Snow in Des Moines, Iowa Winter storm alerts · 7-day snow forecast · average snowfall
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Des Moines averages 36.5 inches of snow a year. The snowiest month is February (10.2″), and snow usually falls from October through May. On about 11 days a year at least an inch falls. Snow covers the ground (1″+) on roughly 52 days of an average winter.
Average snowfall by month
Month
Snowfall
Days 1″+
Days with snow cover
Freezing nights
Avg. low
October
0.5″
<1
<1
4
43°F
November
2.7″
1
2
17
30°F
December
7.9″
2
10
27
20°F
January
9.4″
3
18
30
14°F
February
10.2″
3
15
25
18°F
March
4.4″
1
5
19
30°F
April
1.2″
<1
1
6
41°F
May
0.2″
<1
<1
<1
52°F
Year
36.5″
11
52
128
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — snowfall at Des Moines Intl. Airport (5 mi from the city center, +92 ft elevation difference). Averages smooth out big years: single winters can bring half or double the normal.
36.5 inches in an average year (NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Des Moines Intl. Airport station, 5 miles away). The snowiest month is February with 10.2 inches.
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How many freezing nights does Des Moines have?
About 128 nights a year drop to 32 °F or below (NOAA 1991–2020); the coldest month, January, averages a low of 14 °F.