4 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



section, 17.8*, which is 1.6° above the normal; Central section, 21.3*, which 

 is 2.1° above the normal; Southern section, 24.4°, which is 2.0° above the 

 normal. The highest monthly mean was 28.4° at Ottumwa, Wapello county, 

 and the lowest monthly mean 13.2° at Rock Rapids, Lyon county. The 

 highest temperature reported was 72° at Keokuk, Lee county, on the 23d; 

 the lowest temperature reported was 25° below zero at Grand Meadow in 

 Clayton, Northwood in Worth, and Ridgeway in Winneshiek counties, on 

 the 6th. The average monthly maximum was 55.1°, and the average 

 monthly minimum was 17.9° below zero. The greatest daily range- was 50° 

 at Ames, Story county. The average of the greatest daily ranges was 38.8°. 



Pbecipitation. — The average precipitation for the State, as shown by 

 the records of 119 stations, was 1.66 inches, which is 0.61 inch above the 

 normal. By sections the averages were as follows: Northern section, 

 1.61 inches, which is 0.79 inch above the normal; Central section, 1.77 

 inches, which is 0.67 inch above the normal; Southern section, 1.60 inches, 

 which is 0.36 inch above the normal. The greatest amount, 3.74 inches, 

 occurred at Ridgeway, Winneshiek county, and the least, 0.41 inch, at 

 Le Mars, Plymouth county. The greatest amount in twenty-four hours, 

 2.10 inches, occurred at Lacona, Warren county, on the 28th. Measurable 

 precipitation occurred on an average of 6 days. 



The average snowfall, unmelted, was 7.8 inches. By sections, the aver- 

 ages were as follows: Northern section, 9.3 inches; Central section, 8.2 

 inches; Southern section, 5.8 inches. The greatest monthly snowfall, 20.0 

 inches, occurred at Elkader, Clayton county, and the greatest amount in 

 twenty-four hours, 8.0 inches, at Northwood, Worth county, on the l5th, 

 and at Iowa Falls, Hardin county, on the 29th. 



Sunshine and Cloudiness. — The average number of clear days was 9; 

 partly cloudy, 6; cloudy, 16. The duration of sunshine was below the 

 normal, the percentage of the possible amount being 29 at Davenport; 28 

 at Des Moines; 30 at Dubuque; 34 at Keokuk, and 35 at Sioux City. 



Wind. — South winds prevailed. The highest velocity reported was 72 

 miles per hour from the northwest, at Sioux City, Woodbury county, on 

 the 29tn. 



FEBRUARY. 



The average temperature for the State for the month of February was 

 much above the normal, and has been exceeded but twice in the past 20 

 years. In February, 1892, the average was 1.9° higher, and in February, 

 1896, it was 1.2° higher than the average for the past month. The lowest 

 average temperature for February during the past 20 years was 12.2° in 

 1899, or 14° per day lower than for February, 1909. Over the larger part 

 of the State the month was comparatively mild and at numerous stations 

 in the southern and southeastern and at a few stations in the central 

 counties the minimum temperature for the month was above zero. It is 

 the first time in 27 years that sub-zero temperatures have not been 

 recorded during February at Des Moines and Dubuque. On the other 

 hand, reports indicate that the month was very severe in the north- 

 western counties where the temperature was below zero on several days, 

 and the monthly minimum ranged from 18° to 26° below zero. The 



