4 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
CLIMATOLOGY OF THE YEAR 1908. 
The mean temperature and average precipitation were above the normal 
for the year, there being an excess in temperature of 2°, and in precipita- 
tion of 2.16 inches. The temperature was above normal every month of 
the year except May, June, July, August, and October; the greatest defi- 
ciency being in August, when it was 1.8° below the normal. The precipi- 
tation was above the normal in February, May, June, August, October, 
and November, the greatest excess being in May, when it was 3.84 inches 
above the normal. The winter months were comparatively warm and 
dry, and the summer months wet and cool. The excessive and almost 
continuous rains in May and June were very injurious, coming as they did 
during the planting season; but the injury was more than compensated 
for by the dry and warm weather during the latter part of August and 
most of September. The year as a whole has been the most profitable 
one on record for the farmer. 
Barometer. — The mean pressure of the atmosphere for the year 1908 
was 30.03 inches. The highest observed pressure was 30.75 inches on 
December 2d, at Keokuk, Lee county. The lowest pressure was 29.05 
inches on April 24th, at Charles City, Des Moines, and Sioux City, in 
Floyd, Polk and Woodbury counties. The range for the state was 1.70 
inches. 
Temperature. — The mean temperature for the state was 49.5; which 
is 2.0° above the normal for the state. The highest temperature reported 
was 101° on August 3d, at Oskaloosa and Ottumwa, in Mahaska and 
Wapello counties. The lowest temperature reported was 18° below zero 
on January 29th, at Estherville and Forest City, in Emmet and Winne- 
bago counties respectively. The range for the state was 119?. 
Precipitation. — The average amount of rain and melted snow for the 
year, as shown by complete records of 102 stations, was 35.26 inches, 
which is 2.61 inches above the normal, and 3. 20 inches above the average 
amount in 1907. The greatest amount recorded at any station for the 
year was 49.98 inches at Rockwell City, Calhoun county. The least amount 
recorded was 24.11 inches at Dubuque, Dubuque county. The greatest 
monthly rainfall was 14.33 inches at Fort Madison, Lee county, in May. 
The least monthly precipitation was trace at Tipton, Cedar county, in 
December. The greatest amount in any 24 consecutive hours was 6.02 
inches at Stuart, in Guthrie county, on August 15th. The average amount 
of snowfall was 20.7 inches. The greatest amount of snowfall, unmelted, 
at any station during the year was 37.0 inches, at Sheldon, O'Brien county. 
The greatest monthly snowfall was 17.3 inches in February, at Pacific 
Junction, Mills county, and the greatest 24 hour snowfall recorded was 
15.8 inches on February 18th, at Pacific Junction, Mills county. Measure- 
able precipitation occurred on an average of 86 days. 
Wind. — The prevailing direction of the wind was northwest. The 
highest velocity reported was 60 miles per hour at Sioux City, Woodbury 
county, from the northeast and southwest, on May 16th and June 22d. 
The average daily movement of wind was 208 miles. 
Sunshine and Cloudiness. — The average number of clear days was 
176; partly cloudy 96; cloudy 94; as against 168 clear days; 94 partly 
cloudy, and 103 cloudy days in 1907. The duration of sunshine was 
slightly above the normal. 
