Des Moines experiences a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Winter months, from December to February, are bitterly cold with temperatures often dropping below freezing, averaging around -10°C in February being the coldest month. As spring approaches in March and April, temperatures gradually rise, bringing mild days and cool nights. Summer months, June to August, are characterized by warm to hot temperatures, with July and August being the hottest periods, averaging around 24°C. Autumn brings a return to cooler temperatures, with September and October experiencing moderate temperatures before dropping back into winter's chill in November and December.