Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-30
IOWA WINTER
HAS BEEN MILD
REPORT OF, THE STATE Wealth.
Err ENTHUSIASTICALLY COLD
Err THAN WINTER OF 1so5-oe

Z
iowa has just gone through a de.
lightfully mild winter, slightly colder
than the winter of 1905-1906 but 7.3
degrees warmer than the winter of
| 1304-1905..
The Iowa department of the Unite1
States weather bureau, in its February
report, gives some interesting Inform
alton concerning the winter, which fol
lows:
The Winter Of 19o6-19o7.
The mean temperature of the three
winter month was 23.1 degrees, which
is "a degrees above the normal for
the state, The highest temperature
reported was So degrees at Keokuk in
January Z. The lowest temperature
reported was 81 degrees at Washta OH
February 5. The average precipitation
for the state was 1866 inches, which is
.43 of an inch above the normal. The
coldest period of the winter occurred
in the first week Of February. The
winter was slightly colder than the
| winter of 1905-1906, and was 7.3 de-
] grees warmer than the winter of 1904
1905. This illustrates the fluctation OF
the average winter temperature in this
latitude, Fifty to sixty years ago such
mild winters were of frequent occur
renee in this state The extremely cola
| winter of 1861 was followed the
next year BY a season of extraordinary
mildness, as shown by the records of
that period. Since the earliest settis,-
ments wsla made in the territory west
of the Mississippi the historic records
snow practically the same climatic
conditions, with alternately wet ami
dry summers, and mild and severe
winters. as have been noted within the
last twenty years. On the average mild
winters have been more in evidence
than the opposite extreme.
Weather and Crops.
! The coolest weather of the winter
occurred the first week In February
1 This was followed by two weeks of un-
usually mild weather with favorable
il conditions for outs.ide work and tile
care of 1--WE stock. The last week was
more nearly normal in Temperature
closing with an ice storm of >consid'
i cradle severity, though not materially
damaging to fruit trees and other
property. During the warm period
conditions were favorable for work in
the fields, and In few localities, q be-
ginning was made In seeding spring
wheat. Wheat seeding In February has
been occasionally noted in moderate
winters since the early settlement OF
the state.
/ clinaatoIogy.
il Temperature-The monthly mean
j temperature for the state as shown by
records Of 118 stations was rs degrees
which So degrees above the normal
BY sections the mean temperatures
were as follows: Northern section
22.1 degrees, which 5.8 degrees above
the normal; central section, 25.1 de
grees, watch is 81 degrees above the
normal southern section, 27.7 degrees
which ia So degrees above the normal
The highest monthly mean was 30,s
degrees, at Keokuk, and the lowest
monthly mean was 1915 degrees at Sib
ley. The highest temperature reported
4 was 6b degrees at St. Charles, on the
10th, and the lowest reported was 81
! degrees at Washta, on the 9th. The
average monthly maximum was b5.s
degrees and the average monthly mini
mum was 17.9 degrees. The greatest
daily range was 81 degrees, at Sibley
and the average of greatest daily
ranges was 81 degrees.
1 Precipitation-The average precipi
tation for the state, as shown by rec
ords of 1925 stations, was n of an inch
!, which Is 80 of an inch below the nor
NAL. The largest amount reported was
i .95 inches at Rockwell City and Thur
man, and the least amount reported
was .O6 of an inch at Stockport. The
greatest daily precipitation reported
! was 1.26 inches at Britt on the 28th
J There was an average of four days
) on which OF Of an inch or more was
reported.
Wind and weather-The prevailing
t