Des Moines, IA weather in April
April in Des Moines: cool, with frequent rain. Highs 62°F, lows 41°F, about 12 wet days and about 1.2 in of snow. A good month for most outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 62°F
- Normal low
- 41°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 4.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.2 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 57°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 46°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:57 am / 7:39 pm | 6:12 am / 8:10 pm |
| Daylight | 12.7 h | 14.0 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical April day
- 6 am44°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 am50°Fdew point 38°F
- Noon57°Fdew point 38°F
- 3 pm60°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm58°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 pm52°Fdew point 38°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Des Moines Intl Airport (5 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F11 of 30
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 30
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 30
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below6 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 30
Average days per April, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in April
Normal precipitation is 4.0 in; a dry April brings about 2.4 in and a wet one about 4.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.2 in.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20202010: average high 70°F
- Coolest April2018: average high 55°F
- Wettest April1991: 7.5 in
- Driest April2018: 1.7 in
- Highest reading90°F (April 25, 2012)
- Lowest reading14°F (April 4, 2018)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
April compared with March and May
| March | April | May | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 62°F | 72°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 41°F | 52°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 11 | 15 |
| Daylight | 12.0 h | 13.3 h | 14.5 h |
Highs change by +13°F from March and +10°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Warmer: Columbia, MO195 mi · high 67°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Rochester, MN177 mi · high 55°F · 12 wet days
How Des Moines ranks in April
- Normal high248th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days289th driest of 378
- Comfortable days176th most of 340
What to pack for Des Moines in April
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
Frost in April
The last spring frost typically comes around Apr 18; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 2. All frost dates for Des Moines.
Heating and cooling
April has 421 heating degree days and 10 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Des Moines in April?
The normal high is 62°F and the normal low is 41°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was 14°F (April 4, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Des Moines in April?
About 12 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.0 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 1991 (7.5 in); the driest was in 2018 (1.7 in).
Does it snow in Des Moines in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 1.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is April a good time to visit Des Moines?
April ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for Des Moines (63 out of 100). It has about 11 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Des Moines Intl Airport (USW00014933), 5.1 mi SSW of the city center, 957 ft (85 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Des Moines International Airport (725460-14933), 5.1 mi SSW of the city center, 939 ft (67 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).