Des Moines, IA weather in December
Expect cold weather with some rain and some snow in Des Moines in December, with highs near 36°F and lows near 20°F. Rain or snow falls on about 8 days. Snowfall averages about 7.9 in.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 20°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 1.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 7.9 in
- snow on the ground 10 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 41°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 16°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 25% | 26% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:21 am / 4:45 pm | 7:41 am / 4:53 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.2 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 December day
- 6 am24°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 am25°Fdew point 20°F
- Noon31°Fdew point 21°F
- 3 pm33°Fdew point 22°F
- 6 pm30°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 pm28°Fdew point 21°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Des Moines Intl Airport (5 mi away); average wind 10 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more10 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.6 in; a dry December brings about 0.8 in and a wet one about 2.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 7.9 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202006: average high 44°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 19°F
- Wettest December2015: 5.4 in
- Driest December2002: 0.01 in
- Highest reading69°F (December 4, 2017)
- Lowest reading-15°F (December 31, 2017)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
December compared with November and January
| November | December | January | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 36°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 20°F | 14°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.2 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -12°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Independence, MO179 mi · high 42°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Kansas City, MO180 mi · high 44°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Rochester, MN177 mi · high 28°F · 10 wet days
How Des Moines ranks in December
- Normal high328th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days138th driest of 378
- Comfortable days254th most of 340
What to pack for Des Moines in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 20°F, highs near 36°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1156 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Des Moines in December?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 20°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -15°F (December 31, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Des Moines in December?
About 8 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (5.4 in); the driest was in 2002 (0.01 in).
Does it snow in Des Moines in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 7.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 10 days.
Is December a good time to visit Des Moines?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Des Moines (30 out of 100). It has almost no 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).