Des Moines' Christmas Snow: A Rare Treat
In Des Moines, a white Christmas is not guaranteed. Since records began in 1939, there's only been snow on the ground about half the time.
What Counts as a White Christmas?
The National Weather Service defines a white Christmas as having at least one inch of snow on the ground. It doesn't matter if it's snowing that day or not.
Historical Trends
- Northern Iowa has higher chances of a white Christmas.
- Southern Iowa has lower chances.
- Des Moines usually has at least a little snow about two-thirds of the time.
- The city has never gone more than three Christmases in a row without any snow.
Recent Trends
- From 2007 to 2013, Des Moines had at least five inches of snow on the ground every Christmas except one.
- Since then, the trend has changed. The last time Des Moines got more than an inch of snow on Christmas was in 2009.
Snowfall on Christmas Day
- Snow has fallen on less than a third of Christmas Days since 1939.
- Significant snowfall is even rarer. Des Moines has only had four Christmases with an inch or more of new snow since 1939.
The Snowiest Christmas
The snowiest Christmas on record was in 1941. The city got nearly five inches of snow, and a massive storm followed, dumping over two feet of snow in a week.
Warm Christmases
Warm Christmases are happening more often.
- The warmest Christmas Day in Des Moines was in 2019, with a high of 60 degrees.
- The warmest December day on record was in 2021, with a high of 74 degrees.
Cold Christmases
Brutally cold Christmases have become rare. Only two have happened since the year 2000.
- In 2022, temperatures dropped to 2 degrees below zero.
- In 2000, they hit minus 12, which was also the snowiest December on record.
Conclusion
If you're hoping for a white Christmas in Des Moines, it's a bit of a gamble. But if you're okay with a little snow or even no snow at all, you're more likely to be happy. And if you prefer warmer weather, there's a good chance you'll get that too.
