TWENTIETH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIII 683 



tion was 12.25 inches, at Alta, Buena Vista County, in June. The least 

 amount was a trace, at several stations in January. The greatest amount 

 in any 24 consecutive hours was 5.52, at Grinnell, on September 30th. 

 Measurable precipitation occurred on an average of 95 days, 3 days more 

 than in 1918 and 10 days more than normal. 



Snowfall. The average amount of snowfall was 26.6 inches. The great- 

 est amount reported from any station was 44.5 inches at Sioux Center, 

 Sioux County, and the least amount was 7.1 inches at Keokuk, Lee County. 

 The greatest monthly snowfall was 18.0 inches at Sibley, Osceola County, 

 in February. 



Wind. The prevailing direction of the wind was from the southeast. 

 The highest velocity reported was 63 miles an hour from the southwest 

 at Keokuk, Lee County, on November 10th. 



Sunshine and Cloudiness. The average number of clear days was 169; 

 partly cloudy, 94: cloudy, 102: as against 173 clear; 97 partly cloudy, and 

 95 cloudy days in 1918. The average percentage of the possible amount 

 of sunshine was 59 or about 2 per cent less than the normal. 



MONTHLY SUMMARIES. 

 JANUARY. 



The mean temperature, 26.8°, is the highest of the 30 Januarys of 

 state-wide record, the excess in temperature being about 14 degrees in 

 Emmet county in the north and about 4 degrees in Wayne county in the 

 south. The first five days were severely cold with temperatures as much 

 as 30 degrees below normal; the last 16 days were remarkably mild, sev- 

 eral days being more than 20 degrees above normal. 



This was the driest January of record. Most of the precipitation oc- 

 curred in the snowstorm that was in progress at the close of the pre- 

 ceding month, though small, scattered amounts occurred, 4th-7th and 

 20th-23d. The number of clear days, 20, is the greatest record in January. 

 The snow covering disappeared in the Missouri slope counties by about 

 the 8th but persisted till the 21st-24th over a belt extending from Keokuk 

 and Washington counties northeast over Clayton and Dubuque counties. 

 The ground was not deeply frozen at any time, and during the last week 

 very little frost remained in the ground, plowing was done, shrubs were 

 set out and dandelions bloomed and formed their white seed balls. Buds 

 were much swelled and some fear is entertained for their safety. Maple 

 sap ran for a few days. Winter wheat is believed to be in good condition, 

 though there were some adverse reports of heaving due to alternate freez- 

 ing and thawing. Practically no ice has been harvested. Brisk market- 

 ing early in the month was prevented by bad roads after the 15th. Build- 

 ing was unusually active for January. 



Pressure. The mean pressure (reduced to sea level) for the state was 

 30.10 inches. The highest recorded was 30.65 inches, at Omaha, Neb., and 

 Sioux City, on the 3d, and the lowest was 29.68 at Sioux City on the 24th. 

 The monthly range was 0.97 inch. 



