IOWA WEATHER AND CROP REPORT 563 



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

 From April 1 to September 30, 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 received as to desireable detours to avoid wet 

 areas. A special Highway Weather Service was maintained by the 

 U. S. Weather Bureau Offices in Charles City and Dubuque. This 

 is very popular, but cannot be conducted satisfactorily without more 

 funds. In fact, the work was discontinued at Davenport, Des 

 Moines, and Sioux City because of the failure of Congress to pro- 

 vide adequate salaries. Frequent resignations of trained employees 

 made it impossible to continue this work. 



CLIMATOLOGY OF THE YEAR, 1922 



The year, 1922, with a mean temperature of 50.2, was next to the 

 warmest of the 33 years of State wide record. The average daily 

 excess of temperature above the normal was 2.8°. Each of the 

 months were above normal except July which was 2.6° below which 

 made the midsummer season pleasant. Of the 28 consecutive months 

 ending with December, 1922, 26 were above normal ; and during this 

 period the average daily temperature was 3.7° above normal — a 

 most remarkable record. Precipitation averaged 29.98 inches, or 

 1.99 inches below normal. Snowfall, 13.5 inches, is a new low 

 record for a calendar year, though the snowfall of the three 

 winter months of 1921-1922 was only 9.5 inches. Wind movement 

 averaged slightly less than normal, but unusual gales occurred on 

 November 5th and 30th. 



Crop production was unusually good. Corn was next to the 

 largest crop of record, small grains were satisfactory, potatoes very 

 good ; apples unusually good, and other fruits above the average. 



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

 phere for the year was 30.04 inches. The highest pressure was 30.97 

 inches, at Sioux City on February 28. The lowest pressure was 28.92 

 inches, at Des Moines, on April 8. The range for the State was 2.05 

 inches. 



Temperature. The mean temperature for the State was 50.2° or 2.8° 

 above normal. The highest annual mean was 54.2°, at Keokuk, Lee 

 County. The lowest annual mean was 46.1°, in Dickinson County near 

 Milford. The highest temperature reported was 104°, at Inwood, on June 



23. The lowest temperature reported was -29°, at Charles City, Floyd 

 County, on January 6 and at Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, on January 



24. The range for the State was 133°. 



Precipitation. The average amount of rainfall and melted snow for 



