Des Moines, IA weather in January
Expect cold weather with some rain and some snow in Des Moines in January, with highs near 31°F and lows near 14°F. Rain or snow falls on about 8 days. Snowfall averages about 9.4 in. It is one of the coldest months in Des Moines. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 31°F
- Normal low
- 14°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 1.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 9.4 in
- snow on the ground 18 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 32°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 15°F | 14°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 26% | 28% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:41 am / 4:54 pm | 7:27 am / 5:28 pm |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 10.0 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 January day
- 6 am19°Fdew point 14°F
- 9 am20°Fdew point 14°F
- Noon26°Fdew point 16°F
- 3 pm28°Fdew point 17°F
- 6 pm26°Fdew point 17°F
- 9 pm23°Fdew point 16°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 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below30 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more18 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 1.1 in; a dry January brings about 0.8 in and a wet one about 1.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 9.4 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 44°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 21°F
- Wettest January1996: 2.9 in
- Driest January2000: 0.4 in
- Highest reading67°F (January 8, 2003)
- Lowest reading-21°F (January 31, 1996)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
January compared with December and February
| December | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 36°F | 31°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 14°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.6 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Independence, MO179 mi · high 38°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Kansas City, MO180 mi · high 40°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Rochester, MN177 mi · high 23°F · 9 wet days
How Des Moines ranks in January
- Normal high339th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days148th driest of 378
- Comfortable days252nd most of 339
What to pack for Des Moines in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 14°F, highs near 31°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 18 days
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1322 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 18% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Des Moines in January?
The normal high is 31°F and the normal low is 14°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -21°F (January 31, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Des Moines in January?
About 8 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.1 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (2.9 in); the driest was in 2000 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Des Moines in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 9.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 18 days.
Is January a good time to visit Des Moines?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Des Moines (28 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).