The featured chart presents the maximum period with temperatures below freezing based on hourly observations for Des Moines. The longest period this year is only a bit longer than three previous years. There is still plenty of winter season to go and as is shown by the bottom chart, there are longest streaks of the season that get started in February and even March. The forecast has been hinting at a return of winter to the state with chances of snow, but temperatures do not look that cold at least to early next week.

Voting:
Good = 13
Bad = 2

Tags:   winter   freezing  

The temperature finally broke freezing on Thursday ending a modest streak of 9 days below. Earlier in January, we had a streak of 11 days which is the longest such streak this winter season. The featured chart presents the longest consecutive day streak below freezing for each winter since 1893. As with other charts recently featured, the winters of 77 and 78 stand out. The bottom chart shows the period during which the streaks of various lengths occurred. There is an interesting streak of 30 days that lasted from late February to mid March (1960). There is certainly plenty more time for cold weather this winter!

Voting:
Good = 27
Bad = 11

Tags:   winter   freezing  

The featured graph looks at the average number of days per month the high temperature is below freezing for Ames. This December's total is already near the average value with two weeks yet to go. The forecast calls for below freezing temperatures for at least the next seven days. The record for Ames in December is 27 days back in 1983.

Voting:
Good = 21
Bad = 2

Tags:   freezing