Weekly Iowa Weather Report, Sunday October 30, 2016

It was another unseasonably warm week across Iowa. A few locations across northern and eastern Iowa occasionally dipped below normal for temperatures but statewide the week averaged 6.5 degrees above normal. Iowa has now had 13 consecutive weeks with temperatures averaging at or above normal. Temperature extremes for the week ranged from a Monday morning low of 29 degrees at New Hampton to Friday afternoon highs of 83 degrees at Glenwood, Red Oak and Sidney.

The only rain event of consequence came between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning when showers and thunderstorms brought rain to all but west central Iowa. Heaviest rains fell across north central and northeast Iowa where one to two inch amounts were common. No rain was recorded at locations such as Mapleton, Denison, Carroll and Sac City while a point just southeast of Decorah picked up 2.96 inches. There were also some isolated showers and thunderstorms Saturday night across east central Iowa. The statewide average precipitation was 0.78 inches while normal for the week is 0.56 inches.

Finally, soil temperatures at the four inch depth as of Sunday were averaging from 50 degrees in extreme northwest Iowa to 60 degrees over the far southeast. Soil temperatures will increase slightly over the next week with another influx of warmer air beginning on Monday.

Source:  Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship