The climate of Des Moines, the most populous city and capital of Iowa, is
The city is located in the Midwest of the United States, at an altitude of 250 meters (820 feet).
of different origins, which give rise to sudden changes in temperature, thunderstorms (in spring and summer), sometimes accompanied by hail, and intense cold waves in winter.
of the coldest month (January) is of -5.4 °C (22.4 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 24.4 °C (76 °F).
amounts to 930 millimeters (36.6 inches) per year.
are frequent, although generally they are not very abundant, since winter is the driest season of the year. On average, 93 centimeters (36.5 inches) of snow fall per year. It usually snows from October through April. The heaviest snowfall in one day occurred on January 26, 1996, when 35 cm (13.7 in) of snow fell.
On average, there are 128 days on which the minimum temperature is equal to or below freezing, and that usually happens from October through April. Furthermore, there are 46 icing days (that is, on which the air temperature does not go above freezing), and that usually happens from November through March.
are intense, in fact, the temperature usually drops to -25 °C (-13 °F) on the coldest nights of the year. The record cold, -32 °C (-25.5 °F), occurred in February 1996.
However, there may be short periods when the temperature exceeds 10/12 °C (50/54 °F), and sometimes reaches as high as 20 °C (68 °F), even in the middle of winter.
, from June to August, is hot and sunny, although thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
On average, there are 22 days with a maximum temperature equal to or above 32 °C (90 °F), and that usually happens from May through September.
Typically, the temperature reaches 37/38 °C (100/102 °F) on the hottest days of the year, although the record is 42 °C (108 °F), recorded in August 1983. In July 2012, the average maximum was 36.6 °C (97.9 °F).
, from mid-March to May and from September to mid-November, are unsettled seasons, with fairly frequent rains and sudden changes in temperature. However, there are also stable and pleasant periods.
can form, which are most likely in spring, but can occasionally occur in autumn as well.
to visit Des Moines is early autumn, from September to early October. You can also choose spring, in particular the month of May, which however is a more unstable period.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-5.4 °C, with a minimum of
-10.1 °C and a maximum of
-0.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-22 °C. However, it dropped to
-29.4 °C in January 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12 °C. However, it reached
19.4 °C in January 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.7 kph.
February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.9 °C, with a minimum of
-7.8 °C and a maximum of
2.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-19.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-32.2 °C in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15 °C. However, it reached
23.9 °C in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.5 kph.
March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.1 °C, with a minimum of
-1.3 °C and a maximum of
9.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-23 °C in March 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
30.6 °C in March 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
17.4 kph.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.7 °C, with a minimum of
4.8 °C and a maximum of
16.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-10 °C in April 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.9 °C, with a minimum of
11.3 °C and a maximum of
22.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.1 °C in May 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
37.2 °C in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
135 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
15.9 kph.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.3 °C, with a minimum of
16.9 °C and a maximum of
27.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
5.6 °C in June 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
38.3 °C in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
135 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
14.4 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.4 °C, with a minimum of
19.1 °C and a maximum of
29.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
10 °C in July 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
41.1 °C in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
August is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.3 °C, with a minimum of
17.9 °C and a maximum of
28.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7.8 °C in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in August 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
105 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.2 kph.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19 °C, with a minimum of
13 °C and a maximum of
24.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.6 °C in September 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
38.3 °C in September 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
13.7 kph.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.8 °C, with a minimum of
6.1 °C and a maximum of
17.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-8 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
15.5 kph.
November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4 °C, with a minimum of
-1 °C and a maximum of
9.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-20 °C in November 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
27.2 °C in November 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
16.5 kph.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.4 °C, with a minimum of
-6.9 °C and a maximum of
2.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18 °C. However, it dropped to
-25.6 °C in December 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14.5 °C. However, it reached
20.6 °C in December 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.9 kph.