Des Moines, IA: records

4 October 2026: The hottest day on record in Des Moines, IA: 110°F on Saturday 25 July 1936 and Sunday 4 August 1918.

The record begins: 1878

All-time records

Hottest day: 110°F; 25 July 1936, 4 August 1918
Coldest night: -30°F; 5 January 1884
Wettest day: 6.18 in; 27 August 1975
Warmest night: 83°F; 21 July 1934, 3 August 1930, 26 July 1930
Coldest day: -14°F; 12 January 1912

Daily records by decade

New daily records set in Des Moines, IA by decade since the 1900s: the most record highs, 147, came in the 1930s; the most record lows, 59, in the 1910s.

Record highs
Record lows

Every decade as a table

Decade	Record highs	Record lows	Years in the record
1870s	0	0	2
1880s	0	0	10
1890s	0	0	10
1900s	28	17	10
1910s	124	59	10
1920s	68	39	10
1930s	147	27	10
1940s	40	42	10
1950s	33	42	10
1960s	22	42	10
1970s	26	21	10
1980s	43	27	10
1990s	26	15	10
2000s	26	4	10
2010s	38	6	10
2020s	20	2	7

Records by month

Month	Highest	Lowest	Wettest day
January	67°F 8 January 2003	-30°F 5 January 1884	2.13 in 12 January 1960
February	78°F 26 February 2024, 24 February 1930	-26°F 3 February 1996, 13 February 1905, 2 February 1905	1.76 in 27 February 1948
March	91°F 21 March 2026, 29 March 1986	-22°F 1 March 1962	2.44 in 15 March 1919
April	93°F 22 April 1980	9°F 3 April 1975	3.80 in 28 April 1974
May	105°F 30 May 1934	26°F 4 May 1907	3.84 in 19 May 2025
June	103°F 21 June 1988, 26 June 1934, 23 June 1934 and 1 more	37°F 1 June 1889	4.80 in 24 June 1879
July	110°F 25 July 1936	47°F 30 July 1971	4.32 in 19 July 1904
August	110°F 4 August 1918	40°F 20 August 1950, 24 August 1891	6.18 in 27 August 1975
September	101°F 9 September 2013, 7 September 1939, 3 September 1939	26°F 28 September 1942, 30 September 1899	4.87 in 16 September 1914
October	95°F 5 October 1963	7°F 28 October 1925	3.67 in 7 October 1884
November	82°F 1 November 1938	-10°F 29 November 1891	3.18 in 3 November 2003
December	74°F 15 December 2021	-22°F 23 December 1989	1.79 in 13 December 2015

Streaks, months and years

Longest heat streak	25 days	25 June to 19 July 1936	A high of 90°F or above
Longest cold streak	47 days	8 January to 23 February 1978	A high of 32°F or below
Wettest month	15.79 in	June 1881
Driest month	0.01 in	December 2002
Wettest year	56.81 in	1881
Driest year	17.07 in	1956

Every record in words

The coldest night on record in Des Moines, IA: a low of -30°F on Saturday 5 January 1884.
The wettest day on record in Des Moines, IA: 6.18 in on Wednesday 27 August 1975.
The warmest night on record in Des Moines, IA: a low of 83°F on Saturday 21 July 1934, Sunday 3 August 1930 and Saturday 26 July 1930.
The coldest day on record in Des Moines, IA: a high of -14°F on Friday 12 January 1912.
The longest run of days with a high of 90°F or above in Des Moines, IA: 25 days, from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 19 July 1936.
The longest run of days with a high of 32°F or below in Des Moines, IA: 47 days, from Sunday 8 January to Thursday 23 February 1978.
The wettest month on record in Des Moines, IA: June 1881, with 15.79 in of precipitation.
The driest month on record in Des Moines, IA: December 2002, with 0.01 in of precipitation.
The wettest year on record in Des Moines, IA: 1881, with 56.81 in of precipitation.
The driest year on record in Des Moines, IA: 1956, with 17.07 in of precipitation.

Des Moines, IA the day's answers