Historical weather data, all-time temperature records, and monthly climate averages for Ames, IA. Explore typical weather conditions by week for trip planning, and see how today compares to the historical record.
April 4th in Ames runs the gamut — historically, this date has swung from a bitter 13° low back in 2002 to a shirt-sleeve 84° high in 2021. Today you're looking at a typical early-spring setup: average highs around 56° with a low near freezing and just a 17% shot at any precipitation.
Ames earns its Midwest reputation honestly — the thermometer has hit 101° in June and plunged to -31° in January, a jaw-dropping 132-degree swing in the historical record. The wettest single day on the books dumped 4.85 inches in May 2004, a reminder that spring storms here mean business.
Summer is the clear sweet spot, with average highs peaking around 85° in mid-July before a gradual slide into fall. If you're trying to avoid the cold, steer clear of mid-January, when average highs barely crack 27°. Late May is when the rain really kicks in, so pack accordingly if you're heading to Ames around Memorial Day.