The Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM) collects environmental data from cooperating members with observing networks. The data are stored and made available on this website.
Clouds and First Sub 29°F
Posted: 17 Oct 2024 05:30 AM, Views: 422
Tags: firstfreeze clouds
With a strong surface high pressure system overhead, temperatures cooled nicely on Wednesday morning with most of the state experiencing the first freeze of the fall season. The Ames airport bottomed out to 24°F! The featured chart presents a time series of Ames airport cloud coverage reports for a +/- 24 hour period relative to the first fall sub 29°F reading. Each pixel represents an hourly report with tan values indicating missing data. It is very interesting and intuitive to see the lack of cloud cover near the occurrence of such a cold temperature. It is a testament to the importance of radiational cooling for such events as clouds act as the proverbial blanket to buoy near surface air temperatures during night time hours.
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Previous Years' Features
2023: Severe Weather + Precip
2022: Spencer Precipitation
2019: First Half of October
2018: First Snowfall of Season
2017: Fall Season Minimums
2016: Warm October Day
2014: In the 70s
2013: Solar Radiation
2011: October Progression
2008: Getting below freezing
2006: Rain/snow mix coming
2003: Fall Field Work
2002: Cold rain
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Soil Temperatures
Data from the Iowa State Soil Moisture Network is found on this website and daily soil temperature averages are used to produce the highlighted analysis.