Waterloo is Approaching an Odd Weather Record

The city of Waterloo is approaching quite a significant weather-related record.

The city’s all-time record for most consecutive days with temperatures at or above the freezing point of 32 degrees is a stretch of 192 days, from April 11 to October 19, 1998.

As of Tuesday, October 19, Waterloo stands at 189 days, tied with 1962 for the fourth-longest stretch of all time. The last time that the temperature was at or below 32* was April 13^th. The closest it’s been to that mark was Sunday morning, October 17, when it was a chilly 35*.

As of Tuesday, Waterloo is tied for the fourth-longest stretch of consecutive days at/above 32* in the city’s history, dating back to the late-1800s, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

The average date for Waterloo to dip at or below 32* is October 6 (dating back to 1895). In 2020, it was October 2 when it was at/below 32* for the first time of the season when it hit exactly 32*.

The most recent date when it reached below 32* for the first time this late into the season was in 2017 when it finally reached 31* on October 27^th.

There have only been THREE years where the first instance of low temperatures at or below 32* in Waterloo did NOT occur until November: 1940, 1946, and 1947.

This 23-year-old record could fall, but it's going to be close. The National Weather Service forecast (as of Tuesday 10/19) calls for a low of around 33 degrees on early Saturday morning -- which would put the streak of days at 193 --- IF the temperature stays at or above 32*. We'll find out in a few days!