Iowa Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Climate=== {{further|Climate change in Iowa}} [[File:Köppen Climate Types Iowa.png|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] of Iowa, using 1991–2020 [[Climatological normal|climate normals]].]] [[File:Iowa rainfall.jpg|thumb|Iowa annual rainfall, in inches; as of 2009]] Iowa has a [[humid continental climate]] throughout the state ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfa'') with extremes of both heat and cold. The average annual temperature at Des Moines is {{convert|50|F}}; for some locations in the north, such as Mason City, the figure is about {{convert|45|F}}, while [[Keokuk, Iowa|Keokuk]], on the [[Mississippi River]], averages {{convert|52|F}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-of-america/iowa-936/|title=Climate Iowa: Temperature, climate graph, Climate table for Iowa - Climate-Data.org|website=en.climate-data.org|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=April 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424143949/https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-of-america/iowa-936/|url-status=live}}</ref> Snowfall is common, with [[Des Moines]] getting about 26 days of snowfall a year, and other places, such as [[Shenandoah, Iowa|Shenandoah]] getting about 11 days of snowfall in a year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Iowa/annual-snowfall.php|title=Average Annual Snowfall Totals in Iowa – Current Results|website=Currentresults.com|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221044826/https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Iowa/annual-snowfall.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Spring ushers in the beginning of the [[severe weather]] season. As of 2008, Iowa averaged about 50 days of [[thunderstorm]] activity per year.<ref name="Thunderstorm Hazard">[http://www.srh.noaa.gov/key/HTML/tstmhazards.htm US Thunderstorm distribution]. src.noaa.gov. Retrieved February 13, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015060809/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/key/HTML/tstmhazards.htm |date=October 15, 2006 }}</ref> As of 2015, the 30-year annual average of tornadoes in Iowa was 47.<ref name="Annual Average Number of Tornadoes">{{cite web|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/?n=iators2013|title=Des Moines, IA|website=noaa.gov|access-date=February 18, 2015|archive-date=August 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821013206/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/?n=iators2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[Late-May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence|2008]], twelve people were killed by tornadoes in Iowa, making it the deadliest year since [[May 1968 tornado outbreak|1968]] and also the second most tornadoes in a year with 105, matching the total from 2001.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/storms/tornadoes/2009-01-02-iowa-tornadoes_N.htm?csp=34 | access-date=January 2, 2009 | work=USA Today | title=2008 Iowa tornadoes deadliest since 1968 | date=January 2, 2009 | archive-date=October 11, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011012835/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/storms/tornadoes/2009-01-02-iowa-tornadoes_N.htm?csp=34 | url-status=live }}</ref> Iowa summers are known for heat and humidity, with daytime temperatures sometimes near {{convert|90|F}} and occasionally exceeding {{convert|100|F}}. Average winters in the state have been known to drop well below freezing, even dropping below {{convert|−18|F}}. As of 2018, Iowa's all-time hottest temperature of {{convert|118|F|C}} was recorded at Keokuk on July 20, 1934, during a nationwide heat wave;<ref>{{Cite report|url=http://www.cityofkeokuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Keokuk-Comprehensive-Plan-2018.pdf|title=Keokuk Comprehensive Plan 2018|date=June 2018|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=February 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220154035/http://www.cityofkeokuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Keokuk-Comprehensive-Plan-2018.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> as of 2014, the all-time lowest temperature of {{convert|−47|F|C}} was recorded in [[Washta]] on January 12, 1912.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/07/washta-coldest-spot-in-iowa/4352579/|title=Site of Iowa's coldest temp shivers with rest of state|last=Munson|first=Kyle|website=USA TODAY|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=February 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228050414/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/07/washta-coldest-spot-in-iowa/4352579/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{sort under}} {| class="wikitable sortable sort-under" "text-align: center; font-size: 90%;" |+ Monthly normal high and low temperatures for various Iowa cities (°F)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ustravelweather.com/iowa/|title=Iowa Weather-Iowa Weather Forecast-Iowa Climate|website=ustravelweather.com|access-date=February 