2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Fort Collins, CO vs Des Moines, IA

Highlights

On average, there are 204 sunny days per year in Des Moines. Fort Collins averages 237 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Des Moines, Iowa gets 35.9 inches of rain, on average, per year. Fort Collins, Colorado gets 15.6 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.

Des Moines averages 32.9 inches of snow per year. Fort Collins averages 48.1 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Weather Highlights

Des Moines, Iowa
Summer High: the July high is around 85.6 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 12.5
Rain: averages 35.9 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 32.9 inches of snow a year

Fort Collins, Colorado
Summer High: the July high is around 87 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 15.3
Rain: averages 15.6 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 48.1 inches of snow a year

BestPlaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Des Moines is 6.9 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in Iowa.

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Fort Collins is 7.2 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in Colorado.

Today's Weather - Fort Collins, CO

61°F

Today's Weather - Des Moines, IA

64°F

Average Monthly High / Low (°F)

Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Fort Collins / Des Moines

July is the hottest month for Fort Collins with an average high temperature of 87.0°, which ranks it as about average compared to other places in Colorado. In Fort Collins, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Fort Collins are September, June and August.

July is the hottest month for Des Moines with an average high temperature of 85.6°, which ranks it as warmer than most places in Iowa. In Des Moines, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Des Moines are September, June and May.

December has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Fort Collins with an average of 14.9°. This is about average compared to other places in Colorado.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Des Moines with an average of 12.5°. This is warmer than most places in Iowa.

In Fort Collins, there are 23.6 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is about average compared to other places in Colorado.

In Des Moines, there are 18.8 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is hotter than most places in Iowa.

In Fort Collins, there are 163.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is about average compared to other places in Colorado.

In Des Moines, there are 135.1 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is warmer than most places in Iowa.

In Fort Collins, there are 7.1 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is about average compared to other places in Colorado.

In Des Moines, there are 13.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is warmer than most places in Iowa.

May is the wettest month in Fort Collins with 2.4 inches of rain, and the driest month is January with 0.4 inches. The wettest season is Summer with 39% of yearly precipitation and 8% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 15.6 inches in Fort Collins means that it is drier than most places in Colorado.


June is the wettest month in Des Moines with 5.1 inches of rain, and the driest month is January with 1.0 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 39% of yearly precipitation and 9% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 35.9 inches in Des Moines means that it is about average compared to other places in Iowa.

May is the rainiest month in Fort Collins with 11.2 days of rain, and December is the driest month with only 4.5 rainy days. There are 89.8 rainy days annually in Fort Collins, which is rainier than most places in Colorado. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 31% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 16% chance of a rainy day.

May is the rainiest month in Des Moines with 12.3 days of rain, and January is the driest month with only 6.8 rainy days. There are 107.6 rainy days annually in Des Moines, which is rainier than most places in Iowa. The rainiest season is Summer when it rains 29% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 20% chance of a rainy day.

An annual snowfall of 48.1 inches in Fort Collins means that it is about average compared to other places in Colorado.

An annual snowfall of 32.9 inches in Des Moines means that it is snowier than most places in Iowa.

March is the snowiest month in Fort Collins with 10.9 inches of snow, and 9 months of the year have significant snowfall.

January is the snowiest month in Des Moines with 8.2 inches of snow, and 6 months of the year have significant snowfall.