462 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



of July and November was abnormally warm. The total precipita- 

 tion 27.81 inches, is 4.16 inches below normal. April and June 

 were excessively wet, particularly in the latter month in the south- 

 em portion of the State, while deficiencies occurred in all other 

 months but February. November was droughty. The season was 

 favorable for small grains, but unfavorable for corn, about half of 

 which was caught by frosts, October 1-8. Considerable frost dam- 

 age occurred in the northeastern counties on September 11. About 

 15 per cent of tliej crop remained unhusked in the fields at the 

 close of the year, and much that was cribbed was damaged by heat- 

 ing. The low yields of winter wheat, clover, timothy and alfalfa, 

 were due to unfavorable conditions during the winter of 1916-17. 



Barometer (reduced to sea level). — The average pressure of the atmos- 

 phere for the year was 30.06 Inches. The highest pressure was 31.09 

 inches, at Sioux City, on December 29th. The lowest pressure was 29.02 

 inches, at Charles City, on January 21st. The range for the state was 2.07 

 inches. 



Temperature. — The mean temperature for the state was 44.8°, or 2.6° 

 below the normal. The highest annual mean was 49.3°, at Keokuk, Lee 

 County. The lowest annual mean was 39.8° at Estherville, Emmet County. 

 The highest temperature reported was 106°, at Clarinda, on July 30th. 

 The lowest temperature reported was -40°, at Washta, on December 29th. 

 The range for the state was 146°. 



Precipitation. — The average amount of rainfall and melted snow for 

 the year was 27.81 inches, or 4.16 inches less than the normal, and 1.09 

 inches less than the average for 1916. The greatest amount at any sta- 

 tion was 36.00 inches, at Nora Springs, Floyd County, and the least 

 amount was 20.78 inches, at Le Mars, Plymouth County. The greatest 

 monthly precipitation was 13.82 inches, at Keosauqua, Van Buren County, 

 in June. The least amount was a trace, at seven stations in the southern 

 division in February, and at four scattered stations in November. The 

 greatest amount in any 24 consecutive hours was 5.74 inches, at St. 

 Charles, on August 4th. Measurable precipitation occurred on an average 

 of 82 days, 8 days less than in 1916. 



Snowfall. — The average amount of snowfall wasi 32.4 inches. The 

 greatest amount reported from any station was 66.0 inches at Charles 

 City, Floyd County, and the least amount was 7.6 inches at Corning, 

 Adams County. The greatest monthly snowfall was 20.7 inches at Rock 

 Rapids, Lyon County, in January. 



Wind. — The prevailing direction of the wind was northwest. The 

 highest velocity reported was 85 miles an hour from the west at Sioux 

 City, Woodbury County, on June 22d. 



Sunshine and Cloudiness. — The average number of clear days was 171; 

 partly cloudy, 98; cloudy, 96; as against 178 clear; 98 partly cloudy, and 

 90 cloudy days in 1916. The average percentage of the possible amount 

 of sunshine was 58 or about 3 per cent below the normal. 



