Weather on December 21
Des Moines, IA
55 Years of Data
Avg High
32°F
Avg Low
14°F
Warmest
2023
45°F avg
Coldest
1989
-7°F avg
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.
Warming Trend
2.0°F per decade on this date
| 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° | — | — |
55 years of data from ANKENY