Despite the recent warm temperatures across Iowa, the month of September was slightly cooler than normal, according to state climatologist Harry Hillaker. The month was highlighted by freezing conditions on September 13. That marked the earliest freeze in the state since 1976. Hillaker says the temperature hit 31-degrees in Mason City, Estherville, Sheldon, Elkader, and Sioux Center. He notes it “wasn’t cold enough, long enough” to do much widespread damage to crops.

The hottest temperature during the month was recorded on September 4. “The highest reading was 94-degrees, which happened in Glenwood, Shenandoah, Sidney, and Donnellson,” Hillaker says. Fall officially arrived on September 22 and Hillaker says the temperature failed to reach triple-digits anywhere in Iowa the entire summer. “In fact, we have a few places in northeastern and far northern Iowa that (haven’t) reached the 90s this year,” Hillaker says. The wetter than normal weather this year continued through the month of September.

It was especially rainy over the first half of the month in parts of southern Iowa. Areas of Warren County received up to 9 inches of rain over the month. “On the other extreme, Estherville was the dry spot in the state with just 1.2 inches of rain during the month,” Hillaker says. The statewide average rainfall total in September was 4.5 inches, about one-inch above normal for the month, according to Hillaker. The statewide average temperature for the month was 62.2 degrees, about one-degree cooler than normal.

(Radio Iowa)