Record Hottest and Coldest Weather Temperatures Ever Recorded in Des Moines, Iowa

Weather temperatures have been officially kept in Des Moines, Iowa since 1878. These are the all-time record hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in Des Moines since 1878.

Located along the Des Moines River in south-central Iowa, the city of Des Moines has a milder climate than the extremes found in the Hawkeye State. This is born out by the differences between the all-time hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in Des Moines, compared to the all-time hottest and coldest temperatures recorded in Iowa.

The difference between the all-time hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in Des Moines is 140 degrees. The difference between the all-time hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in the state of Iowa is 165 degrees; a difference of 25 degrees.

Record Hottest and Coldest Temperatures Ever Recorded in Des Moines, Iowa

All-time Record Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Des Moines is 110 Degrees

The hottest weather temperature ever officially recorded in the city of Des Moines is 110 degrees, which has occurred two different dates. The first time it was a record 110 degrees in Des Moines was on on August 4, 1918, and the second time was on July 25, 1936.

Days when the temperature reaches or exceeds 100 degrees are not overly common in Des Moines, but the city has had 100 degree days as early as late May and as a late as September 9th. Des Moines averages around 22 days a year when the temperature reaches 90 degrees or above.

Des Moines is the capital city of Iowa, and also the largest city in the state. Attractions in the city include the Iowa State Capitol building, the State of Iowa Historical Museum, Terrace Hill (governor's mansion), Salisbury House and Gardens, the Des Moines Arts Center, and the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

As a bit of weather trivia some might find hard to believe, the record hottest temperature in Des Moines of 110 degrees is 10 degrees hotter than the all-time hottest temperature ever recorded in Miami, Florida. Des Moines is about 1,500 miles northwest of Miami.

• Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Iowa is 118 Degrees 

The all-time record hottest weather temperature ever recorded in the state of Iowa is 118 degrees, which occurred on July 20, 1934, in Keokuk, which is located just above where the Des Moines River flows into the Mississippi River in extreme southeast Iowa, about 180 miles from Des Moines.

The difference between the all-time hottest temperature ever recorded in Des Moines (110) and the all-time hottest temperature ever recorded in the state of Iowa (118) is eight degrees. A decent sized statistical difference.

All-time Record Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in Des Moines is -30 Degrees

The coldest weather temperature ever officially recorded in Des Moines is -30 degrees, which occurred on January 5, 1884.

Below zero temperature days are not at all rare in Des Moines, and the city has had nine days since 1878 when the temperature dropped below -25 degrees. Des Moines averages 134 days a year when the temperature drops below the freezing mark.

• Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in Iowa is -47 Degrees 

The coldest weather temperature ever officially recorded in the state of Iowa is -47 degrees, which first occurred on January 12, 1912 in Washita and was matched on February 3, 1996, in Elkader, which is located about 125 miles northeast of Des Moines as the crow flies.

The difference between the all-time coldest temperature ever recorded in Des Moines (-30) and the all-time coldest temperature ever recorded in the state of Iowa (-47) is 17 degrees. A big statistical difference

Overall, even though the city of Des Moines can get pretty hot in the summer and really cold in the winter, the city has a milder climate than the extremes found in the state of Iowa.