The summer of 2010 will enter the record books as the second wettest in Iowa history. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says the June and July trend of torrential rains and flooding continued in August.
He says parts of central and southeast Iowa received up to 16 inches of rain over the 31 days in August. Preliminary figures show Iowa had a statewide average of 23.3 inches of rain between June, July and August.
Hillaker says that total surpasses the 22.57 inches of rain that fell over the three month period in 1902.
“It’s actually quite a bit distant behind 1993 – which still ranks as the wettest summer on record,” Hillaker said. “We were about four inches below (the ’93) total, but still (2010 produced) the second highest rainfall total in 138 years of state records.”
Temperatures across the state in August averaged about 3.5 degrees above normal – making it the sixth consecutive month with warmer than normal temps. Hillaker says it was a relatively hot summer, despite the fact not a single city posted an official reading in the triple digits.
“The numbers aren’t quite all in yet, but it looks to be at least the warmest summer since 1995,” Hillaker said. “It may even be the warmest summer since 1988 – the big drought year.” The highest official temperature recorded in Iowa this summer was 98 degrees on July 14 in Ankeny.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City