Des Moines, Iowa Weather
Prairie lightning bugs rise. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Des Moines weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Heavy Rain54%0.98″84°63°—
- FridayJun 5Thunderstorm77%0.59″82°67°-2°
- SaturdayJun 6Heavy Rain77%0.18″86°64°+4°
- SundayJun 7Light Showers54%0.14″83°69°-3°
- MondayJun 8Light Showers59%0.04″80°69°-3°
- TuesdayJun 9Thunderstorm37%—89°70°+9°
- WednesdayJun 10Thunderstorm12%—92°75°+3°
PM2.5 at 7.2 µg/m³ (AQI 40) with a 0.88 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 11 over the last 6 hours (steady decline since this morning).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 30. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~82%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.
- Present
- AQI 30
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- overcast
- Projected peak
- AQI 7
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 7.2 µg/m³ (AQI 40) with a 0.88 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.88
- 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).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 4:49 AM
- Moonset
- 2:12 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Prairie lightning bugs rise
Des Moines at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 9°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 25 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, 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 has placed Des Moines in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.
- TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
- TOMORROWSLGTSlight Risk
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.
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.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Des Moines its warmest temperatures (~76°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~22°F). Rainfall reaches its peak in June (5.3 inches) and drops to its lowest point in January (1.1 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22° | 1.1″ | 3 |
| February | 27° | 1.3″ | 4 |
| March | 39° | 2.2″ | 5 |
| April | 51° | 4.0″ | 8 |
| May | 62° | 5.2″ | 9 |
| June | 72° | 5.3″ | 7 |
| July | 76° | 3.8″ | 6 |
| August | 74° | 4.2″ | 6 |
| September | 66° | 3.2″ | 5 |
| October | 53° | 2.8″ | 5 |
| November | 39° | 1.9″ | 4 |
| December | 28° | 1.6″ | 4 |
Regional context
Des Moines falls within a warm-summer humid continental climate region. This classification links it with nearby cities that experience similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions.
Similar climates: Davenport, IA, Cedar Rapids, IA, Iowa City, IA, Waterloo, IA, Sioux City, 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 typically sees its last spring frost around mid-April, with the first fall frost returning around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Des Moines?
- June stands as the wettest month with about 5.3 inches of rain on average, contributing to the city's roughly 37 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Des Moines?
- July typically brings the warmest weather, averaging about 76°F.
- What is the coldest month in Des Moines?
- January typically delivers the coldest temperatures, averaging about 22°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Des Moines?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost (mid-April), while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Des Moines get?
- Des Moines experiences about 66 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Des Moines?
- Des Moines's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature. Check the USDA's online lookup tool with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Des Moines, Iowa sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. Winter January temperatures hover near 22°F while summer July averages reach 76°F — creating a 54°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Des Moines receives about 37 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 66 rainy days.
Geography shapes the local weather patterns through latitude (41.6°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows here, when frost threatens, and how daily weather unfolds.