754 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



the coldest month of the winter, and the coldest February since 1905. 

 It was 11.0° colder than January, 1914, and 1.1° lower tlian the normal 

 for January. The highest temperature reported was 59° at Pella on the 

 28th, and the lowest was — 29° at Inwood in the extreme northwestern 

 corner of the State, on the 7th. 



Over the northern counties the temperature was below freezing all 

 of the time from the 4th to the 25th, inclusive, except on the 21st, when 

 it was one or two degrees above that point. The 7th and 8th were gen- 

 erally the coldest days, but the monthly minimum at some stations was 

 recorded on the 16th, 18th or 24th, and the lowest temperatures were 

 recorded in the extreme western counties; the values in the extreme 

 southwestern corner of the 'State being considerably lower than they 

 were in the north-central, or northeastern counties. The most noticeable 

 feature In regard to the temperature of the month was the sudden 

 change from warm to cold that occurred during the last day of the 

 month. During the forenoon of the 28th, in the western, and the after- 

 noon in the eastern half of the State, the temperature was near or above 

 50°, but with the approach of the cold wave from the northwest the 

 temperature fell rapidly during the afternoon and night, and the read- 

 ings were only a few degrees above zero in the eastern part of the state 

 on the following morning. 



Humidity. — The average relative humidity for the State was 79 per 

 cent, or about 2 per cent more than the normal. The average at 7 a. m. 

 was 83 per cent and at 7 p. m. 74 per cent. The percentages at the several 

 stations were as follows: Charles City, 84; Davenport, 82; Des Moines, 

 77; Dubuque, 83; Sioux City, 78; Omaha, Neb., 69 per cent. 



Precipitation. — The average for the State, 114 stations reporting, was 

 0.87 inch, or 0.28 inch less than the normal. As in January the greatest 

 precipitation was over the southeastern counties. The greatest amount 

 was 1.99 inches at Keosauqua, and the least amount was 0.32 inch at Britt. 

 Practically all of the precipitation came in the form of snow, which was 

 fairly well distributed throughout the month. Light snow flurries were 

 frequent, but the only general storms occurred on the 6th-7th, 12th, 15th, 

 20th, and 22d, during which most of the precipitation fell, the greatest 

 amounts being recorded on the 6th. 



Snowfaxl. — The average for the State was 9.2 inches, or 1.9 inches 

 more than the average for the past 22 years. The greatest amount re- 

 ported was 24.6 inches at Centerville, and the least was 2.5 inches at 

 Britt. 



Wind. — Northwesterly winds prevailed, the total movement being con- 

 siderably more than the normal for February. High winds prevailed on 

 several days, culminating in a severe gale on the 28th when considerable 

 damage was done to plate glass windows, trees, telegraph and telephone 

 poles, and buildings in various parts of the State. The highest velocity 

 reported was 68 miles an hour, from the northwest, at Sioux City on 

 the 28th. 



Sunshine and Cloudiness. — The duration of sunshine was somewhat 

 less than usual, the percentage of the possible amount being 53 at Charles 



