Weather on December 3
Des Moines, IA
55 Years of Data
Avg High
38°F
Avg Low
20°F
Warmest
1999
53°F avg
Coldest
1985
5°F avg
About This Date
December 3rd in Des Moines, IA typically brings cold winter weather, with average highs around 38°F and lows near 20°F. Over 55 years of records, the warmest December 3rd was in 1999 (53°F average), while the coldest was 1985 (5°F) — a 48°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 16% of recorded December 3rd dates, with snow falling 11% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 3"). The last decade has been 1.7°F cooler on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 1.7°F cooler on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for December 3rd in Des Moines, IA? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
Warming Trend
1.0°F per decade on this date
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34° | 6° | 20° | — | — |
| 2024 | 33° | 9° | 21° | — | — |
| 2023 | 41° | 29° | 35° | — | — |
| 2022 | 28° | 10° | 19° | — | — |
| 2021 | 56° | 36° | 46° | — | — |
| 2020 | 45° | 19° | 32° | — | — |
| 2019 | 34° | 17° | 25° | — | — |
| 2018 | 30° | 26° | 28° | — | — |
| 2017 | 55° | 25° | 40° | — | — |
| 2016 | 38° | 32° | 35° | — | — |
| 2015 | 34° | 22° | 28° | — | — |
| 2014 | 35° | 13° | 24° | — | — |
| 2013 | 46° | 30° | 38° | — | — |
| 2012 | 59° | 42° | 51° | — | — |
| 2011 | 41° | 11° | 26° | 1.27" | — |
| 2010 | 41° | 17° | 29° | — | — |
| 2009 | 37° | 15° | 26° | — | — |
| 2008 | 42° | 18° | 30° | 0.18" | 0.3" |
| 2007 | 41° | 14° | 28° | — | — |
| 2006 | 24° | 8° | 16° | — | — |
| 2005 | 17° | 11° | 14° | — | — |
| 2004 | 47° | 22° | 34° | — | — |
| 2003 | 40° | 28° | 34° | 0.86" | 3" |
| 2002 | 34° | 10° | 22° | — | — |
| 2001 | 56° | 17° | 36° | — | — |
| 2000 | 30° | 6° | 18° | — | — |
| 1999warmest | 59° | 47° | 53° | — | — |
| 1998 | 59° | 45° | 52° | — | — |
| 1997 | 38° | 31° | 34° | 0.94" | — |
| 1996 | 31° | 11° | 21° | 0.2" | 1" |
| 1995 | 53° | 30° | 42° | — | — |
| 1994 | 56° | 32° | 44° | — | — |
| 1993 | 45° | 24° | 34° | — | — |
| 1992 | 33° | 18° | 25° | — | — |
| 1991 | 25° | 10° | 17° | 0.2" | 1" |
| 1990 | 29° | 23° | 26° | — | — |
| 1989 | 26° | 5° | 16° | — | — |
| 1988 | 48° | 31° | 39° | — | — |
| 1987 | 35° | 29° | 32° | — | — |
| 1986 | 36° | 27° | 31° | — | — |
| 1985coldest | 15° | -5° | 5° | 0.08" | 0.3" |
| 1984 | 26° | 10° | 18° | — | — |
| 1983 | 30° | 7° | 18° | — | — |
| 1982 | 52° | 32° | 42° | — | — |
| 1981 | 38° | 23° | 30° | 0.43" | 1.3" |
| 1980 | 32° | 1° | 17° | — | — |
| 1979 | 48° | 22° | 35° | — | — |
| 1978 | 19° | 13° | 16° | 0.15" | — |
| 1977 | 35° | 20° | 27° | — | — |
| 1976 | 10° | 2° | 6° | — | — |
| 1975 | 35° | 20° | 27° | — | — |
| 1974 | 28° | 7° | 17° | — | — |
| 1973 | 66° | 34° | 50° | — | — |
| 1972 | 49° | 10° | 29° | — | — |
| 1971 | 33° | 25° | 29° | — | — |
55 years of data from ANKENY