Des Moines - Extreme Daily Precipitation for Each Year

This page lists the biggest rainstorms or snowstorms of the year in Des Moines, Iowa along with the date they occurred. The information answers questions like: When was the last time more than four inches of precipitation landed on Des Moines in a single day? What was the rainiest day of 2019?

The list gives the highest daily precipitation for each year in Des Moines and the date that it happened. A date with a plus sign beside it means the same amount of moisture also fell on at least one other day earlier that year.

These records were observed at Des Moines International Airport and go back to 1946. During that time the heaviest downpour measured for a single day was 6.18 inches (157.0 millimetres) on August 27, 1975.

Most precipitation in one day for recent years in Des Moines
Inches Date Milli­metres
2.09 July 12, 2023   53.1
1.65 November 04, 2022   41.9
2.91 October 24, 2021   73.9
2.08 October 22, 2020   52.8
3.59 October 01, 2019 91.2
2.67 June 25, 2018 67.8
1.65 August 21, 2017 41.9
3.53 July 19, 2016 89.7
2.55 September 18, 2015 + 64.8
3.38 August 28, 2014 85.9
3.14 April 17, 2013 79.8
3.43 April 14, 2012 87.1
4.53 June 09, 2011 115.1
2.42 August 08, 2010 61.5
Highest daily precipitation recorded at Des Moines each year
Inches Date Milli­metres
2.68 April 26, 2009 68.1
4.15 June 05, 2008 105.4
2.10 October 14, 2007 53.3
1.61 September 10, 2006 40.9
2.27 May 12, 2005 57.7
2.54 August 03, 2004 64.5
3.18 November 03, 2003 80.8
2.58 July 10, 2002 65.5
2.57 September 07, 2001 65.3
2.38 June 13, 2000 60.5
1.67 May 11, 1999 42.4
2.45 June 18, 1998 62.2
1.96 October 12, 1997 49.8
3.23 May 09, 1996 82.0
1.86 May 09, 1995 47.2
1.98 September 04, 1994 50.3
3.29 September 25, 1993 83.6
2.17 July 13, 1992 55.1
2.55 April 18, 1991 64.8
4.23 June 16, 1990 107.4
2.33 September 08, 1989 59.2
2.31 July 09, 1988 58.7
3.45 August 25, 1987 87.6
3.32 June 29, 1986 84.3
1.55 August 22, 1985 39.4
2.73 July 14, 1984 69.3
1.78 August 30, 1983 45.2
2.11 August 04, 1982 53.6
3.18 July 03, 1981 80.8
2.04 August 16, 1980 51.8
2.25 June 27, 1979 57.2
2.24 April 17, 1978 56.9
4.18 August 26, 1977 106.2
2.58 April 17, 1976 65.5
6.18 August 27, 1975 157.0
3.80 April 28, 1974 96.5
3.06 September 28, 1973 77.7
2.61 September 10, 1972 + 66.3
2.05 November 01, 1971 52.1
2.51 May 13, 1970 63.8
2.02 June 11, 1969 51.3
1.78 August 08, 1968 45.2
2.18 June 09, 1967 55.4
1.51 May 11, 1966 38.4
1.88 June 29, 1965 47.8
1.91 June 22, 1964 48.5
2.21 August 05, 1963 56.1
2.60 June 10, 1962 66.0
4.42 September 12, 1961 112.3
2.40 May 25, 1960 61.0
3.10 June 29, 1959 78.7
2.92 July 02, 1958 74.2
1.23 May 10, 1957 31.2
1.15 October 13, 1956 29.2
1.53 July 10, 1955 38.9
2.76 May 31, 1954 70.1
1.87 June 27, 1953 47.5
2.01 May 22, 1952 51.1
1.83 July 02, 1951 46.5
2.01 May 20, 1950 51.1
1.24 January 27, 1949 31.5
2.47 November 19, 1948 62.7
3.55 June 04, 1947 90.2
2.92 August 21, 1946 74.2
Reference

Jay Lawrimore. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 

Des Moines - Extremes
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