Des Moines, IA weather in March
In March, Des Moines sees highs around 49°F and lows around 30°F: chilly, with some rain and some snow. There are about 10 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 4.4 in.
- Normal high
- 49°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.4 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 42°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:48 am / 6:04 pm | 6:58 am / 7:38 pm |
| Daylight | 11.3 h | 12.7 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 March day
- 6 am33°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am37°Fdew point 27°F
- Noon44°Fdew point 28°F
- 3 pm47°Fdew point 29°F
- 6 pm45°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 pm40°Fdew point 28°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°F5 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below19 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more5 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 2.2 in; a dry March brings about 1.5 in and a wet one about 3.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.4 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 67°F
- Coolest March2001: average high 40°F
- Wettest March2009: 4.7 in
- Driest March1994: 0.2 in
- Highest reading87°F (March 26, 1991)
- Lowest reading-9°F (March 12, 1998)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
March compared with February and April
| February | March | April | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 36°F | 49°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 30°F | 41°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 12.0 h | 13.3 h |
Highs change by +13°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Independence, MO179 mi · high 55°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Rochester, MN177 mi · high 40°F · 10 wet days
How Des Moines ranks in March
- Normal high275th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days210th driest of 378
- Comfortable days223rd most of 339
What to pack for Des Moines in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 49°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 19 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 796 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Des Moines in March?
The normal high is 49°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -9°F (March 12, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Des Moines in March?
About 10 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.2 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (4.7 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Des Moines in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 4.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is March a good time to visit Des Moines?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Des Moines (49 out of 100). It has about 5 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).