Northwest Iowa — It’s been a hot, dry July in northwest Iowa, and the weather has been taking it’s toll.
Mike Fuhs is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Sioux Falls Weather Station, and he says there may be some relief in sight from the recent hot temperatures.
Fuhs says that, while the temperatures are forecast to moderate, there is no significant rainfall in our immediate future. He says the storms that were forecast to hit the area Wednesday night sort of stalled out over southern Minnesota.
At the KIWA Weather Center in Sheldon we received 2.7-inches of rain during the month of April, 4.96-inches during May, and 2.85-inches during the month of June. In the month of July, however, we’ve measured a scant .02-inches in the KIWA Rain Gauge, and that was measured for the 24-hour period ending at 7:00 am on Saturday, July 1st. As of Thursday morning (July 20th) no measurable precipitation has fallen in downtown Sheldon since July 1st.
Fuhs says the recent hot temperatures and dry conditions have had an impact on more than just our physical discomfort, with crop stress and increased fire dangers coming into play, as well.
Even though there isn’t an end in sight for the dry conditions, the moderating temperatures and lower humidities will be a welcome respite to northwest Iowans after the heat and humidity of the past several days.
