Spring
61°F / 41°F
March, April, May: about 11.4 in of rain and 6 in of snow.
Plan a visit
Best time to visit Des Moines
May, August, September bring mild highs and the least rain.
Best time to visit
May · August · September
Highs between 65°F and 85°F with the least rain of the year. Hottest: July (86°F). Coldest nights: January (14°F). Wettest: June.
Des Moines by season
Summer
84°F / 64°F
June, July, August: about 13.3 in of rain.
Fall
63°F / 43°F
September, October, November: about 7.9 in of rain and 3 in of snow.
Winter
34°F / 17°F
December, January, February: about 4.0 in of rain and 28 in of snow.
Month-by-month planner
| Month | Weather | High / low | Rain | Local guides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cold | 31°F / 14°F | 1.1 in | |
| February | Cold | 36°F / 18°F | 1.3 in | Valentine’s Day |
| March | Cool | 49°F / 30°F | 2.2 in | St. Patrick’s Day |
| April | Wet | 62°F / 41°F | 4.0 in | |
| May | Wet | 72°F / 52°F | 5.2 in | |
| June | Wet | 82°F / 62°F | 5.3 in | Fourth of July |
| July | Wet | 86°F / 66°F | 3.8 in | Fourth of July |
| August | Wet | 84°F / 64°F | 4.2 in | |
| September | Wet | 77°F / 55°F | 3.2 in | Halloween |
| October | Good | 63°F / 43°F | 2.8 in | Halloween |
| November | Cool | 48°F / 30°F | 1.9 in | Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas |
| December | Cold | 36°F / 20°F | 1.6 in | Christmas, New Year’s Eve |
“Great” means highs between 65°F and 85°F with fewer than 10 wet days. Averages are NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the Des Moines Intl Ap station, not a forecast.
Around Des Moines
See Des Moines before you go
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
5 things to see and do in Des Moines, Iowa from bus life travels
A local activity Short shared by The Hive Drive.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
3 things to do in Des Moines (Iowa)
A local activity Short shared by Travel Tour.
Watch on YouTube ↗Questions
What is the best month to visit Des Moines?
May, August, September: highs between 65°F and 85°F with the least rain.
What is the hottest month in Des Moines?
July, averaging 86°F highs.
What is the coldest month in Des Moines?
January, with average lows of 14°F.
What is the rainiest month in Des Moines?
June, averaging 5.3 in of precipitation.
When are the big holidays in Des Moines?
See the local guides: Halloween (October), Thanksgiving (November), Christmas lights (late November to December), New Year’s Eve.