Thermograph

How unusual is the weather? Graded against ~45 years of local climate history.

Des Moines, Iowa, United States weather records

Record high and low temperatures for Des Moines, Iowa, United States, by month, by season, and all-time, with the dates they occurred, across 1981–2026 of daily climate history. Its hottest day on record reached 109°F on 2012-07-23; its coldest fell to -33°F on 1982-01-10.

Records by month

The warmest (▲) and coldest (▼) both the daytime high and the overnight low have ever been in each calendar month, so each column shows its record high and its record low. Tap a month for its full averages and typical range.

MonthDaytime highOvernight low
January
59°F1989-01-31
-8°F1982-01-10
41°F2006-01-28
-33°F1982-01-10
February
75°F2024-02-26
-10°F1996-02-02
46°F2000-02-23
-32°F1996-02-02
March
87°F2026-03-21
6°F2014-03-02
60°F2012-03-18
-12°F1998-03-12
April
89°F1989-04-24
31°F2018-04-01
66°F2002-04-16
10°F1982-04-06
May
97°F2018-05-27
38°F2013-05-03
71°F2022-05-11
27°F1994-05-01
June
107°F1988-06-24
56°F1998-06-03
77°F2025-06-21
41°F2001-06-01
July
109°F2012-07-23
65°F1990-07-12
79°F2012-07-23
49°F1995-07-01
August
108°F1988-08-15
66°F1986-08-28
82°F1988-08-16
41°F1986-08-28
September
101°F2013-09-09
45°F1985-09-29
74°F1985-09-07
30°F1984-09-29
October
94°F1997-10-03
32°F1993-10-30
70°F2007-10-07
14°F1997-10-27
November
77°F1999-11-08
15°F1991-11-07
57°F2001-11-14
-16°F1991-11-07
December
70°F2021-12-15
-12°F1983-12-24
51°F2001-12-04
-27°F1983-12-24

Records by season

The warmest (▲) and coldest (▼) both the daytime high and the overnight low have reached in each meteorological season (Northern Hemisphere, each a three-month span).

SeasonDaytime highOvernight low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
75°F2024-02-26
-12°F1983-12-24
51°F2001-12-04
-33°F1982-01-10
Spring (Mar–May)
97°F2018-05-27
6°F2014-03-02
71°F2022-05-11
-12°F1998-03-12
Summer (Jun–Aug)
109°F2012-07-23
56°F1998-06-03
82°F1988-08-16
41°F2001-06-01
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
101°F2013-09-09
15°F1991-11-07
74°F1985-09-07
-16°F1991-11-07

All-time records

The most extreme value Des Moines has recorded for each metric across its entire history.

High

Highest 109°F 2012-07-23
Lowest -12°F 1983-12-24

Low

Highest 82°F 1988-08-16
Lowest -33°F 1982-01-10

Feels-like

Highest 141°F 1983-08-18
Lowest -69°F 1982-01-10

Humidity

Highest 24.6 g/m³ 2010-08-10
Lowest 0.4 g/m³ 1982-01-10

Wind

Highest 44 mph 2021-12-15
Lowest 4 mph 2005-01-31

Precip

Wettest 2.59 in 1992-09-14
Driest 29-day dry spell 1986-01-05

For rainfall, the “driest” figure is the longest run of consecutive days without measurable rain, dated to when that dry spell began.

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