Weather on December 20
Des Moines, IA
55 Years of Data
Avg High
32°F
Avg Low
15°F
Warmest
2015
45°F avg
Coldest
1983
-7°F avg
About This Date
December 20th 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 20th was in 2015 (45°F average), while the coldest was 1983 (-7°F) — a 52°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 25% of recorded December 20th dates, with snow falling 15% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 9"). The last decade has been 8.6°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 8.6°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for December 20th in Des Moines, IA? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
Warming Trend
1.8°F per decade on this date
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43° | 25° | 34° | — | — |
| 2024 | 27° | 18° | 23° | — | — |
| 2023 | 48° | 26° | 37° | — | — |
| 2022 | 20° | 3° | 12° | — | 0.2" |
| 2021 | 38° | 18° | 28° | — | — |
| 2020 | 27° | 19° | 23° | — | — |
| 2019 | 48° | 23° | 36° | — | — |
| 2018 | 41° | 30° | 36° | — | — |
| 2017 | 48° | 24° | 36° | — | — |
| 2016 | 26° | 4° | 15° | — | — |
| 2015warmest | 54° | 36° | 45° | 0.18" | — |
| 2014 | 30° | 26° | 28° | 0.05" | — |
| 2013 | 35° | 24° | 30° | 0.08" | — |
| 2012 | 29° | 23° | 26° | 2.69" | 9" |
| 2011 | 36° | 27° | 31° | — | — |
| 2010 | 26° | 0° | 13° | 0.03" | 0.2" |
| 2009 | 27° | 18° | 22° | — | — |
| 2008 | 24° | 15° | 20° | — | — |
| 2007 | 36° | 10° | 23° | — | — |
| 2006 | 47° | 16° | 31° | — | — |
| 2005 | 25° | 4° | 14° | — | — |
| 2004 | 18° | 0° | 9° | — | — |
| 2003 | 29° | 17° | 23° | — | — |
| 2002 | 40° | 32° | 36° | — | — |
| 2001 | 48° | 21° | 35° | — | — |
| 2000 | 10° | -8° | 1° | — | — |
| 1999 | 32° | 10° | 21° | 0.74" | 5" |
| 1998 | 21° | 13° | 17° | — | — |
| 1997 | 42° | 22° | 32° | — | — |
| 1996 | 7° | 5° | 6° | — | — |
| 1995 | 34° | 14° | 24° | — | — |
| 1994 | 45° | 22° | 33° | — | — |
| 1993 | 44° | 26° | 35° | — | — |
| 1992 | 26° | 9° | 17° | — | — |
| 1991 | 31° | 12° | 21° | 0.66" | — |
| 1990 | 39° | 26° | 33° | — | — |
| 1989 | 7° | -10° | -1° | — | — |
| 1988 | 52° | 28° | 40° | 0.05" | — |
| 1987 | 35° | 24° | 30° | 0.46" | 1.8" |
| 1986 | 33° | 21° | 27° | — | — |
| 1985 | 8° | -9° | 0° | 0.1" | 1" |
| 1984 | 35° | 13° | 24° | — | — |
| 1983coldest | 5° | -20° | -7° | 0.08" | 0.5" |
| 1982 | 34° | 23° | 28° | — | — |
| 1981 | 32° | 0° | 16° | 0.28" | — |
| 1980 | 12° | -2° | 5° | — | — |
| 1979 | 46° | 22° | 34° | — | — |
| 1978 | — | 21° | — | — | — |
| 1977 | 34° | 11° | 22° | 0.51" | — |
| 1976 | 30° | 5° | 18° | — | — |
| 1975 | 50° | 13° | 31° | — | — |
| 1974 | 34° | 17° | 25° | 0.48" | 3" |
| 1973 | 18° | -5° | 6° | — | — |
| 1972 | 35° | 24° | 30° | — | — |
| 1971 | 32° | 21° | 27° | — | — |
55 years of data from ANKENY