Climateby Month

Des Moines vs Cedar Rapids weather

Des Moines, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA · 105 mi apart

July highs: 86°F in Des Moines, 86°F in Cedar Rapids. January highs: 31°F and 30°F (Des Moines is 1°F warmer). Des Moines has about 113 wet days a year, Cedar Rapids about 117. Muggy days: about 45 a year in Des Moines, about 44 in Cedar Rapids. Snow: 36.5 in a year in Des Moines, 34.3 in in Cedar Rapids.

Des Moines, IA

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 31°F (-1°C), low 14°F (-10°C) 31° 14° February: normal high 36°F (2°C), low 18°F (-8°C) March: normal high 49°F (9°C), low 30°F (-1°C) April: normal high 62°F (17°C), low 41°F (5°C) May: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 52°F (11°C) June: normal high 82°F (28°C), low 62°F (17°C) July: normal high 86°F (30°C), low 66°F (19°C) 86° 66° August: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 64°F (18°C) September: normal high 77°F (25°C), low 55°F (13°C) October: normal high 63°F (17°C), low 43°F (6°C) November: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 30°F (-1°C) December: normal high 36°F (2°C), low 20°F (-7°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May

Cedar Rapids, IA

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 30°F (-1°C), low 13°F (-11°C) 30° 13° February: normal high 35°F (2°C), low 17°F (-8°C) March: normal high 49°F (9°C), low 28°F (-2°C) April: normal high 63°F (17°C), low 38°F (3°C) May: normal high 74°F (23°C), low 50°F (10°C) June: normal high 82°F (28°C), low 60°F (16°C) July: normal high 86°F (30°C), low 63°F (17°C) 86° 63° August: normal high 83°F (28°C), low 61°F (16°C) September: normal high 77°F (25°C), low 53°F (12°C) October: normal high 64°F (18°C), low 42°F (6°C) November: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 29°F (-2°C) December: normal high 35°F (2°C), low 19°F (-7°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May

Which city for what

  • Less snow: Cedar Rapids (34.3 in vs 36.5 in)
  • Longer growing season: Des Moines (184 frost-free days vs 166 frost-free days)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high Des MoinesAvg high Cedar RapidsWet days Des MoinesWet days Cedar Rapids
Winter (Dec-Feb)34°F33°F2426
Spring (Mar-May)61°F62°F3434
Summer (Jun-Aug)84°F84°F3132
Fall (Sep-Nov)63°F63°F2427

Side by side over a year

Des MoinesCedar Rapids
Hot days (90°F+)2217
Freezing nights128134
Muggy days4544
Comfortable days7578
Precipitation36.5 in38.8 in
Snowfall36.5 in34.3 in
Frost dateslast Apr 18, first Oct 20last Apr 28, first Oct 12
Daylight in June / December15.1 h / 9.2 h15.2 h / 9.2 h
Best monthsMayMay

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh Des MoinesHigh Cedar RapidsWet days Des MoinesWet days Cedar Rapids
January31°F30°F89
February36°F35°F88
March49°F49°F1010
April62°F63°F1211
May72°F74°F1313
June82°F82°F1212
July86°F86°F1010
August84°F83°F910
September77°F77°F89
October63°F64°F910
November48°F48°F88
December36°F35°F89

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Des Moines, IA: temperature from Des Moines Intl Airport (USW00014933), 5.1 mi SSW of the city center; precipitation from Des Moines Intl Airport (USW00014933). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Cedar Rapids, IA: temperature from Cedar Rapids #1 (USC00131319), 4.0 mi NE of the city center; precipitation from Cedar Rapids #1 (USC00131319). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.