Des Moines, IA weather in July
In July, Des Moines sees highs around 86°F and lows around 66°F: warm and often humid, with some rain. There are about 10 days with rain. It is one of the warmest months in Des Moines.
- Normal high
- 86°F
- Normal low
- 66°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 17
- dew point 65°F+
How July changes from start to finish
| July 1 | July 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 85°F | 85°F |
| Normal low | 66°F | 66°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 31% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:44 am / 8:52 pm | 6:08 am / 8:33 pm |
| Daylight | 15.1 h | 14.4 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 July day
- 6 am69°Fdew point 64°F
- 9 am76°Fdew point 65°F
- Noon82°Fdew point 65°F
- 3 pm84°Fdew point 65°F
- 6 pm82°Fdew point 65°F
- 9 pm76°Fdew point 66°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Des Moines Intl Airport (5 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F3 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more9 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more17 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per July, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in July
Normal precipitation is 3.8 in; a dry July brings about 2.1 in and a wet one about 5.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How July varies from year to year
- Warmest July, 1991-20202012: average high 96°F
- Coolest July1992: average high 80°F
- Wettest July1993: 9.8 in
- Driest July2018: 0.4 in
- Highest reading106°F (July 25, 2012)
- Lowest reading50°F (July 1, 1995)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
July compared with June and August
| June | July | August | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 82°F | 86°F | 84°F |
| Normal low | 62°F | 66°F | 64°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| Daylight | 15.1 h | 14.8 h | 13.8 h |
Highs change by +4°F from June and -2°F into August.
Nearby alternatives in July
- Cooler: Rochester, MN177 mi · high 80°F · 11 wet days
How Des Moines ranks in July
- Normal high220th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days198th driest of 378
- Comfortable days146th most of 340
What to pack for Des Moines in July
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 86°F and about 17 muggy days
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
- Sunglasses and sunscreen – about 14.8 hours of daylight and highs near 86°F
Heating and cooling
July has 1 heating degree days and 342 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Des Moines in July?
The normal high is 86°F and the normal low is 66°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest July reading was 106°F (July 25, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Des Moines in July?
About 10 days in July have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.8 in. The wettest July in 1991-2020 was in 1993 (9.8 in); the driest was in 2018 (0.4 in).
Is July a good time to visit Des Moines?
July ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Des Moines (53 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days and about 9 days at 90°F or hotter. 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).