55 years of data from ANKENY