2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Altoona, PA vs Des Moines, IA

Highlights

On average, there are 204 sunny days per year in Des Moines. Altoona averages 191 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Des Moines, Iowa gets 35.9 inches of rain, on average, per year. Altoona, Pennsylvania gets 40.7 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. Altoona averages 30 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

Altoona, Pennsylvania
Summer High: the July high is around 81.6 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 17.1
Rain: averages 40.7 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 30 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 Altoona is 6.8 (10=best), which means it is less comfortable than most places in Pennsylvania.

Today's Weather - Altoona, PA

51°F

Today's Weather - Des Moines, IA

68°F

Average Monthly High / Low (°F)

Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Altoona / Des Moines

July is the hottest month for Altoona with an average high temperature of 81.6°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in Pennsylvania. In Altoona, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Altoona are June, August and July.

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.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Altoona with an average of 17.1°. This is colder than most places in Pennsylvania.

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

In Altoona, there are 4.4 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in Pennsylvania.

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 Altoona, there are 138.4 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is colder than most places in Pennsylvania.

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 Altoona, there are 3.9 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is colder than most places in Pennsylvania.

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 Altoona with 4.0 inches of rain, and the driest month is February with 2.4 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 28% of yearly precipitation and 19% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 40.7 inches in Altoona means that it is drier than most places in Pennsylvania.


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 Altoona with 13.9 days of rain, and August is the driest month with only 10.5 rainy days. There are 144.8 rainy days annually in Altoona, which is rainier than most places in Pennsylvania. The rainiest season is Summer when it rains 27% of the time and the driest is Autumn with only a 24% 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 30.0 inches in Altoona means that it is about average compared to other places in Pennsylvania.

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

January is the snowiest month in Altoona with 9.5 inches of snow, and 6 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.