DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has experienced the wettest winter on record with precipitation totals for December, January and February surpassing the previous record set 101 years ago.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says December's record rain combined with snow sent precipitation totals for the three-month period past 6 ½ inches, which is nearly double the seasonal normal of 3.3 inches. The precipitation total surpassed the previous record 6 inches posted in the 1914-1915 winter months.
Hillaker says December through February temperatures averaged 26.8 degrees, nearly 5 degrees above normal making it the 17th warmest winter among 143 years of state records.
February had wide temperature swings ranging from 17 below in Cresco on Feb. 13 to 75 in Sidney on Feb. 27, the highest February temperature in 17 years.
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