Des Moines, IA weather in May
Expect mild weather with frequent rain in Des Moines in May, with highs near 72°F and lows near 52°F. Rain falls on about 13 days.
- Normal high
- 72°F
- Normal low
- 52°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 5.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 1
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 67°F | 78°F |
| Normal low | 46°F | 58°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 40% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:11 am / 8:12 pm | 5:43 am / 8:41 pm |
| Daylight | 14.0 h | 15.0 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 May day
- 6 am55°Fdew point 49°F
- 9 am62°Fdew point 50°F
- Noon68°Fdew point 50°F
- 3 pm70°Fdew point 50°F
- 6 pm68°Fdew point 49°F
- 9 pm63°Fdew point 50°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°F15 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more1 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more1 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in9 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 5.2 in; a dry May brings about 3.8 in and a wet one about 6.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.2 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202018: average high 82°F
- Coolest May1996: average high 65°F
- Wettest May1996: 12.1 in
- Driest May2006: 1.4 in
- Highest reading99°F (May 27, 2018)
- Lowest reading30°F (May 3, 2005)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
May compared with April and June
| April | May | June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 62°F | 72°F | 82°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 52°F | 62°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 11 | 15 | 7 |
| Daylight | 13.3 h | 14.5 h | 15.1 h |
Highs change by +10°F from April and +10°F into June.
How Des Moines ranks in May
- Normal high228th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days316th driest of 378
- Comfortable days106th most of 339
What to pack for Des Moines in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 153 heating degree days and 71 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Des Moines in May?
The normal high is 72°F and the normal low is 52°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 99°F (May 27, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Des Moines in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.2 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (12.1 in); the driest was in 2006 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Des Moines in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.2 in.
Is May a good time to visit Des Moines?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Des Moines (71 out of 100). It has about 15 comfortable days and about 1 day 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).