ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK PART J 19 



coldest period of the month was on the 28th and the 29th when the mini- 

 mum temperatures were below the freezing point and killing frost oc- 

 curred at all stations. The first snow of the season fell in the form of 

 light flurries on the 27th and 28th. 



The warm, dry weather was very favorable for ripening the corn crop, 

 finishing threshing, digging potatoes and for all outdoor operations, ex- 

 cept that the soil was too dry for satisfactory plowing and in many 

 places the surface water supply was scarce and the water in shallow wells 

 was low. Corn-husking began during the third week and became general 

 during the fourth week of the month. The large acreage of fall wheat was 

 in excellent condition at the close of the month. Home-grown strawberries 

 were on the market at Dubuque until the closing week of October and a 

 few boxes were picked at some time during the month at many places in 

 the eastern and southern counties. 



Tempebature. — The monthly mean temperature for the state, as shown 

 by the records of 113 stations, was 55.2°, which is 3.3° above the normal 

 for Iowa. By sections the mean temperatures were as follows: Northern 

 section, 53.7°, which is 3.6° above the normal; Central section, 55.3°, 

 which is 3.5° above the normal. Southern section, 56.6°, which is 2.8° 

 above the normal. The highest monthly mean was 60.1°, at Ottumwa, 

 Wapello County, and the lowest monthly mean was 51.7°, at North wood, 

 Worth County. The highest temperature reported was 93°, at Inwood, 

 Lyon County, on the 10th, and at Ottumwa, Wapello County, on the 16th; 

 the lowest temperature reported was 10°, at Woodburn, Clarke County, on 

 the 29th. The average monthly maximum was 86°, and the average 

 monthly minimum was 18°. The greatest daily range was 56°, at Keo- 

 sauqua, Van Buren County, on the 30th. The average of the greatest 

 daily ranges was 40°. 



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

 the records of 122 stations, was 0.77 inch, which is 1.58 inches below the 

 normal. By sections the averages were as follows: Northern section, 0.81 

 inch, which is 1.46 inches below the normal; Central section, 0.77 inch, 

 which is 1.67 inches below the normal; Southern section, 0.74 inch, which 

 is 1.61 inches below the normal. The greatest amount, 1.73 inches, occur- 

 red at Fort Dodge, Webster County, and the least, a trace, at Chariton, 

 Lucas County. The greatest amount in twenty-four hours, 1.32 inches, 

 occurred at Fort Dodge, Webster county, on the 19th. Measurable preci- 

 pitation occurred on an average of 4 days. 



Snow. — The average depth' of unmelted snowfall w r as 0.1 inch, nearly all 

 stations reported at least a trace; the greatest depth was 2.0 inches, at 

 Algona, Kossuth County. 



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

 21; partly cloudy, 4; cloudy, 6. The duration of sunshine was about 

 10 per cent above the normal, the percentage of the possible amount being 



71 at Charles City; 72 at Davenport; 73 at Des Moines; 66 at Dubuque; 



72 at Keoukuk, and 77 at Sioux City. 



