Weather on December 21
Des Moines, IA
55 Years of Data
About This Date
December 21st in Des Moines, IA typically brings cold winter weather, with average highs around 32°F and lows near 14°F. Over 55 years of records, the warmest December 21st was in 2023 (45°F average), while the coldest was 1989 (-7°F) — a 52°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 27% of recorded December 21st dates, with snow falling 15% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 4"). The last decade has been 10.2°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 10.2°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for December 21st in Des Moines, IA? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46° | 18° | 32° | — | — |
| 2024 | 26° | 19° | 23° | — | — |
| 2023warmest | 52° | 38° | 45° | — | — |
| 2022 | 18° | 2° | 10° | 0.43" | 2.2" |
| 2021 | 40° | 13° | 27° | — | — |
| 2020 | 41° | 22° | 31° | — | — |
| 2019 | 47° | 22° | 34° | — | — |
| 2018 | 31° | 24° | 28° | — | — |
| 2017 | 38° | 27° | 32° | — | — |
| 2016 | 42° | 23° | 33° | — | — |
| 2015 | 51° | — | — | 0.03" | — |
| 2014 | 37° | 29° | 33° | 0.03" | — |
| 2013 | 26° | 21° | 24° | 0.25" | 1.1" |
| 2012 | 23° | 8° | 16° | — | — |
| 2011 | 33° | 27° | 30° | 0.05" | 0.2" |
| 2010 | 34° | 23° | 28° | — | — |
| 2009 | 30° | 17° | 24° | 0.1" | 1" |
| 2008 | 25° | -5° | 10° | 0.13" | 0.2" |
| 2007 | 41° | 22° | 31° | — | — |
| 2006 | 39° | 32° | 36° | 2.24" | — |
| 2005 | 28° | 5° | 17° | — | — |
| 2004 | 39° | 14° | 27° | 0.23" | 1" |
| 2003 | 43° | 20° | 31° | — | — |
| 2002 | 33° | 22° | 27° | — | — |
| 2001 | 48° | 19° | 34° | — | — |
| 2000 | 19° | -1° | 9° | — | — |
| 1999 | 10° | -14° | -2° | — | — |
| 1998 | 19° | 4° | 11° | — | — |
| 1997 | 35° | 17° | 26° | — | — |
| 1996 | 31° | -6° | 13° | — | — |
| 1995 | 28° | 17° | 23° | — | — |
| 1994 | 41° | 27° | 34° | 0.03" | — |
| 1993 | 27° | 13° | 20° | — | — |
| 1992 | 32° | 9° | 20° | — | — |
| 1991 | 33° | 22° | 27° | 0.74" | — |
| 1990 | 26° | -4° | 11° | — | — |
| 1989coldest | 7° | -20° | -7° | — | 2" |
| 1988 | 35° | 18° | 26° | — | — |
| 1987 | 40° | 25° | 32° | — | — |
| 1986 | 32° | 19° | 26° | — | — |
| 1985 | 24° | -13° | 6° | — | — |
| 1984 | 34° | 27° | 30° | 1.45" | — |
| 1983 | 11° | -8° | 2° | 0.56" | 4" |
| 1982 | 44° | 21° | 33° | — | — |
| 1981 | 38° | 31° | 34° | 0.03" | — |
| 1980 | 24° | 9° | 16° | — | — |
| 1979 | 53° | 23° | 38° | — | — |
| 1978 | 45° | 16° | 30° | — | — |
| 1977 | 18° | 10° | 14° | — | — |
| 1976 | 17° | -3° | 7° | — | — |
| 1975 | 30° | 9° | 19° | — | — |
| 1974 | 28° | 12° | 20° | 0.05" | — |
| 1973 | 12° | -4° | 4° | — | — |
| 1972 | 33° | 23° | 28° | — | — |
| 1971 | 28° | 22° | 25° | — | — |
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.