Des Moines Weather History
Iowa · US States · Weather data 1976–today
Des Moines sits 4629km from the equator, 291m above sea level. That combination gives it a climate with hot summers and cold, snowy winters (Hot-summer humid continental climate). Its record high is 38.7°C, set 2012-07-25, its record low -35.8°C, set 1996-02-03.
Data through August 4, 2026.
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Des Moines
What is the hottest temperature ever recorded in Des Moines?
The highest temperature in this record for Des Moines is 38.7°C, measured on 2012-07-25. That is a recorded daily value from Des Moines's own series covering 1976 to 2025, not an estimate or a regional average.
What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Des Moines?
The lowest temperature in this record for Des Moines is -35.8°C, measured on 1996-02-03. Together with the heat record above, that spans the full range this city has actually experienced across 1976 to 2025.
How much rain does Des Moines get a year?
Des Moines averages 937mm of precipitation a year, spread across roughly 107 days with at least 1mm. That average is taken over 50 complete calendar years, so one exceptionally wet or dry year does not set the figure.
What was the wettest day on record in Des Moines?
On 1996-05-09, 87.1mm fell on Des Moines, the highest single-day total in this series. For scale, that is roughly 9% of what the city receives in an average full year, in one day.
How many hours of sunshine does Des Moines get a year?
Des Moines averages 3270 sunshine hours a year, which works out to about 9.0 hours a day across the whole year. Sunshine hours measure the time direct sunlight actually reaches the ground, not simply how long it is light.
How warm are summers and how cold are winters in Des Moines?
Across the summer months Des Moines averages a daytime high near 28°C, while winter nights average -8.3°C. The seasons here are set from Des Moines's position relative to the equator rather than a fixed northern-hemisphere calendar.
What is the strongest wind recorded in Des Moines?
The strongest wind speed recorded in Des Moines is 62 km/h, on 1998-11-10. That is the daily maximum sustained wind rather than the peak gust, which typically runs higher still.
