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Iowa Weather & Climate
Climate in Iowa
Like most of the American Midwest, Iowa has a typical humid continental climate. This means hot summers and cold, snowy winters. Spring is a mixed bag of precipitation and temperatures, while fall is generally the nicest season of the year. Summers in Iowa are hot and sticky, with daytime highs averaging 90°F from June through August and frequent rain. Humidity levels in the 90 percent range create truly uncomfortable sweaty conditions, but the locals learn to live with it.
Winters are unpleasant at the other end of the spectrum. Daytime highs rarely make it out of the mid 30’s (°F) between December and February, with temperatures at night dropping well below freezing. Intense snowstorms regularly roll across the entire state causing blizzard conditions. Springtime brings the most unpredictable weather patterns to Iowa, beginning in late March and running through May. Though temperatures warm up to the 50’s (°F) and 60’s (°F) by April, this is when intense thunderstorms typically arrive. Iowa gets an average of 37 tornadoes during the spring and summer, and at least 50 days of severe thunderstorms.
Fall is the best season in Iowa. By September the daytime temperatures hover in the 70’s (°F), which is very pleasant, and the humidity levels drop off noticeably as the summer rains dry up. This weather lasts right through the end of October, and some years even into the first half of November. The changing colors of the trees and the farm harvest season ensure plenty of fun activities and scenery to enjoy along with the weather.
Climate Change in Des Moines
Des Moines Weater October 6, 2016
FOR THE DES MOINES INTERNATI IA USA WEATHER STATION
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE
64.0 °F
MEAN TEMPERATURE
73.1 °F
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE
73.9 °F
PRECIPITATION
TOTAL PRECIPITATION
Rain and/or melted snow reported during the day.
No data.
VISIBILITY
10.0 MI
SNOW DEPTH
Last report for the day if reported more than once.
No data.
WIND SPEED AND GUSTS
MEAN WIND SPEED
18.87 MPH
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND SPEED
31.07 MPH
MAXIMUM WIND GUST
48.33 MPH
Des Moines Weather October 5, 1950
FOR THE DES MOINES MUNICIPAL IA USA WEATHER STATION
TEMPERATURE
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE
35.1 °F
MEAN TEMPERATURE
45.4 °F
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE
57.9 °F
PRECIPITATION
TOTAL PRECIPITATION
Rain and/or melted snow reported during the day.
0.00 IN
VISIBILITY
14.7 MI
SNOW DEPTH
Last report for the day if reported more than once.
No data.
WIND SPEED AND GUSTS
MEAN WIND SPEED
8.06 MPH
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND SPEED
17.26 MPH
MAXIMUM WIND GUST
No data
Average Rainfall In Iowa
What is the average rainfall in Iowa?
Precipitation- Precipitation averages around 34 inches per year for the State, ranging from 26 inches in the extreme northwest to as much as 38 inches in the southeast. However, annual totals vary widely from year to year and locality to locality.
Iowa, Iowa, gets 33 inches of rain per year. The US average is 37. Snowfall is 30 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 93.
On average, there are 200 sunny days per year in Iowa, Iowa. The July high is around 86 degrees. The January low is 10. Our comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 42 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44.
Temperature
1. Which temperature map has the most current information?
2. Can you find the zone that Des Moines is ?
3. What is the average temperature in Des Moines?
4. Name three counties that have similar temperatures to Des Moines?
5. Name three counties that have different average temperatures to Des Moines?
Precipitation
1. Find Polk County on the map. What is the average precipitation in Polk County?
2. What is the total snowfall in inches in 2013 in Polk County?
3. What counties had more snowfall in 2013 than Polk County?
4. Name three counties that had 16 or more inches of precipitation in 2015.
5. Name three counties that had more than 7 inches of snow in 2013.
6. Name three counties that had less than 3 inches of snow in 2013.
Climate Change
What is Climate Change?
Climate Change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. This includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, or other effects that occur several decades or longer.
Among the climate changes Iowa is already experiencing are:How is Climate Change Affecting Iowa?
Iowa is already experiencing the effects of climate change.
Increased Precipitation
- Increased frequency of precipitation extremes that lead to flooding.
- Increase of 8 percent more precipitation from 1873 to 2008.
- A larger increase in precipitation in eastern Iowa than in western Iowa.
Higher Temperatures
- Long-term winter temperatures have increased six times more than summer temperatures.
- Nighttime temperatures have increased more than daytime temperatures since 1970.
- Iowa’s humidity has risen substantially, especially in summer, which now has 13 percent more atmospheric moisture than 35 years ago as indicated by a 3 - 5 degree F rise in dew-point temperature. This fuels convective thunderstorms that provide more summer precipitation.
Agricultural Challenges
- Climate extremes, not averages, have the greater impact on crop and livestock productivity.
- Increased soil erosion and water runoff.
- Increased challenges associated with manure applications.
- Favorable conditions for survival and spread of many unwanted pests and pathogens.
Habitat Changes
- Plants are leafing out and flowering sooner.
- Birds are arriving earlier in the spring.
- Particular animals are now being sighted farther north than in the past.
Public Health Effects
- Increases in heart and lung programs from increasing air pollutants of ozone and fine particles enhanced by higher temperatures.
- Increases in infectious diseases transmitted by insects that require a warmer, wetter climate.
- An increase prevalence of asthma and allergies.