August in Des Moines, IA: shoulder season for golf — playable with smart tee time selection. Best tee times: morning before noon for the most comfortable round.
| Average August Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 83°F |
| Avg daily low | 66°F |
| Rainy days | 14 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 11 mph |
August tee sheets in Des Moines fill faster than most golfers expect, and that changes how you need to plan. With an 83°F average high and winds tied for the calmest of the year at 11 mph, weekend morning slots get claimed by Tuesday or Wednesday. Early tee times — 6 to 8 AM — offer the best combination of manageable heat and dry fairways before afternoon storm cells develop. If you're flexible mid-week, you'll find more availability and the same ideal conditions.
The catch is the rain. August ties June as the second-wettest month of the year at 14 precip days, so even a well-planned round carries real weather risk. Build in a backup day when you can. The 17°F daily swing from low 66°F to high 83°F means mornings can feel genuinely comfortable, but by mid-afternoon the heat and humidity push conditions outside the ideal range. Book early in the day, and book early in the week.
Because August carries 14 rain days and weekend slots go fast, book at least four to five days in advance for Saturday and Sunday rounds, and target tee times before 8 AM to beat both afternoon heat and the convective storms that tend to develop by early afternoon in central Iowa. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
August is nearly identical to July in feel — just 2°F cooler on the high end with one additional rain day — so don't expect conditions to improve noticeably if you're shifting from July plans. The real payoff comes in September, when the average high drops to 78°F, precip days fall by three to just 11, and winds tick up only slightly to 12.2 mph, making it the cleaner month if your schedule allows. August sits in the hotter, wetter half of that transition.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Des Moines, IA for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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It can be, but it requires planning. The average high of 83°F and calm 11 mph winds are workable, but 14 precipitation days — tied for second-most in the year — mean roughly half the days carry some rain risk. Early morning rounds on weekdays offer the best odds of clean conditions.
The average high hits 83°F, making it the second-hottest month of the year, though the low drops to 66°F overnight and early mornings stay comfortable. By mid-afternoon, heat and humidity combined can make walking 18 holes genuinely taxing, so most local players prefer tee times before 9 AM when possible.