Des Moines in Spring
In spring (March, April and May), Des Moines sees average daytime highs around 60°F and overnight lows near 41°F, with 12.2 in of precipitation over about 34 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 41°F in early March to 76°F by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels dry.
Spring is Des Moines's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Des Moines's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 60°F
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 41°F
- Precipitation
- 12.2 in
- 34 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 mph
- Travel score
- 4.3
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Des Moines in Spring
Over the season highs climb from about 41°F in early March to 76°F by late May.
A typical spring day in Des Moines reaches about 60°F and drops to 41°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is May, the coolest March.
How spring really feels in Des Moines
Once humidity and wind are folded in, spring brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 40 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in spring is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Des Moines weather by month
How the three spring months (March, April and May) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30° / 14° | 1.2 | 6.3 | 4.6 | 9.3 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 35° / 18° | 1.5 | 6.3 | 4.7 | 10.3 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 48° / 30° | 2.6 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 11.7 | 1.9 |
| Apr | 61° / 41° | 4.2 | 11.2 | 0.9 | 13.1 | 4.8 |
| May | 71° / 53° | 5.3 | 13.6 | 0.1 | 14.3 | 6.1 |
| Jun | 81° / 63° | 4.9 | 11.6 | 0 | 15 | 6.1 |
| Jul | 84° / 67° | 3.6 | 9.4 | 0 | 14.7 | 5.7 |
| Aug | 82° / 64° | 3.7 | 9.5 | 0 | 13.7 | 6.4 |
| Sep | 76° / 55° | 3.5 | 8 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.2 |
| Oct | 63° / 43° | 2.8 | 7.8 | 0.3 | 10.9 | 5.8 |
| Nov | 48° / 31° | 2.0 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 9.7 | 2.0 |
| Dec | 35° / 20° | 1.6 | 5.9 | 3.9 | 9 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Spring
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across spring.
Chance of precipitation in Spring
Des Moines gets around 12.2 in of rain and snow over 34 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Spring
Most of spring feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Spring
Winds average 10 mph across spring.
Sunrise & sunset in Spring
Daylight runs from about 11 hours in early March to 14 h 48 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Spring
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 5.0 kWh/m².
Is spring a good time to visit Des Moines?
Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
spring is a reasonable time to visit Des Moines for sightseeing.
What to pack for Des Moines in Spring
From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In spring, Des Moines sees daytime highs around 60°F and nights near 41°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat, rain gear and sun protection. About 34 days see rain.
UV index in Des Moines in Spring
Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Des Moines peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 2 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 7 | High |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | Very high |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 4 | Moderate |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in Des Moines in Spring
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where spring falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Des Moines is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 12 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Moderate |
| Feb | 14 | Moderate |
| Mar | 13 | Moderate |
| Apr | 10 | Good |
| May | 11 | Good |
| Jun | 12 | Moderate |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 14 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Good |
| Oct | 7 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Des Moines?
Des Moines sits at 41.6°N, 93.6°W, 873 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is West Des Moines, 5.6 mi away.
Topography around Des Moines
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Des Moines.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Des Moines has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 200 ft around an average of 840 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 276 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 758 ft.
The land around Des Moines is covered by artificial surfaces (51%) and trees (30%) within 2 miles, trees (33%), grassland (23%) and cropland (21%) within 10 miles, and cropland (62%) and grassland (20%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Des Moines (41.6005°, -93.6091°, elevation 873 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.