Iowa’s on the verge of setting a second record December low for snowfall this decade. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says there’s just not been a lot of the white stuff around. Hillaker says the current record is four-tenths of an inch average for snow statewide, set in 2002 and in 1979. So far this month we’re only had an average of two-tenths of an inch of snow.
The forecast is calling for some precipitation this weekend, but Hillaker says so far Iowa’s caught more rain than snow. Hillaker says the first big Colorado snowstorm brought Iowa a lot of rain, and so far the temperatures and moisture haven’t been mixed right to yield snow. Hillaker says while we haven’t had snow, the state hasn’t suffered for lack of moisture.
Hillaker says the month is averaging just a little bit wetter than usual. Hillaker says most of the snow we had in December came on the first day. Part of the reason for the lack of snow is an upturn in temperatures. Hillaker says right now were averaging about seven-and-a-half degrees above normal, which would rank it the 16th warmest December in 134 years of state records.
Hillaker says the first week of December was colder than normal, but things have been warmer since then. The forecast is calling for the possibility of snow this weekend on the last two days of the month and year.