IOWA WEATHER AND CROP REPORT 599 



of general precipitation, 6th-7th, and 14th. On the 6th-7th a light rain 

 over most of the State froze to all exposed surfaces. This thin sheet of 

 ice continued for several days. It was not sufficiently heavy to seriously 

 interfere with rail traffic, but walking, especially in cities, was difficult 

 and dangerous and many accidents to pedestrians resulted. Many auto- 

 mobiles were damaged by skidding and a great many that were without 

 chains slid into ditches and had to be temporarily abandoned. 



The month was free from severe storms. The snowfall was unusually 

 light, but during the most severe weather, most of the State was covered 

 sufficiently to prevent serious damage to winter wheat. It did not drift 

 nor interfere with traffic. Building operations were checked temporarily 

 by cold weather but conditions were generally favorable for out door work 

 and at the close of the month very little corn remained to be gathered. 



During the cold weather the ice rapidly increased in thickness and 

 some was harvested but the continued mild weather reduced the thickness 

 and made it too soft and spongy to store. More cold weather is needed to 

 insure an adequate ice harvest. 



Except for the ice that prevailed during the early part of the month 

 the roads were in good condition, but the alternate freezing and thawing 

 made all roads somewhat rough the latter part of the month. 



The Mississippi River at Keokuk reached the lowest stage ever experi- 

 enced, 3.1 feet below the zero of the gage. The continued low stage caused 

 great trouble and expense to manufacturing interests. 



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

 30.12 inches. The highest recorded was 30.76 inches, at Dubuque, on the 

 18th, and the lowest was 29.43 inches, at Sioux City, on the 29th. The 

 monthly range was 1.33 inches. 



Temperature. The mean temperature for the State as shown by the 

 records of 100 stations, was 24.0°, or 0.1° higher than the normal. By 

 divisions, three tiers of counties to the division, the means were as fol- 

 lows: Northern, 19.8°, or 1.4° lower than the normal; Central, 24.4°, or 

 0.3° higher than the normal; Southern, 27.7°, or 1.3° higher than the nor- 

 mal. The highest monthly mean was 30.5°, at Keokuk, and the lowest 

 16.4°, at Sanborn. The highest temperature recorded was 65°, at Thur- 

 man, on the 29th, and the lowest was 25° below zero at Decorah, Nora 

 Springs and Rock Rapids, on the 18*b The temperature range for the 

 State was 90°. 



Humidity. The average relative humidity for the State at 7 a. m. was 

 79 per cent, and at 7 p. m. was 68 per cent. The mean for the month was 

 74 per cent, which is 7 per cent below the normal. The highest monthly 

 mean was 86 per cent at Charles City, and the lowest was 68 per cent at 

 Keokuk. 



Precipitation. The average precipitation for the State, as shown by 

 the records of 101 stations, was 0.37 inch, or 0.85 inch less than the nor- 

 mal. By divisions the averages were as follows: Northern, 0.43 inch, or 

 0.64 inch less than the normal; Central, 0.31 inch, or 0.94 inch less than 

 the normal; Southern, 0.36 inch, or 0.99 inch less than the normal. The 



