Des Moines, Iowa – The books are officially closed on 2025, and climate data show it was another notably warm year across Iowa, with Des Moines and Waterloo both finishing well above long-term temperature averages despite slightly drier-than-normal conditions.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, 2025 ranked as the 15th warmest year on record in both Des Moines and Waterloo. Des Moines posted an average temperature of 52.4 degrees, about 1.5 degrees above normal, while Waterloo averaged 49.8 degrees, roughly 0.8 degrees warmer than typical. Summer heat peaked with highs near the upper 90s, while winter still delivered sharp cold snaps, including a low of minus 13 in Des Moines and minus 17 in Waterloo.
Precipitation totals finished just below normal in both cities. Des Moines recorded 35.18 inches of precipitation, about 1.4 inches shy of average, ranking as the city’s 46th wettest year on record. Waterloo ended the year with 35.46 inches, nearly an inch below normal and ranking 53rd wettest historically. While overall rainfall lagged slightly, several heavy rain events stood out, including a nearly four-inch rainfall in Des Moines during May.
The data highlight a familiar trend for Iowa, with warmer average temperatures paired with fewer but occasionally intense rain events. Climate records for Des Moines date back to the late 1800s, underscoring how 2025 fits into a longer pattern of increasingly mild years.
Forecasters note that updated climate summaries and outlooks for early 2026 will continue to refine how recent trends may shape future weather across the state.
