Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 12 min5:41 am – 8:52 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 10 min7:38 am – 4:48 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 86°F, lows 66°FColdest month January: highs 31°F, lows 14°F37 in of rain a year, on about 66 dayswettest month June37 in of snow a year, on about 25 days22 days above 90°F, 128 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Des Moines Intl Ap station, 9 mi away
Nearby landmarksSugar Creek Lakelake · 2.1 miLake Country Clublake · 3.2 miWalnut Woods State Park Campgroundscampground · 4.1 miDale Maffit Reservoirreservoir · 3.6 miDrake Universitycollege · 8.8 miNorth Raccoon Riverriver · 7.9 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsValley View Parkpark · under a mile · 80 acresWalnut Woods State Parkstate park · 3.8 mi · 231 acresWillow Springs Parkpark · 1.5 miBadger Creek State Recreation Areastate recreation area · 7.7 mi · 177 acresTwo Rivers Accessstate recreation area · 7.8 mi · 52 acresBadger Creek Wildlife Areastate conservation land · 7.4 mi · 976 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
EarthquakesNone of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 1970Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively ModeratePolk County, IA, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsStrong wind Very HighTornado Relatively HighHail Relatively HighHeat wave Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality61% of days had good air in 2025224 of 365 days measured139 moderate, 2 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 44, worst day 136main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, Polk County monitors, IA
Drinking waterWest Des Moines Water Worksserves 73,959 people from surface water purchasedNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation985 ft300 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalUnityPoint Health - Methodist West Hospital2.5 miPost officeWest Suburban Post Office4.3 miTown hallWest Des Moines City Hall2.9 miPoliceWest Des Moines Police Department3.2 miFire stationWest Des Moines Fire Department Station 19under a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi4 schools3 elementary, 1 otherElementaryBrookview Elementary Schoolunder a mileElementaryWoodland Hills Elementary School1.6 miSchoolSaint Francis of Assisi Catholic School1.6 miCollegeDrake University8.8 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportDes Moines International Airport DSM8.4 miInterstateI-802.0 miUS highwayUS 63.6 miAmtrakOsceola, IA OSC36 miCoachDes MoinesJefferson Lines11 miTransit12 stops within a mileDes Moines Area Regional Transit (DART)Sources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 50398 ZIP area.
