DES MOINES, Iowa — Editor's note: The above video first aired on January 9, 2024.
Even despite significant snow and a mid-month Arctic blast, January's overall temperature was 'near normal' in Des Moines.
For reference, January's average temperature in Des Moines is 22.3° according to 30-year climate statistics from the National Weather Service in Des Moines, and the overall temperature in January 2024 came in at 22.2°.
That means January 2024 was just one-tenth of a degree cooler than average — close enough to call it normal.
The month started quietly in the central Iowa, with daily highs in the 30s and overnight lows in the 10s and 20s.
Des Moines only recorded 0.2" of measurable precipitation during the first week of January, but the weather pattern quickly shifted.
January's heavy snowfall
The first of two significant snowstorms arrived in the state around sunset on Jan. 8, bringing nearly a foot of snow to the city of Des Moines and surrounding areas within 36 hours.
A smaller round of snow pushed through the city on Jan. 10, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a rare Snow Squall Warning for some of central Iowa.
RELATED: What is a snow squall warning?
By the evening of Jan. 11, Blizzard Warnings had been issued for much of Iowa as a second big storm developed.
The second winter storm dumped 10.5" of snow over Des Moines between Jan. 11 and 13, although drifts were much higher.
Rural roads drifted shut in other parts of Iowa.
In total, Des Moines picked up 27.2" of snow in January, which is 18.2" above the average monthly snow total of 9".
The snow depth in Des Moines peaked at 14" around the middle of the month!
Mid-January Arctic cold
The heavy rounds of snow ushered in a rapid drop in temperatures.
High temperatures plunged to the -0s and 0s for several days in the middle of January, while overnight temperatures dipped as low as the -10s.
At times, wind chill readings ranged from the -30s to nearly -45° in a few spots.
Des Moines' lowest air temperature of the month fell was -17° (it occurred twice!), which came on the morning of Jan. 14 and again on the morning of Jan. 15.
Following one more snow event on Jan. 18, the weather pattern turned quieter for the second half of the month.
Warmer end to January
Temperatures returned to the 30s for highs during the week of Jan. 22, while several rounds of light to moderate rain traversed the state.
Slow melting became the norm, and fog frequently formed as a result.
The final few days of January spiked to the warmest levels since late December, reaching the 40s and even 50s for highs.
Ironically, the warmest temperature of the entire month occurred on Jan. 31, when the high temperature reached 56° in Des Moines.