Des Moines, IA weather in February
Des Moines is cold and snowy in February: highs average 36°F and nights drop to about 18°F. There are about 8 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 10.2 in. This is the depth of winter in Des Moines. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 18°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 1.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.2 in
- snow on the ground 15 days
How February changes from start to finish
| February 1 | February 28 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 32°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 14°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 28% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:26 am / 5:29 pm | 6:50 am / 6:03 pm |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 11.2 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 February day
- 6 am23°Fdew point 17°F
- 9 am24°Fdew point 17°F
- Noon31°Fdew point 19°F
- 3 pm33°Fdew point 20°F
- 6 pm31°Fdew point 20°F
- 9 pm28°Fdew point 20°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°F1 of 28
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 28
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 28
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow8 of 28
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 28
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 28
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more15 of 28
Average days per February, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in February
Normal precipitation is 1.3 in; a dry February brings about 0.7 in and a wet one about 1.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.2 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How February varies from year to year
- Warmest February, 1991-20202017: average high 50°F
- Coolest February2007: average high 25°F
- Wettest February2008: 2.5 in
- Driest February1991: 0.2 in
- Highest reading75°F (February 17, 2017)
- Lowest reading-26°F (February 3, 1996)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
February compared with January and March
| January | February | March | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 31°F | 36°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 14°F | 18°F | 30°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 10.6 h | 12.0 h |
Highs change by +5°F from January and +13°F into March.
Nearby alternatives in February
- Warmer: Independence, MO179 mi · high 43°F · 6 wet days
- Drier: Kansas City, MO180 mi · high 45°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Rochester, MN177 mi · high 27°F · 8 wet days
How Des Moines ranks in February
- Normal high317th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days170th driest of 378
- Comfortable days237th most of 340
What to pack for Des Moines in February
- A warm jacket – lows near 18°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 15 days
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
February has 1068 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Des Moines in February?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 18°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest February reading was -26°F (February 3, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Des Moines in February?
About 8 days in February have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.3 in. The wettest February in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (2.5 in); the driest was in 1991 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Des Moines in February?
Yes. Normal snowfall in February is 10.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 15 days.
Is February a good time to visit Des Moines?
February ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Des Moines (33 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. 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).