TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART I 7 



The average precipitation for the state was slightly below the normal 

 for Mai'ch, but the average snowfall was considerably above the normal 

 and was excessive in many localities. Reports indicate that there was 

 good sleighing from five to ten days in northern districts, which is un- 

 usual for the time of the year. Notwithstanding the fact that there was 

 a deficiency in precipitation, there was less than the usual amount of 

 sunshine. Reports vary as to the condition of clover and winter grains; 

 some indicate that the alternating freezing and thawing weather has had 

 an injurious effect and others that the plants are still in good condition, 

 but the majority show that there has not been sufficient spring growth to 

 permit an accurate estimate. All reports, however, agree that the con- 

 tinued cold nights have been favorable for fruit. 



Temperatuee. — The monthly mean temperature for the state, as shown 

 by the records of 116 stations, was 32.5°; which is 1.5° below the normal 

 for Iowa. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northern 

 section, 29.6°, which is 1.6° below the normal; Central section, 32.4°, which 

 is 1.8° below the normal; Southern section, 35.6°, which is 1.1° below the 

 normal. The highest monthly mean was 40.0° at Ottumwa, "Wapello 

 county, and the lowest monthly mean was 28.2° at Charles City and Fort 

 Dodge, in Floyd and Webster counties. The highest temperature reported 

 was 71°, at St. Charles, Madison county, on the 23d; the lowest tempera- 

 ture reported was — 15°, at Iowa Falls, Webster City and Zearing, in 

 Hardin, Hamilton and Story counties, on the 17th. The average monthly 

 maximum was 59.6° and the average monthly minimum was 0.5°. The 

 greatest daily range was 48° at Carroll, Carroll county. The average 

 of the greatest daily ranges was 33.4°. 



Pei;cipit.\.ttox. — The average precipitation for the state, as shown by 

 the records of 120 stations, was 1.53 inches, which is 0.39 inch below the 

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

 1.48 inches, which is 0.25 inch below the normal; Central section 

 1.48 inches, which is 0.50 inch below the normal; Southern section, 

 1.64 inches, which is 0.41 inch below the normal. The greatest amount, 

 5.00 inches, occurred at Perry, Dallas county, and the least, 0.28 inch, at 

 Denison, Crawford county. The greatest amount in any twenty-four hours, 

 2.00 inches, occurred at Humboldt, Humboldt county, on the 7th. The 

 average snowfall, unmelted, was 9.8 inches, the average for the three 

 sections being as follows: Northern section, 13.5 inches; Central section, 

 9.5 inches; Southern section, 6.3 inches. The greatest monthly snowfall, 

 32.0 inches, occurred at Perry, Dallas county, and the greatest twenty-four 

 hour amount, 20.0 inches, occurred at Humboldt on the 7th. 



Measurable precipitation occurred on an average of 6 days. 



SuNSHixE AND Cloudiness. — The average number of clear days was 12; 

 partly cloudy, 12; cloudy, 9. The duration of sunshine was below the 

 normal, the percentage of the possible amount being 56 at Davenport; 49 

 at Des Moines; 45 at Dubuque; 59 at Keokuk; and 55 at Sioux City. 



Wind. — Northwest winds prevailed. The highest velocity reported 

 was 48 miles per hour from the northwest at Sioux City, Woodbury 

 county, on the 13th. 



