Historical Weather in Des Moines, IA
See 55+ years of weather history for any date in Des Moines going back to 1970.
Part of Iowa weather history · Iowa temperature records
Look Up a Specific Date
Today in Des Moines Weather HistorySee records, averages, and 55+ years of data for today's date
→Trending Now
Monthly Climate Averages
Historical temperature and precipitation averages for Des Moines, IA, based on 55+ years of weather data.
Warmest MonthJulyAvg High: 86°F / Low: 65°F
Coldest MonthJanuaryAvg High: 30°F / Low: 12°F
Jan
30°/ 12°
💧 3.5"
❄️ 1.4"
Feb
35°/ 16°
💧 4.1"
❄️ 1.6"
Mar
48°/ 28°
💧 6.4"
❄️ 1.5"
Apr
62°/ 40°
💧 8.7"
❄️ 1.7"
May
73°/ 51°
💧 9.5"
❄️ 2.0"
Jun
82°/ 61°
💧 11.6"
❄️ 0.1"
Jul
86°/ 65°
💧 11.2"
Aug
84°/ 63°
💧 11.4"
Sep
77°/ 54°
💧 10.1"
Oct
64°/ 42°
💧 8.4"
❄️ 1.7"
Nov
48°/ 29°
💧 6.5"
❄️ 1.5"
Dec
34°/ 17°
💧 4.7"
❄️ 1.4"
Temperatures in Fahrenheit. Precipitation and snowfall in inches.
Des Moines, IA Temperature Range by Month
Average monthly highs and lows. The shaded band shows the typical daily temperature range.
Avg high Avg low
Des Moines, IA Monthly Precipitation
Average rainfall and snowfall per month, in inches.
Rain (in) Snow (in)
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.
Cooler
Hotter
20°40°60°80°100°
Best Time to Visit Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA has no months that meet our "pleasant" threshold — every season has tradeoffs.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Pleasant (65-82°F, ≤2.5" rain) Mild Less ideal
Des Moines Temperature Records
- Record High: The hottest temperature ever recorded in Des Moines, IA is 108°F, set on August 16, 1983.
- Record Low: The coldest temperature ever recorded in Des Moines, IA is -34°F, set on February 3, 1996.
- Data Coverage: Based on 52 years of data from NOAA weather station: ANKENY.
All-Time Record High
108°F
August 16, 1983
All-Time Record Low
-34°F
February 3, 1996
Monthly Temperature Records in Des Moines
| Month | Record High | Record Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 67°F(2002) | -33°F(2009) |
| February | 78°F(2024) | -34°F(1996) |
| March | 91°F(1986) | -14°F(2014) |
| April | 94°F(2010) | 8°F(1982) |
| May | 99°F(2011) | 25°F(2005) |
| June | 103°F(1988) | 40°F(1982) |
| July | 106°F(2012) | 42°F(2002) |
| August | 108°F(1983) | 41°F(1986) |
| September | 101°F(2013) | 22°F(1999) |
| October | 95°F(1997) | 5°F(1999) |
| November | 81°F(1999) | -7°F(1991) |
| December | 75°F(2021) | -25°F(1989) |
Des Moines Snow RecordsSee the top 10 snowiest days ever recorded
→Holiday Weather in Des Moines
Weather Analysis & Trends
RecordsHottest Temperatures Ever Recorded in Every US StateAll 50 state record highs ranked, including Iowa.Severe WeatherTornado Season 2026: Forecasts & What to ExpectAn EF5 already, and the peak still ahead.Climate ForecastEl Niño 2026: What Every US Region Should Expect85% likely by late 2026. Region-by-region impact analysis.