4 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



and at Washta, Cherokee County, on the 3d. The average monthly maxi- 

 mum was 53°, and the average monthly minimum was — 21°. The greatest 

 daily range was 56°, at Storm Lake, Buena Vista County. The average of 

 the greatest daily ranges was 44°. 



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

 the records of 118 stations, was 0.97 inch, which is 0.08 inch below the 

 normal. By sections the averages were as follows: Northern section, 0.95 

 inch, which is 0.13 inch above the normal; Central section, 0.84 inch, which 

 is 0.26 inch below the normal; Southern section, 1.12 inches, which is 0.12 

 inch below the normal. The greatest amount, 3.73 inches, occurred at 

 Burlington, Des Moines County, and the least, 0.11 inch, at Greenfield, 

 Adair County. The greatest amount in twenty-four hours 1.93 inches, oc- 

 curred at Keokuk, Lee County, on the 13th and 14th. Measurable precipi- 

 tation occurred on an average of 5 days. 



Sxow. — The average depth of unmelted snowfall for the State was 7.3 

 inches; by sections the averages were as follows: Northern section, 9.5 

 inches; Central section, 6.8 inches; Southern section, 5.5 inches. The 

 greatest depth was 22.0 inches at Rockwell City, Calhoun County; and the 

 least depth, 1.5 inches at Greenfield, Adair County. 



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

 partly cloudy, 8; cloudy, 14. The duration of sunshine was much below 

 the normal, the percentage of the possible amount being 41 at Charles City; 

 28 at Davenport; 34 at Des Moines; 32 at Dubuque; 34 at Keokuk; and 45 

 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 8th. 



FEBRUARY. 



The month just past was the wettest February on record since state- 

 wide observations began in 1890 and the warmest with but two exceptions 

 since that time. The average precipitation, 2.76 inches, was 1.70 inches 

 above the normal for the month and the average temperature, 27.3° was 

 8.1° above the normal. The next greatest precipitation was 1.69 inches in 

 1908. In 1892 the mean temperature was 28.1° and in 1896 it was 27.4°. 

 The most notable characteristics of the month were the heavy snow storm 

 on the 5th; the heavy rains between the 13th and 18th; the long period 

 of excessive cloudiness between the 11th and 18th, and the absence of se- 

 verely cold weather. There were but few cold days, and those were not 

 extremely so, as zero temperatures did not obtain over the southern half of 

 the state, except on one or two days and then only on the high ground be- 

 tween the rivers. The coldest days were the 2d, 3d, 8th to 10th, and the 

 21st and 22d; the lowest temperature reported being 13° below zero on the 

 10th. The maximum temperatures were not exceptionally high but they 

 averaged considerably above the normal. 



The precipitation was the greatest on record for February, and practi- 

 cally all of it fell in the form of snow on the 5th or during the heavy rains 



