Des Moines, IA weather in October
Des Moines is cool in October, with some rain: highs average 63°F and nights drop to about 43°F. Rain or snow falls on about 9 days. Snowfall averages about 0.5 in. A good month for most outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 63°F
- Normal low
- 43°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 2.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.5 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 71°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 49°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 27% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:11 am / 6:56 pm | 7:45 am / 6:10 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.4 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 October day
- 6 am46°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 am52°Fdew point 42°F
- Noon59°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm62°Fdew point 41°F
- 6 pm57°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 pm52°Fdew point 41°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°F12 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 snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below4 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 2.8 in; a dry October brings about 1.2 in and a wet one about 3.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.5 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202010: average high 70°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 55°F
- Wettest October2019: 7.4 in
- Driest October1999: 0.4 in
- Highest reading92°F (October 3, 1997)
- Lowest reading18°F (October 27, 1997)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
October compared with September and November
| September | October | November | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 77°F | 63°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 55°F | 43°F | 30°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 9 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 12 | 3 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.1 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -14°F from September and -15°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Topeka, KS207 mi · high 69°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Rochester, MN177 mi · high 58°F · 10 wet days
How Des Moines ranks in October
- Normal high276th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days232nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days170th most of 340
What to pack for Des Moines in October
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 9 days
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 20; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct 4. All frost dates for Des Moines.
Heating and cooling
October has 383 heating degree days and 16 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Des Moines in October?
The normal high is 63°F and the normal low is 43°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 18°F (October 27, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Des Moines in October?
About 9 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.8 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (7.4 in); the driest was in 1999 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Des Moines in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 0.5 in.
Is October a good time to visit Des Moines?
October ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Des Moines (61 out of 100). It has about 12 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).