DES MOINES, IOWA

A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is relatively well distributed year-round in many areas with this climate, while others may see a marked reduction in wintry precipitation and even a wintertime drought. Snowfall, regardless of average seasonal totals, occurs in all areas with a humid continental climate and in many such places is more common than rain during the height of winter. In places with sufficient wintertime precipitation, the snow cover is often deep. Most summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and a very occasional tropical system. Though humidity levels are often high in locations with humid continental climates, it is important to note that the "humid" designation does not mean that the humidity levels are necessarily high, but that the climate is not dry enough to be classified as semi-arid or arid.

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfa". (Hot Summer Continental Climate).

The average temperature for the year in Des Moines is 50.9°F (10.5°C). The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 76.3°F (24.6°C). The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 22.6°F (-5.2°C).

The highest recorded temperature in Des Moines is 108.0°F (42.2°C), which was recorded in August. The lowest recorded temperature in Des Moines is -26.0°F (-32.2°C), which was recorded in February.

The average amount of precipitation for the year in Des Moines is 36.0" (914.4 mm). The month with the most precipitation on average is June with 4.9" (124.5 mm) of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is January with an average of 1.0" (25.4 mm). There are an average of 113.4 days of precipitation, with the most precipitation occurring in May with 12.5 days and the least precipitation occurring in January with 7.5 days.

In terms of liquid precipitation, there are an average of 108.0 days of rain, with the most rain occurring in April with 11.0 days of rain, and the least rain occurring in February with 7.0 days of rain.

In Des Moines, there's an average of 35.3" of snow (0 cm). The month with the most snow is December, with 9.0" of snow (22.9 cm).