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 ↗
Weather · December
Des Moines weather in December
Average highs of 36°F, lows of 20°F and 1.6 in of rain, from 30 years of weather records.
December is Des Moines’s 10th warmest month, with average highs of 36°F and lows of 20°F. That is 12° cooler than November, and 25° below the yearly average high.
- Average high
- 36°F
- Average low
- 20°F
- Precipitation
- 1.6 in
- Wet days
- 8
- Snow
- 7.9 in
- Sunrise · sunset
- 7:34 AM · 4:45 PM
December across the year
High and low Rain
What to wear in December
- Cold days: a winter coat, hat and gloves.
- Freezing nights: expect frost on cars in the morning.
- Snow is likely (about 8 inches on average): waterproof boots help.
December is good for
What’s on in Des Moines in December
- Christkindlmarket Des MoinesDecember 3 – December 13 · Thu 5-9 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Dec. 3-6 and 10-13) · Principal Park (Lot 1), downtown Des Moines
- Family Christmas at Living History FarmsSaturday, December 5 · Noon-3 p.m. · Living History Farms, Urbandale (about 15 minutes from downtown)
- Holly & Ivy at Salisbury HouseDecember 5 – December 6 · 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days · Salisbury House, south of Grand Avenue, Des Moines
- Ballet Des Moines: The NutcrackerDecember 10 – December 13 · Dec. 10-11 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 12 at 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 13 at 1 and 5 p.m. · Hoyt Sherman Place, Sherman Hill
- Iowa Dance Theatre: The NutcrackerDecember 11 – December 12 · Des Moines Civic Center, downtown
- The Peppermint TrailSaturday, December 12 · The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand and the Roosevelt Cultural District, Des Moines
- Des Moines Symphony Holiday BrassDecember 19 – December 20 · Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. · Westminster Presbyterian Church, Des Moines
- Des Moines Symphony New Year's Eve Pops: Cirque - Symphonic CinemaThursday, December 31 · 8:00 p.m. · Des Moines Civic Center, downtown
- Iowa Wild New Year's Eve BashThursday, December 31 · 6:00 p.m. game; fireworks after the game · Casey's Center (Iowa Wild home arena), downtown Des Moines
See all upcoming events and school days off.
Around Des Moines
See Des Moines
A look around town before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
3 things to do in Des Moines (Iowa)
A local activity Short shared by Travel Tour.
Watch on YouTube ↗December compared with the months around it
Planning a trip? See the best time to visit Des Moines and today’s forecast.
Questions
How hot does it get in Des Moines in December?
Average highs are 36°F and average lows 20°F, for a daily mean of 28°F. Individual days run hotter or colder than these 30-year averages.
Does it rain in Des Moines in December?
December averages 1.6 in of precipitation over about 8 days with at least 0.01 in. It is the 10th wettest month of the year.
Does it snow in Des Moines in December?
Yes, about 7.9 in of snow on average.
What time is sunset in Des Moines in December?
Around mid-December the sun rises about 7:34 AM and sets about 4:45 PM, for roughly 9.2 hours of daylight.
Is December a good time to visit Des Moines?
The mildest months for visiting are May, August, September. December is cold, with Christmas lights and New Year’s Eve events.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Des Moines Intl Ap station (3.9 mi from downtown). Sunrise and sunset are calculated for December 15 at the city’s coordinates.