Monday, October 19, 2026 · Hour-by-hour forecast updated 2:14 AM CDT
58°F and overcast at peak. Wind 5 mph from the SSW, dew point 46°F.
Running in Des Moines peaks twice a year — October (FitScore 85) and April (83) — with typical morning lows of 47°F and 41°F respectively. January is the limiting month, with average lows of 15°F and highs of only 31°F pulling its FitScore down to 46. Across the full year, Des Moines ranks #157 of 200 U.S. running cities, with an annual FitScore of 70 (national median: 74). 8 months of the year score 70 or better.
Based on 2015–2024 daily weather history (Open-Meteo ERA5), scored against 200 U.S. cities. Monthly FitScore reflects each day’s best running window.
FitCast texts you tomorrow's hour-by-hour forecast every evening so you know exactly what to expect before your alarm goes off.
Based on today's FitScore analysis, the best time to run is All day with a peak FitScore of 100/100. Check the hourly breakdown above for detailed conditions throughout the day.
The best months for running in Des Moines are October, April, and May, with average FitScores of 85, 83, and 82 based on a decade of daily weather history. The most challenging is January (FitScore 46).
Historically, October in Des Moines averages a FitScore of 85/100 — excellent running weather — with highs around 63°F, lows around 47°F, dew points near 42°F, and 6.1 days of measurable rain. That's about even with the national median of 86 for October.
FitScore rates each hour from 0–100 for outdoor exercise based on temperature, humidity, dew point, wind, precipitation probability, UV index, and air quality. Higher scores mean better conditions.