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October produced more rainfall than average
It should be a mild night for trick-or-treating, as Iowans are enjoying unseasonably warm weather today, with midday highs in the 60s and 70s across much of the state. As November starts tomorrow, October ends with a diverse rainfall picture across Iowa, according to state climatologist Harry Hillaker.
Hillaker says parts of western Iowa were much wetter than usual with more than double the normal amount of rain, while parts of eastern Iowa only had about half the usual amount of rainfall. The statewide average for rainfall during October was around three-and-a-quarter inches, about three-quarters of an inch more than usual. He says the precipitation readings were widely varied across Iowa.
The town of Sanborn in northwest Iowa's O'Brien County reports its wettest October ever with almost six inches of rain, while areas around Cedar Rapids and Waterloo only got about an inch. Temperature readings for the month were almost exactly normal, Hillaker says, though the first frost came much later than usual, providing a longer growing season and a boon for many farmers.
The warmest days during the month were October 5th and 12th in several cities which all hit 83 degrees. The coldest reading for the month was in Spencer and Sibley with 17 degrees on October 8th. Hillaker says November should start off much warmer than normal and dry, but storms are expected to develop by the middle of next week, bringing rain and cooler weather.
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