Live · KDSM · reported 11 min ago
Barometric pressure in Des Moines, IA today
30.12inHg
1020.1 hPa (mb)
- 3-hour change
- −0.05 inHg · −1.7 hPa
- 24-hour range
- 30.12 – 30.25 inHg
- Station (absolute) pressure
- 29.19 inHg
- Barometer dial reads
- Change · slightly high
Des Moines at a glance
How elevation shapes the reading in Des Moines
Des Moines is about 873 ft (266 m) above sea level. That is close to sea level, so the pressure you stand in and the sea-level figure in the forecast are nearly the same.
The reading above is the altimeter setting from Des Moines Intl (KDSM), 8 km (5 mi) from the city center. It is the station’s measured pressure corrected to sea level, which is the number weather reports, apps and TV forecasts use, so you can compare Des Moines with any other city.
Des Moines elevation and what it means · Sea-level vs station pressure
| Elevation | 873 ft · 266 m |
|---|---|
| Weather station | Des Moines Intl (KDSM) |
| Station elevation | 938 ft · 286 m |
| Standard air pressure at this elevation | 28.99 inHg · 982 hPa |
| Air pressure vs sea level | 97% |
| Water boils at | 210.4 °F · 99.1 °C |
| Time zone | America/Chicago |
Reading the barometer
Is the pressure in Des Moines high or low?
Today’s reading is slightly high. Weather pressure is quoted at sea level, so the same scale works for Des Moines and everywhere else.
- Very low Stormy < 29.50
- Low Clouds, rain 29.50–29.80
- Normal Changeable 29.80–30.20
- High Fair 30.20–30.50
- Very high Dry, clear > 30.50
Frequently asked questions
What is the barometric pressure in Des Moines today?
The live reading at the top of this page is the latest sea-level pressure reported by Des Moines Intl (KDSM), 8 km (5 mi) from the city center. It updates about every 10 minutes; the graph shows the last 24 hours.
What is normal barometric pressure in Des Moines?
Weather reports for Des Moines use sea-level pressure, so “normal” is the same as anywhere: about 29.92 inHg (1013 hPa), with most days between 29.60 and 30.30 inHg (1002–1026 hPa). Readings above 30.20 inHg are high pressure; below 29.80 inHg is low pressure.
Why does a barometer in Des Moines read lower than the forecast?
Des Moines is close to sea level (about 873 ft), so absolute and sea-level pressure differ by only about 0.93 inHg (32 hPa). A larger gap usually means the barometer needs to be calibrated against the reading on this page.
Is the pressure in Des Moines rising or falling?
See the trend badge under the reading: it compares the latest report with the one three hours earlier. Falling pressure usually means clouds, wind or rain on the way; rising pressure means clearing and more settled weather.