Des Moines, IA weather in November
Des Moines is chilly in November, with some rain: highs average 48°F and nights drop to about 30°F. There are about 8 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 2.7 in.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 1.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.7 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How November changes from start to finish
| November 1 | November 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 55°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 25°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 26% | 26% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:46 am / 5:09 pm | 7:20 am / 4:45 pm |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | 9.4 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 November day
- 6 am34°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 am37°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon44°Fdew point 31°F
- 3 pm46°Fdew point 30°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 pm39°Fdew point 30°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°F3 of 30
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 30
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 30
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow8 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below17 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 30
Average days per November, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in November
Normal precipitation is 1.9 in; a dry November brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 2.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.7 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How November varies from year to year
- Warmest November, 1991-20202001: average high 60°F
- Coolest November1996: average high 39°F
- Wettest November2003: 5.3 in
- Driest November2002: 0.1 in
- Highest reading81°F (November 13, 1999)
- Lowest reading-4°F (November 8, 1991)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
November compared with October and December
| October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 63°F | 48°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 30°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| Daylight | 11.1 h | 9.9 h | 9.2 h |
Highs change by -15°F from October and -12°F into December.
Nearby alternatives in November
- Warmer: Kansas City, MO180 mi · high 55°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Rochester, MN177 mi · high 42°F · 9 wet days
How Des Moines ranks in November
- Normal high304th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days183rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days248th most of 341
What to pack for Des Moines in November
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 48°F
- A hat and gloves – about 17 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
November has 773 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Des Moines in November?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest November reading was -4°F (November 8, 1991).
Does it rain a lot in Des Moines in November?
About 8 days in November have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.9 in. The wettest November in 1991-2020 was in 2003 (5.3 in); the driest was in 2002 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Des Moines in November?
Yes. Normal snowfall in November is 2.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is November a good time to visit Des Moines?
November ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Des Moines (42 out of 100). It has about 3 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).