Des Moines Experiences Rare September Heat, Tying Record High
Des Moines, Iowa – Central Iowa sweltered under record-breaking heat this weekend, with the Des Moines International Airport reaching 96 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, tying the record high for September 13th. This marks only the fourth time as record-keeping began in the 1870s that this temperature has been reached on this date – previously occurring in 1897, 1931, and 1939.
The 96-degree reading significantly surpasses the average high temperature for mid-September, wich is 78 degrees. It also ranks as the second-hottest day of 2025 in Des Moines, trailing only a high of 97 degrees recorded on June 21st.
This latest heat wave follows a trend of warmer-than-usual temperatures in the Des Moines area. The metro area experienced record warmth on three days in March, and the city hasn’t recorded a daily record low since October 2022. Since then, Des moines has either tied or broken 10 daily high-temperature records.