TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART I 9 



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

 the records of 119 stations, was 4.58 inches, which is 1.75 inches above the 

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

 4.18 inches, which is 1.71 inches above the normal; Central section, 4.95 

 inches, which is 2.08 inches above the normal; Southern section, 4.60 

 inches, which is 1.46 inches above the normal. The greatest amount, 9.43 

 inches, occurred at New Hampton, Chickasaw county, and the least, 0.83 

 inch, at Hancock, Pottawattamie county. The greatest amount in any 

 twenty-four hours, 4.60 inches, occurred at New Hampton, Chickasaw 

 county, on the ISth. Measurable precipitation occurred on an average of 

 12 days. 



The average amount of unmelted snowfall for the state was 3.1 inches; 

 the greatest amount, 20.8 inches, occurred at Northwood, Worth county. 



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

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

 normal, the percentage of the possible amount being 58 at Charles City; 

 49 at Davenport; 47 at Des Moines; 41 at Dubuque; 59 at Keokuk, and 

 47 at Sioux City. 



Wind. — Northwest winds prevailed. The highest velocity reported was 

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

 on the 28th. 



MAY. 



The average temperature for the month was considerably below the 

 normal and was the lowest for May, with one exception, 1907, since April, 

 1893. The cool wave that spread over the state at the close of April, con- 

 tinued during the first three days of May and caused freezing temper- 

 atures on one or more of those days in all parts of the state and w^as 

 attended, on the first by snow flurries over the central and northern 

 counties. The night temperatures continued below normal most of the 

 time until the 29th but there were several days when the temperatures 

 were unusually high, especially the fifth when the maximum was 90° or 

 above in all but the extreme southeastern counties. 



The precipitation for the state at large was slightly below the normal 

 but there was a slight excess over the district comprising the three 

 northern tiers of counties. The average for the state was four inches 

 less than the average for May, 1908. From the 3d to the 11th and 

 from the 16th to the 23d the weather was generally dry but showers 

 were frequent during the remainder of the month with an occasional 

 heavy downpour, accompanied in several localities by hail and wind 

 squalls which did some damage. On the whole the month was favorable 

 fOT farm operations and good progress was made in field work. Corn was 

 practically all planted by the close of the month except on low and wet 

 ground and cultivation was general. The stand, color and vitality of corn 

 is exceptionally good. Grass and small grain made rapid growth during 

 the latter half of the month and was reported to be nearly up to the 

 average for the last of May. The continued cold weather during April 

 and the fore part of May kept the fruit buds dormant until near the 

 middle of the month thereby escaping any material damage by the late 



