The gales of November were enough to put it in some record books, according to State Climatologist Harry Hillaker. The month just ended was the windiest in a year and a half, since March 2004…and it was the windiest November in 17 years. There were also a lot of storms in the month just ended, as he notes severe thunderstorms were reported on the fifth, followed the November 12 tornado outbreak compares with episodes in 1988 and ’75. Then last week Thanksgiving travelers were treated to more rain, wind and hail as well as tornado watches. He says it’s unusual, though not unheard-of to have such severe weather, though he adds it’s quite rare to have three outbreaks in November of storms that severe. Iowa also had its earliest sub-zero temperature reading since 1997. Though the end of the month was cold, Hillaker says November averaged 4 degrees above normal, and they saw 82 degrees November 2 in Glenwood and Onawa. It also got down to one degree below zero in Sibley on November 17. While Iowans enjoyed the mild weather as a break from heating bills, Hillaker says December looks like it’ll be a cold month compared to average temps.
