8 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



APRIL. 



The weather during April approached very nearly the normal conditions 

 for that month, there being an average daily deficiency of 1.7° in tempera- 

 ture and an average excess of .26 inch of precipitation for the month. The 

 first two weeks of the month were abnormally cold and stormy with heavy 

 snow over the northern half of the state on the 5th and 6th. Many 

 stations in the northern counties reported 3 to 12 inches of snowfall and 

 temperatures between 3° and 10° on the 7th. Minimum temperatures 

 were generally below freezing during the first half of the month, and 

 below or only slightly above on many nights during the latter half, but 

 the last five days were moderately warm. The absence of any abnormally 

 warm weather kept vegetation and especially fruit buds very nearly dor- 

 mant, and fruits of all kinds are blooming fully a month later than last 

 year. The prospects at the close of the month are favorable for a bounti- 

 ful crop of fruit of all kinds, except peaches, which were injured during 

 the winter. The precipatition was well distributed throughout the month 

 and fairly well distributed geogranhically. and occured in four distinct 

 ■storm periods as follows: 2-7, 11-12, 18-19, 26-30, with the heaviest rain- 

 fall on the 29-30th. Considerable snow fell during the first period, the 

 average monthly amount for the state being 3.6 inches, which is 1.6 inches 

 above the normal. Thunderstorms occurred on several dates, and were 

 in many localities accompanied by high winds, which did some damage to 

 trees and buildings. At Sioux City, on the 12th, the wind attained a 

 velocity of 90 miles per hour for a period of 2 minutes. 



The month as a whole was favorable for farm work and the spring 

 seeding was mostly completed, during the third week. A large acreage 

 was plowed and prepared for corn, but practically no planting was done. 



Temperature. — The monthly mean temperature for the State, as shown 

 by the records of 114 stations, was 46.8°, which is 1.7° below the normal. 

 By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northern section, 

 45.0°, which is 1.8° below the normal; Central section, 46.9°, which is 1.6° 

 below the normal; Southern section 48.6°, which is 1.7° below the normal. 

 The highest monthly mean was 50.7°, at Keokuk, Lee County, and 

 the lowest monthly mean, 42.9°, at Forest City Winnebago County. The 

 highest temperature reported was 86°, at Baxter, Jasper County, on the 

 30th; the lowest temperature reported was 3°, at Iowa Falls Hardin 

 County, on the 7th. The average monthly maxima was 76°. and the 

 average monthly minima 18°. The greatest daily range was 50°, at six 

 stations. The average of the greatest daily ranges was 41°. 



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

 the record of 122 stations, was 3.09 inches, which is .26 inch above the 

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

 2.86 inches which is .39 inch above the normal; Central section, 3.31 

 inches, which is .44 inch above the normal; Southern section, 3.10 inches, 

 which is .04 inch below the normal. The greatest amount, G.04 inches, 

 inches occurred in Winterset, Madison County, and the least, 1.33 inches, at 

 Bedford, Taylor County. The greatest amount in twenty-four hours, 2.70 

 inches, occurred at Winterset, Madison County, on the 29th. Measurable 

 precipitation occurred on an average of 9 days. 



