Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Des Moines, Iowa Weather

Great rains sometimes fall. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Des Moines weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Des Moines, IA
Sunday, August 2 at 9:57 AM
72
°
Clear
Feels like
76°
Humidity
83%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
1:10 AM
Sunset
3:30 PM
Des Moines, IA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastDes Moines, IA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 65°H 85°
Des Moines, IA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Clear
    —
    —
    85°65°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Overcast
    —
    —
    90°65°+5°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Overcast
    35%
    —
    95°65°+5°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Thunderstorm
    79%
    0.31″
    84°65°-11°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Overcast
    37%
    —
    87°63°+3°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Overcast
    11%
    —
    94°65°+7°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Light Drizzle
    —
    —
    102°72°+8°
Des Moines, IA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°60°75°90°12p6p12a6anow 69°high 85°low 65°
Des Moines, IA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
N
357° · steady
Direction
N
357°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
11
mph
Peak 24h
29
avg 8 mph
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 8 mph · pk 29 mph @ 10:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 135SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze holding from the n.
Des Moines, IA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
985.5
+1.5 mb in 3h · rising · 29.10 inHg
Now
985.5
mb
3h
+1.5
mb
12h
+1.3
mb
24h
+1.7
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 983–986
975980985990-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW985.0983.3985.0
The low is filling — pressure climbing out of storm territory.
Des Moines, IA
Air quality
35
AQI
Good
→+2 in 6h

AQI 35 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 5.9 µg/m³ (AQI 33) with a 0.98 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in stagnant air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
5.9μg/m³
PM 10Good
6μg/m³
NO₂Good
7μg/m³
OzoneGood
49μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
2.1

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 5.9 µg/m³ (AQI 33) with a 0.98 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in stagnant air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.98
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³370
Des Moines, IA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
7%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
34.5mi
UNLIMITED
56 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
14:57 UTC · Des Moines, IA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
14:57 UTC · Des Moines, IA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Des Moines, IA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Des Moines, IA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Des Moines, IA
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
5:39 AM
Sunrise
1:10 AM
Daylight
14h 20m
Sunset
3:30 PM
Civil dusk
9:03 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Des Moines, IA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
9:58 PM
Moonset
10:20 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Des Moines, IA
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Great rains sometimes fall

insect
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Des Moines at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 11°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 25 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

ZIP codes: 50309, 50310, 50311, 50312, 50313, 50314, 50315, 50316 +4 more

16-Day Forecast — Des Moines

  1. Sun85°65°0%
  2. Mon90°65°0%
  3. Tue95°65°23%
  4. Wed84°65°77%
  5. Thu87°63°43%
  6. Fri94°65°14%
  7. Sat102°72°6%
  8. Sun104°77°13%
  9. Mon102°71°15%
  10. Tue102°72°22%
  11. Wed108°81°27%
  12. Thu109°73°27%
  13. Fri108°74°29%
  14. Sat91°67°42%
  15. Sun101°63°20%
  16. Mon89°67°26%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Des Moines

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Des Moines

SPC includes Des Moines in the general thunderstorm area day after tomorrow — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYNONENo severe risk
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

Sun & seasons in Des Moines

Des Moines sits in Polk County, where the year’s longest day runs 15h 12m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 10m — a swing of +6h 2m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Davenport, the state’s largest city, lies about 155 miles to the E. The nearest town Des Moines tracks is Cedar Rapids, roughly 103 miles to the ENE.

Air quality in Des Moines’s county has trended dirtier since 2020; its cleanest year on record was 2022 (median AQI 41). See the full air-quality history for Des Moines.

