Des Moines - Lowest Temperature for Each Year
Here's where you'll find answers to your questions about the lowest temperatures and coldest days in Des Moines, Iowa. For instance: When was the last time Des Moines got colder than -20 °F? How cold did Des Moines get in 2019?
This page gives the lowest temperature for each year in Des Moines and the date that it happened. A date with a plus sign beside it means the lowest temperature also occurred on at least one other day earlier that year.
These records were observed at Des Moines International Airport and go back to 1946. The lowest temperature measured during that time was -26 degrees Fahrenheit (-32 Celsius) on February 3, 1996.
| Min °F | Date | Min °C |
|---|---|---|
| -4 | January 31, 2023 | -20 |
| -11 | December 22, 2022 | -24 |
| -17 | February 16, 2021 | -27 |
| -10 | February 13, 2020 | -23 |
| -20 | January 30, 2019 | -29 |
| -19 | January 01, 2018 | -28 |
| -15 | December 31, 2017 | -26 |
| -12 | December 18, 2016 | -24 |
| -10 | February 05, 2015 | -23 |
| -12 | January 06, 2014 | -24 |
| -14 | December 24, 2013 | -26 |
| 1 | January 18, 2012 | -17 |
| -9 | February 08, 2011 | -23 |
| -17 | January 02, 2010 | -27 |
| Min °F | Date | Min °C |
|---|---|---|
| -19 | January 16, 2009 | -28 |
| -12 | January 24, 2008 | -24 |
| -9 | February 04, 2007 | -23 |
| -7 | February 18, 2006 | -22 |
| -8 | December 07, 2005 + | -22 |
| -8 | January 30, 2004 + | -22 |
| -8 | February 07, 2003 + | -22 |
| -3 | March 04, 2002 + | -19 |
| -9 | February 02, 2001 | -23 |
| -12 | December 25, 2000 + | -24 |
| -14 | January 09, 1999 + | -26 |
| -10 | December 31, 1998 | -23 |
| -13 | January 28, 1997 + | -25 |
| -26 | February 03, 1996 | -32 |
| -6 | December 10, 1995 + | -21 |
| -18 | January 15, 1994 | -28 |
| -6 | February 24, 1993 + | -21 |
| -7 | January 15, 1992 | -22 |
| -9 | January 30, 1991 | -23 |
| -11 | December 22, 1990 | -24 |
| -22 | December 23, 1989 | -30 |
| -16 | February 12, 1988 | -27 |
| -10 | January 23, 1987 | -23 |
| -10 | February 12, 1986 + | -23 |
| -20 | January 20, 1985 + | -29 |
| -16 | January 20, 1984 | -27 |
| -19 | December 24, 1983 + | -28 |
| -22 | January 10, 1982 | -30 |
| -18 | February 11, 1981 | -28 |
| -9 | February 01, 1980 + | -23 |
| -19 | February 09, 1979 | -28 |
| -12 | February 06, 1978 | -24 |
| -18 | January 16, 1977 | -28 |
| -12 | December 31, 1976 | -24 |
| -14 | February 09, 1975 | -26 |
| -23 | January 12, 1974 | -31 |
| -10 | January 09, 1973 | -23 |
| -18 | February 09, 1972 + | -28 |
| -17 | February 08, 1971 | -27 |
| -24 | January 21, 1970 | -31 |
| -12 | January 04, 1969 | -24 |
| -15 | December 31, 1968 + | -26 |
| -13 | January 18, 1967 | -25 |
| -23 | January 29, 1966 | -31 |
| -17 | January 30, 1965 | -27 |
| -9 | December 17, 1964 | -23 |
| -22 | January 23, 1963 | -30 |
| -22 | March 01, 1962 | -30 |
| -14 | December 13, 1961 | -26 |
| -15 | March 05, 1960 | -26 |
| -14 | January 04, 1959 | -26 |
| -20 | February 17, 1958 | -29 |
| -18 | January 14, 1957 | -28 |
| -14 | January 21, 1956 | -26 |
| -13 | January 27, 1955 | -25 |
| -14 | January 21, 1954 | -26 |
| -8 | January 16, 1953 | -22 |
| -12 | January 29, 1952 | -24 |
| -15 | December 15, 1951 + | -26 |
| -11 | January 31, 1950 | -24 |
| -13 | January 30, 1949 | -25 |
| -12 | March 11, 1948 | -24 |
| -15 | January 04, 1947 | -26 |
| -9 | January 26, 1946 | -23 |
Reference
Jay Lawrimore. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.