Iowa’s Winter Has Been “Unusually” Cold

There’s a reason this winter feels as if it’s dragging from one endless arctic chill to another.

State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said today his records show this winter has been unusually cold.

Temperatures in Iowa between Oct. 1 and Jan. 23 represent the ninth coldest for that period in the past 121 years. The average statewide temperature was 30.1 degrees over the 115 days, compared with the normal 34.2.

So the perception that it’s been really cold is true, but at least snowfall hasn’t been above normal.

Hillaker says when temperatures are lower than normal, snowfall usually is heaver.

Of the 24 coldest starts to winter in state history, only three had below normal snowfall in the 115-day period starting Oct. 1, and this year is one of them.