Your nature year
Des Moines, Iowathrough the year
Also for Ankeny, IA, West Des Moines, IA, Urbandale, IA, Waukee, IA, Johnston, IA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Des Moines?
Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to Loess Bluffs Refuge 134 miles to the southwest. The closest place we follow is DeSoto Refuge, 125 miles away, for winter wildlife, Dec 1–Mar 10 (local timing).
For spring migration, the nearest is Port Louisa Refuge (131 mi, Apr 1–May 31 (local timing)). Frost usually lets go around Apr 18 and comes back around Oct 20, according to the Des Moines International Airport weather station (3.5 mi): roughly 185 days without it. Leaves usually come out around Apr 3 and the first flowers around May 1. At some 792 feet up, Des Moines is on low ground.
Updated Sep 27. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Des Moines's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 18 to ~Oct 20
- First leaf ~Apr 3
- First bloom ~May 1
- Today
Near Des Moines right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 20 · last spring frost around Apr 18NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Des Moines International Airport (3.5 mi, 50% dates)~3 weeks
- Winter wildlife · DeSoto Refuge · 125 miLocal timing: Dec 1–Mar 10~2 months
Des Moines's nature year
- Spring migration · Port Louisa RefugeApr–May
- Apr: Spring green-upApr
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Oct: First fall frostOct
- Winter wildlife · DeSoto RefugeDec–Mar
Nearby, season by season
Spring migration
- Port Louisa Refuge · 131 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
Winter wildlife
- DeSoto Refuge · 125 miLocal timing: Dec 1–Mar 10~2 months
- Loess Bluffs Refuge · 134 miLocal timing: Oct 15–Nov 30~2 weeks
Snow in Des Moines
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 25 (our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%). NOAA's normals at Des Moines International Airport (3.5 mi away): 37 inches of snow in an average year, about 11 days with 1 inch or more.
NOAA's chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date (one value per week, September to May), averaged over 1991–2020. A typical year, not a forecast.
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 18
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 20
About 185 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 3
First bloom around May 1
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Des Moines International Airport (3.5 mi from Des Moines), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Des Moines?
On average around Oct 20, and the last spring frost around Apr 18: about 185 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Des Moines International Airport, 3.5 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Des Moines?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 3 and first bloom around May 1, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see spring migration near Des Moines?
Port Louisa Refuge, 131 miles (local timing: Apr 1–May 31). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see winter wildlife near Des Moines?
DeSoto Refuge, 125 miles (local timing: Dec 1–Mar 10); Loess Bluffs Refuge, 134 miles (local timing: Oct 15–Nov 30). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Des Moines?
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 25: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Des Moines International Airport. An average year brings 37 inches (NOAA 1991–2020). A typical year, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)