THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART I 5 



occurred at Rock Rapids, Lyon County, on the 28th. Measurable precipi- 

 tation occurred on an average of 5 days. 



Snow. — The average fall was 5.5 inches. The greatest amount was 19.0 

 at Rockwell City and the least was a trace at Elliott. 



Sunshine and Cloudiness. — The average number of clear days was 14; 

 partly cloudy, 7; cloudy, 10. The duration of sunshine was above the 

 normal, the percentage of the possible amount being 66 at Charles City; 

 45 at Davenport; 63 at Des Moines; 60 at Dubuque; 46 at Keokuk; and 

 45 at Sioux City. 



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

 52 miles an hour from the northwest, at Sioux City, Woodbury County, 

 on the 8th. 



JANUARY NORMALS FOR IOWA, 1890-1912. 



Normal temperature for January, 19.1°. 

 Warmest January, 1891, with mean temperature of 26°. 

 Coldest January, 1912, with mean temperature of 4.2°. 

 Normal precipitation for January, 1.07 inches. 

 Wettest January, 1890, with total precipitation of 2.03 inches. 

 Driest January, 1899, with total precipitation of 0.28 inch. 

 Average depth of snowfall for January, 6.9 inches (1892 to 1912 in- 

 clusive). 



Greatest snowfall in January, 12.6 inches, in 1898 and 1910. 

 Average number of days with 0.01 inch or more of precipitation, 5. 

 Prevailing direction of wind, northwest. 

 Average number of clear days, 13; partly cloudy, 8; cloudy, 10. 



FEBRUARY. 



With the exception of the low temperatures during the first 12 days, 

 and the abnormally heavy snow storm over the southern and eastern 

 counties on the night of the 25th and the 26th, February, 1912, was a very 

 pleasant winter month. For the state, as a whole, the temperature was 

 slightly below and the precipitation slightly above the normal, but the 

 excess of precipitation was due to the abnormally heavy snow on the 

 25th-26th, which was confined to the southern and eastern counties; the 

 northwestern third of the state reporting a decided deficiency of precipita- 

 tion. Over the southern and especially the extreme southwestern counties, 

 the storm broke all former records as to amount and the short time in 

 which it fell. More than 20 inches fell in Fremont and Page counties and 

 most of it fell in about 12 hours. The high winds that obtained during the 

 storm caused the snow to drift badly, and as a result, traffic on highways 

 and railroads was delayed and many highways were blocked for two or 

 three days. 



During the first 12 days of the month, low temperatures prevailed, after 

 which milder weather obtained until the 26th. The . maximum tempera- 

 tures ranged between 40° and 50°, the highest being recorded at most 

 stations on the 23d. The 2d, 3d, 4th and 9th were the coldest days, the 

 minimum temperatures varying from — 10° to — 20°. The ground was 



