Temperatures moderated over the final week of July with a statewide average temperature of 69.8 degrees, 3.2 degrees below normal. Unseasonably dry conditions persisted across Iowa as drought intensified in the state's northwest corner. Rainfall deficits of over an inch were reported in south-central Iowa while near-normal conditions were observed in pockets of western Iowa.
A cold front exited southeastern Iowa by early Sunday (24th) afternoon with light north-northwesterly winds and mostly sunny skies. Daytime highs ranged from the upper 70s north to low to mid 80s south as a variable wind built in through the evening hours. Overnight lows into Monday (25th) dropped into the upper 50s and low 60s with increasing clouds across southwest Iowa. Rain showers pushed through much of western Iowa over the afternoon hours with heavier showers moving along the Iowa-Missouri border. High temperatures remained in the 70s across much of Iowa with slightly cooler conditions northwest. Rainfall amounts were generally under a tenth of an inch. Another round of showers and thunderstorms popped up in western Iowa on Tuesday (26th) afternoon with an additional line moving through northeastern Iowa overnight into Wednesday (27th). Sioux City (Woodbury County) measured 0.29 inch while several stations in Winneshiek County reported 0.48 inch to 0.70 inch. Mid to upper 80s were reported statewide as a westerly wind built in. Widespread rain fell over Iowa's northern half later in the evening and after midnight with general totals in the 0.25-0.50 inch range; Churdan (Greene County) picked up 0.87 inch. Overnight lows into Thursday (28th) dipped into the mid 50s north to low 60s south as cloud cover persisted.
A cold front moved through Iowa shifting winds to a northwesterly direction through the day with highs in the mid to upper 70s at most stations as clouds cleared into the early morning hours of Friday (29th). Partly cloudy skies returned later in the day with pleasant temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s, slightly cooler for this time of the year. Foggy conditions developed in southwestern Iowa as winds died down and skies cleared. Morning lows dipped into the mid to upper 50s prior to sunrise on Saturday (30th). Southerly winds returned as daytime temperatures hovered in the low to mid 80s. Clouds revisited central Iowa through the overnight hours and expanded into southern Iowa on Sunday (31st) morning. Low temperatures dropped into the upper 50s and low 60s under light southerly winds.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at several southern stations to 0.89 inch near Churdan. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.24 inch while the normal is 0.94 inch. Oskaloosa (Mahaska County) reported the week's high temperature of 97 degrees on the 24th, 11 degrees above normal. Storm Lake (Buena Vista County) reported the week's low temperature of 42 degrees on the 29th, 17 degrees below normal.
Categories: Iowa, Weather