While parts of Iowa had extreme flooding during July, other areas of the state were bone dry for the entire month. State climatologist Harry Hillaker says August promises to bring more widespread rainfall — in normal amounts — to more parts of the state. Hillaker says July temperatures wrapped up on target for what’s usually one of the hottest months.
Temps were seasonal with a statewide average just four-tenths of a degree warmer than normal, with eastern Iowa being slightly cooler than usual, while the west was slightly warmer than usual. While Iowa often sees a few highs at the so-called century mark during July, Hillaker says we’re still waiting for that this summer.
He says the highest official temperature during the month was 98-degrees, recorded several times in Sioux City and in a few other locations, but no where in Iowa had 100-degrees, which is unusual. Rainfall was also unusual during the month — especially in terms of where it fell. Parts of northeastern and eastern Iowa had heavy flooding in July.
The Clinton County town of DeWitt received over a foot of rain for the month. Hillaker says it was the opposite situation on the opposite side of Iowa. Some areas of western Iowa, like Sioux Center and Hawarden, had no rain at all for the month, a record low and very unusual, as records have been kept in those areas for about 100 years. As for heat in the month ahead, he says August is starting out a bit warmer than normal.