Des Moines Weather Forecast
Des Moines weather: 76°F, clear sky. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.
Des Moines weather in May
Weather map for Des Moines
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Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Climate in Des Moines month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 15° | 1,3 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 42° | 23° | 0,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 56° | 35° | 2,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 63° | 45° | 5,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 74° | 53° | 4,3 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 83° | 65° | 7,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| July | 85° | 69° | 5,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 83° | 66° | 1,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 79° | 60° | 1,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 67° | 50° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 50° | 35° | 2,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 39° | 25° | 1,6 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Continental. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Best time to visit Des Moines
Go in August and September. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
How Des Moines compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Des Moines.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 122 mi | 54°F | +33°F warmer | 29 in |
| Nebraska | 169 mi | 55°F | +34°F warmer | 29 in |
| Kansas City | 179 mi | 58°F | +36°F warmer | 44 in |
| Kansas | 206 mi | 58°F | +37°F warmer | 40 in |
| Missouri | 222 mi | 58°F | +37°F warmer | 39 in |
See the Des Moines forecast by time range
Des Moines weather - more answers
Explore Des Moines
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Weather for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Des Moines?
Des Moines is a city in Iowa. Its coordinates are 41.5868, -93.625. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Des Moines right now?
It is currently 76°F (25°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 76% and wind is 5 mph.
When is the best time to visit Des Moines?
August and September offer the most comfortable conditions in Des Moines, which has a continental climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Des Moines in?
Des Moines observes America/Chicago (UTC-05:00). The local time is 8:02 PM.
How many people live in Des Moines?
Des Moines has a population of approximately 215.000.
What is the nearest airport to Des Moines?
The closest airports are O'Hare International Airport (ORD), 296 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Des Moines?
Popular options include Mississippi River and Starved Rock State Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-us) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 21, 2026 at 8:02 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