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131181314/http://www.ustravelweather.com/iowa/|archive-date=January 31, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" | City ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Jan ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Feb ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Mar ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Apr ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | May ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Jun ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Jul ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Aug ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Sep ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Oct ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Nov ! style="background-color:#e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Dec |- style="background:#c5dfe1;" ! style="background:#c5dfe1;" | [[Davenport, Iowa|Davenport]]<ref name=weather.com>{{cite web|title=Monthly Averages for Davenport, Iowa|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/52804|publisher=Weather.com|access-date=November 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008014408/http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/52804|archive-date=October 8, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> | 30/13 | 36/19 | 48/29 | 61/41 | 72/52 | 81/63 | 85/68 | 83/66 | 76/57 | 65/45 | 48/32 | 35/20 |- style="background:#f8f3ca;" ! style="background:#f8f3ca;" | [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIA0231 |title=Average Weather for Des Moines, IA—Temperature and Precipitation |publisher=Weather.com |access-date=February 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024151924/http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIA0231 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | 31/14 | 36/19 | 49/30 | 62/41 | 72/52 | 82/62 | 86/67 | 84/65 | 76/55 | 63/43 | 48/31 | 34/18 |- style="background:#c5dfe1;" ! style="background:#c5dfe1;" | [[Keokuk, Iowa|Keokuk]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/daily/USIA0434 |title=Daily Averages for Keokuk, IA |publisher=weather.com |access-date=February 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024141157/http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/daily/USIA0434 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | 34/17 | 39/21 | 50/30 | 63/42 | 73/52 | 83/62 | 87/67 | 85/65 | 78/56 | 66/44 | 51/33 | 33/21 |- style="background:#f8f3ca;" ! style="background:#f8f3ca;" | [[Mason City, Iowa|Mason City]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIA0541 |title=Average Weather for Mason City, IA—Temperature and Precipitation |publisher=Weather.com |access-date=February 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024141115/http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIA0541 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | 24/6 | 29/12 | 41/23 | 57/35 | 69/46 | 79/57 | 82/61 | 80/58 | 73/49 | 60/37 | 43/25 | 28/11 |- style="background:#c5dfe1;" ! style="background:#c5dfe1;" | [[Sioux City, Iowa|Sioux City]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIA0793 |title=Average Weather for Sioux City, IA—Temperature and Precipitation |publisher=Weather.com |access-date=February 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024141126/http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIA0793 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | 31/10 | 35/15 | 47/26 | 62/37 | 73/49 | 82/59 | 86/63 | 83/63 | 76/51 | 63/38 | 46/25 | 32/13 |} ====Precipitation==== Iowa has had a relatively smooth gradient of varying [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] across the state; from 1961 to 1990, areas in the southeast of the state received an average of over {{convert|38|in|cm}} of rain annually, and the northwest of the state receiving less than {{convert|28|in|cm}}.<ref>[http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/pcpn/ia.gif Average Annual Precipitation Iowa, 1961–1990 (GIF File)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213012932/http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/pcpn/ia.gif |date=February 13, 2010 }}—Christopher Daly, Jenny Weisburg</ref> The pattern of precipitation across Iowa is seasonal with more rain falling in the summer months. Virtually statewide, the driest month is January or February, and the wettest month is June owing to frequent showers and thunderstorms some of which produce hail, damaging winds or tornadoes. In Des Moines, roughly in the center of the state, over two-thirds of the {{convert|34.72|in|cm}} of rain falls from April through September, and about half the average annual precipitation falls from May through August peaking in June.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIA0231 |title=Average Weather for Des Moines, IA—Temperature and Precipitation, Weather.com, Retrieved Jan. 7, 2009 |publisher=Weather.com |access-date=July 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203141541/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIA0231 |archive-date=December 3, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page