Des Moines (WA) Weather and Climate: A Comprehensive Guide
The climate in Des Moines is marked by big temperature swings throughout the year.
Temperatures range from warm during the warmest months
to cold in the cooler months.
It is also known for its large amounts of rain/snowfall.
Let’s explore the climate details in depth to provide you with a complete overview.
Average maximum day and minimum night temperature
In Des Moines, temperatures differ significantly between summer and winter months. Typically, average maximum daytime temperatures range from a comfortable 25°C in July to a chilly 7°C in the coolest month, December.
Nights are cooler, with lows often dropping to around 2°C during the colder months. Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.Temperature ranges by month
Precipitation and rainy days
Des Moines experiences significant rain/snowfall throughout the year, averaging 1079 mm of precipitation annually. The climate in Des Moines shows significant variation throughout the year. Expect heavy rainfall in November, with an average of 177 mm of precipitation over 21 rainy days. In contrast, July offers drier and sunnier days, with around 14 mm of rainfall over 4 rainy days. For more details, please visit our Des Moines Precipitation page.The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail and snow
The average number of days each month with precipitation
Sunshine over the year
For those who appreciate different seasons, Des Moines serves as an ideal destination. Expect longer, more sun-filled days in July with an average of 10.4 hours of sunshine daily, and embrace the darker days in December, offering only 1.8 hours of daily sunlight. Visit our detailed sunshine hours page for more information.Monthly hours of sunshine
Daily hours of sunshine
Daily percentage of sunshine
Average humidity
The relative humidity is high throughout the year in Des Moines.
The city experiences its highest humidity in December, reaching 80%. In July, the humidity drops to its lowest level at 65%. Explore our detailed page on humidity levels for further details.
Relative humidity over the year
Average wind speed
The mean wind speed varies between 4 m/s and 5 m/s throughout the year. It is lowest in February, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December and highest during January and March.
The mean monthly wind speed over the year (meters per second)
overcast and heavy rain overcast and heavy rain broken clouds and rainForecast for Des Moines (WA)
5 m/s
9 m/s
5 m/s
The best time of year to visit Des Moines in the United States of America
During the months of June, July, August and September you are most likely to experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures that fall between 20°C and 26°C.Other facts from our historical weather data:
Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in January and November.
July has an average maximum temperature of 25°C and is the warmest month of the year.
The coldest month is December with an average maximum temperature of 7°C.
November tops the wettest month list with 177 mm of rainfall.
July is the driest month with 14 mm of precipitation.
July is the sunniest month with an average of 312 hours of sunshine.
No idea where to travel to this year? We have a tool that recommends destinations based on your ideal conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.
