Weather on December 31
Des Moines, IA
55 Years of Data
About This Date
December 31st 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 31st was in 2006 (47°F average), while the coldest was 1998 (-11°F) — a 58°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 16% of recorded December 31st dates, with snow falling 13% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 5"). The last decade has been 3.4°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 3.4°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for December 31st in Des Moines, IA? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47° | 25° | 36° | — | — |
| 2024 | 34° | 29° | 32° | 0.18" | 0.2" |
| 2023 | 31° | 26° | 29° | — | — |
| 2022 | 45° | 27° | 36° | — | — |
| 2021 | 29° | 11° | 20° | — | — |
| 2020 | 30° | 20° | 25° | — | — |
| 2019 | 28° | 24° | 26° | — | — |
| 2018 | 35° | 20° | 28° | 0.28" | — |
| 2017 | 11° | -10° | 1° | — | — |
| 2016 | 45° | 25° | 35° | — | — |
| 2015 | 27° | 13° | 20° | — | — |
| 2014 | 11° | -3° | 4° | — | — |
| 2013 | 14° | -6° | 4° | 0.18" | 1" |
| 2012 | 38° | 3° | 20° | — | — |
| 2011 | 41° | 32° | 37° | — | — |
| 2010 | 59° | 19° | 39° | — | — |
| 2009 | 22° | 5° | 13° | — | — |
| 2008 | 40° | 4° | 22° | — | — |
| 2007 | 29° | 5° | 17° | — | — |
| 2006warmest | 50° | 45° | 47° | 1.85" | — |
| 2005 | 37° | 30° | 34° | — | — |
| 2004 | 62° | 29° | 45° | — | — |
| 2003 | 50° | 19° | 35° | — | — |
| 2002 | 48° | 16° | 32° | — | — |
| 2001 | 22° | 5° | 13° | — | — |
| 2000 | 14° | 0° | 7° | — | — |
| 1999 | 51° | 19° | 35° | — | — |
| 1998coldest | -7° | -16° | -11° | — | 5" |
| 1997 | 37° | 8° | 23° | — | — |
| 1996 | 32° | 11° | 21° | — | — |
| 1995 | 35° | 31° | 33° | — | — |
| 1994 | 34° | 22° | 28° | 1.91" | 2.3" |
| 1993 | 35° | 8° | 22° | — | — |
| 1992 | 28° | -1° | 14° | — | — |
| 1991 | 32° | 30° | 31° | — | — |
| 1990 | -3° | -9° | -6° | — | — |
| 1989 | 33° | 24° | 29° | — | 0.1" |
| 1988 | 40° | 17° | 28° | — | — |
| 1987 | 36° | 7° | 21° | — | — |
| 1986 | 43° | 25° | 34° | — | — |
| 1985 | 33° | 15° | 24° | — | — |
| 1984 | 26° | 15° | 21° | 0.13" | 0.8" |
| 1983 | 30° | 11° | 20° | — | — |
| 1982 | 34° | 20° | 27° | — | — |
| 1981 | 38° | 9° | 23° | 0.51" | 2.5" |
| 1980 | 40° | 30° | 35° | — | — |
| 1979 | 34° | 26° | 30° | — | — |
| 1978 | 9° | 5° | 7° | — | — |
| 1977 | 29° | 13° | 21° | 0.05" | — |
| 1976 | 6° | -15° | -4° | — | — |
| 1975 | 37° | 21° | 29° | — | — |
| 1974 | 37° | 21° | 29° | 0.1" | — |
| 1973 | 4° | -10° | -3° | — | — |
| 1972 | 39° | 17° | 28° | — | — |
| 1971 | 25° | 12° | 18° | — | — |
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.