682 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Increased transportation by automobile and motor truck has cre- 

 ated a great demand for information as to the condition of roads. 

 From April 1st to September 30th, daily rainfall reports are tele- 

 graphed at the expense of the U. S. Weather Bureau from 26 Iowa 

 towns to the central station at Des Moines. Many local and long- 

 distance calls are answered as to desirable detours to avoid wet 

 areas. A special Highway Weather Service was begun late in the 

 year by the U. S. Weather Bureau Ofifice in Charles City. 



CLIMATOLOGY OF THE YEAR 1919. 



The mean temperature, 48.6°, is 1.2° above normal. January, 

 February, March, June, July and September were above normal ; 

 the other months below. The highest temperature recorded was 

 104° at Webster City on July 30th and Keosauqua on July 31st. The 

 lowest was -36° at Thurman, on December 10th. The period, Decem- 

 ber 1, 1918, to March 31, 1919, was milder than any other similar 

 period of record; and the period, February 1st to April 30th, was 

 wetter. The total precipitation averaged 36.76 inches, or 4.79 inches 

 above normal. 



Spring work was backward ; grasses and winter grains made 

 luxuriant growth. Wheat was seriously damaged by high tempera- 

 tures and high humidities in June. Harvest and threshing were early. 

 Potatoes were practically a failure, due to hot, dry weather August 

 14th to September 17th. Corn husking was delayed by wet weather 

 in the latter part of September and October. 



Barometer (reduced to sea level). The average pressure of the atmos- 

 phere for the year was 30.04 inches. The highest pressure was 30.98 

 inches, at Keokuk, on December 10th. The lowest pressure was 28.96 

 inches, at Omaha, Neb., on February 13th. The range for the State was 

 2.02 inches. 



Temperature. The meaii temperature for the State was 48.6° or 1.2' 

 above the normal. The highest annual mean was 53.2°, at Keokuk, Lee 

 County. The lowest annual mean was 45.3°, at Britt, Hancock County, 

 and in Clayton County near Postville. The highest temperature reported 

 was 104°, at Webster City on July 30th and Keosauqua on July 31st. The 

 lowest temperature reported was -36° at Thurman, Fremont County, on 

 December 10th. The range for the State was 140°. 



Precipitation. The average amount of rainfall and melted snow for 

 the year was 36.76 inches, or 4.79 inches more than the normal, and 3.98 

 inches more than the average for 1918. The greatest amount at any sta- 

 tion was 48.16 inches, at Creston, Union County, and the least amount was 

 26.88 Inches, at Britt, Hancock County. The greatest monthly precipita- 



