Des Moines has a warm to hot and humid summer, with cold and snowy winters. Our summer temperatures can often climb into the 90°F range, occasionally reaching into the triple digits. Humidity can be high in spring and summer, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Fall brings pleasant temperatures but then quickly turns cold. Our winters vary from moderately cold to bitterly cold, with low temperatures venturing below zero F quite often with wind chills in the negative teens and lower. Our annual snowfall averages 36.4 inches, and our annual rainfall averages 34.72 inches

A quick way to know what the weather forecast for the Des Moines area will be is to take a look at KCCI’s 200-foot weather beacon. The weather beacon is considered a downtown Des Moines landmark, be installed on the KCCI/CBS Channel 8’s 633-foot downtown transmitting tower back in 1960. The lighted beacon changes colors depending on the forecast, and there’s even a rhyme to help you memorize what each color means:

Weather Beacon red, warmer weather ahead.

Weather Beacon white, colder weather in sight.

Weather Beacon green, no change in weather foreseen.

Weather Beacon flashing night or day, precipitation is on the way. 

Des Moines, IA (50309) Weather Facts

July is the average warmest month.
The highest recorded temperature was 110°F in 1936.
January is the average coolest month.
The lowest recorded temperature was -30°F in 1884.
The most precipitation on average occurs in June.

 

Des Moines, IA (50309) Averages

Downtown Des Moines Pictures Representing Each Season:

Spring in Des Moines

Summer in Des Moines

Fall in Des Moines

Winter in Des Moines