January 1–5: Winter settles deep on the plains.January 6–10: Arctic cold grips the heartland.January 11–15: Sunlight returns to the sloped terrain.January 16–20: Ring-necked pheasants call from cover.January 21–25: Deepest cold locks the prairie.January 26–31: Deep winter's pivot point.February 1–5: February's first breath.February 6–10: Subtle shifts in the light.February 11–15: Bald eagles concentrate on open water.February 16–20: Cold rebound before the final thaw.February 21–25: First killdeer return to thawed fields.February 26–28: Winter's veil grows thin.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the land.March 6–10: Hibernators wake to open air.March 11–15: Spring arrives with fury and grace.March 16–20: Sandhill Cranes Rise from the Platte.March 21–25: Equinox — Night and Day Hold Balance.March 26–31: First Green Breaks Through Brown Earth.April 1–5: Thunder Voices Wake the Prairie.April 6–10: Cliff Swallows Return to Mud Nests.April 11–15: Wild Geese Wing North in Massive Flocks.April 16–20: Rainbows Follow Afternoon Storms.April 21–25: Prairie Sedges Push Through Wet Soil.April 26–30: Last Frost Retreats North.May 1–5: Wildflowers Erupt Across the Prairie.May 6–10: Grain Rains Feed the Growing Fields.May 11–15: Seedlings Rise From Frost-Free Soil.May 16–20: Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows.May 21–25: Summer Arrives Early in Wind and Heat.May 26–31: Frogs Begin Their Nightly Chorus.June 1–5: Prairie lightning bugs rise.June 6–10: Earthworms surface after rain.June 11–15: Toward the solstice glow.June 16–20: Lesser ripening, greater heat.June 21–25: Solstice—sun at zenith.June 26–30: Fireflies in the darkening oak.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Warm wind sweeps the tallgrass.July 11–15: Thunder builds every afternoon.July 16–20: Corn tassels and reaches peak.July 21–25: Dog days settle in haze.July 26–31: Katydid chorus erupts at dusk.August 1–5: Great rains sometimes fall.August 6–10: Autumn's edge approaches.August 11–15: Cool wind rises from the north.August 16–20: Late summer wind through tallgrass.August 21–25: Dew settles on the tallgrass.August 26–31: Monarchs gather on prairie.September 1–5: Corn tassels and heavy skies.September 6–10: Purple asters rise on the prairie.September 11–15: Hawks ride thermal currents south.September 16–20: Equinox brings balance to day.September 21–25: Thunder stills across the plains.September 26–30: Snow geese wheel through the flyway.October 1–5: Prairie enters dormancy slowly.October 6–10: Geese gather on autumn waters.October 11–15: First widespread freeze arrives.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Frost deepens through the night.October 26–31: Light rains fall on frozen ground.November 1–5: Tallgrass turns gold.November 6–10: North wind strips the oak.November 11–15: Frost locks the prairie.November 16–20: Open sky grows cold.November 21–25: First snow falls soft.November 26–30: Blizzard drives the herds.December 1–5: Deep winter takes hold.December 6–10: Sky closes cold, winter reigns.December 11–15: Darkness deepens, life retreats.December 16–20: Rivers turn to stone.December 21–25: Solstice — sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · August 1–5

Great rains sometimes fall

Monsoon-like moisture pulses bring heavy downpours; flooding becomes a threat as prairie soils approach saturation from repeated storms.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

In Des Moines, July runs warmest near 77°F and January coldest around 21°F, while May is the wettest month (5.4 inches) and January the driest (1.1 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January21°1.1″12
February25°1.4″10
March37°3.1″14
April51°3.6″17
May61°5.4″20
June71°4.6″17
July77°3.7″15
August76°3.0″13
September68°3.9″13
October55°2.6″11
November38°2.5″11
December25°1.7″12

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Des Moines sees 21°F Januarys and 77°F Julys, a 56°F range, plus around 36.7 inches of precipitation across 164 days.

Precipitation in Des Moines runs summer-dominant: May averages 5.4 inches across 19.8 days of warm-season storms, while January drops to 1.1 inches over 11.7 rainy days of drier cool air. It is a warm-season-wet pattern Des Moines shares with places like Windsor Heights, IA, Pleasant Hill, IA and Norwalk, IA.

By mid-April the frosts ease in Des Moines, opening the season for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Warm-soil crops in Des Moines wait about two weeks past Des Moines's last frost, once the soil warms. Around mid-November, freezing nights resume in Des Moines and tender crops must come in. Within Des Moines, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Des Moines's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Windsor Heights, IA, Pleasant Hill, IA, Norwalk, IA, Carlisle, IA, Saylorville, IA.

Naturalist notes

Late May brings the return of Baltimore orioles to Des Moines area woodlands, their bright orange plumage visible among newly leafed oak trees.

June marks peak bloom for native wild bergamot across Iowa prairies, filling meadows with purple flower clusters that attract native bees.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Des Moines?
Des Moines's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in Des Moines the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Des Moines?
May is the wettest month in Des Moines, about 5.4 inches on average; the year totals roughly 37 inches.
What is the warmest month in Des Moines?
On average July tops the year in Des Moines at about 77°F.
What is the coldest month in Des Moines?
The coldest stretch in Des Moines falls in January, around 21°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Des Moines?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-April in Des Moines; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Des Moines get?
Expect roughly 164 wet days a year in Des Moines.
What hardiness zone is Des Moines?
With January around 21°F, Des Moines's zone reflects that minimum — the USDA ZIP map confirms Des Moines's band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Des Moines?
Des Moines's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Des Moines?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Des Moines in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Des Moines?
Current conditions for Des Moines and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Des Moines forecast updated?
The Des Moines forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Des Moines?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Des Moines are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Des Moines?
The next few days in Des Moines's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a warm-summer humid continental zone, Des Moines, Iowa swings from 21°F in the heart of winter to 77°F at midsummer — a 56°F arc.

Des Moines sees close to 37 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 164 wet days.

Des Moines sits at 41.6°N; that 56°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Des Moines.

All cities in Iowa →

ZIP codes in Des Moines

  • 50309
  • 50312
  • 50314
  • 50315
  • 50316
  • 50317
  • 50310
  • 50313
  • 50319
  • 50321
  • 50320
  • 50311
  • 50301
  • 50302
  • 50303
  • 50304
  • 50305
  • 50306
  • 50307
  • 50308
  • 50318
  • 50328
  • 50329
  • 50330
  • 50331
  • 50332
  • 50335
  • 50340
  • 50380
  • 50381
  • 50391
  • 50392
  • 50393
  • 50394
  • 50395
  • 50396
  • 50936
  • 50940
  • 50947
  • 50950
  • 50980
  • 50981
  • 50982
  • 50983

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.