Climate Insights for Ames

The climate in Ames is warm and mild. The average annual temperature is 21°C and approximately 1757mm of precipitation falls per year. August is the wettest month, receiving around 312mm of rainfall. Ames is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, September. The coldest months are January, February, December, when temperatures can drop to 7°C.

Temperatures in Ames vary considerably across the year, with a 26°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 33°C and the mean temperature sits around 29°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 7°C and an average of 11°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 9°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between November and December, with a 4°C shift in average temperatures.

Ames is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1757mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 146mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 312mm of rainfall. May and March also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is October, with just 14mm. That's 298mm less than August, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic.

Ames is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 3km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is March, averaging 4km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in September, with average winds dropping to 2km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 2km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Ames, which began on June 21, 2026. Ames is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 33°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 7°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 52 days from now.

The best time to visit Ames is during October and November, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 21°C with modest rainfall averaging 42mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 33°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to 7°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Ames based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.