Rain and snow limited Iowa farmers to 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 19, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Areas of southern Iowa saw a foot of snow late Thursday, April 16 through the morning of Friday, April 17. Where possible, field activities for the week included planting, applying anhydrous and dry fertilizer, spreading manure, and tilling fields.
Topsoil moisture levels statewide rated 1 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. West central Iowa’s ratings were better, at 2 percent short, 93 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture levels across Iowa rated 1 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 90 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus.
In spite of less than ideal conditions, 2 percent of Iowa’s corn crop has been planted, almost one week behind the five-year average.
Half of Iowa’s expected oat crop has been planted, three days ahead of last year but pne day behind average. Six percent of the oat crop has emerged, five days behind average.
Livestock producers in southern Iowa reported calving issues due to the snowfall and colder temperatures.
Preliminary weather summary provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – Unseasonably cold conditions blanketed Iowa during the reporting period with negative departures of up to 20 degrees across northwest Iowa. The statewide average temperature was 36.0 degrees, 14.3 degrees below normal. Drier-than-normal conditions were also observed across Iowa’s northern three-quarters with above average snowfall reported across southern Iowa.
A broad area of low pressure continued to push through Iowa on Sunday, April 12, with several waves of showers and thunderstorms bringing measurable rainfall. The highest totals were observed along a narrow band stretching from Dallas County northeast to Winneshiek County. Gusty northwest winds built in as the low finally exited Iowa early Monday morning. Nearly 50 rain gauges had totals at or above one inch with a report of 1.75 inches in Des Moines (Polk County). Totals east and west of the band were generally under 0.50 inch with the statewide average of 0.55 inch.
Partly cloudy skies and colder than average conditions were reported across Iowa behind the low, with a few snowflakes observed in west central Iowa. Highs stayed in the 30s statewide with overnight lows in the teens across the northwest to the mid-20s across the rest of Iowa.
On Tuesday, April 14, temperatures remained unseasonably cold, generally in the mid-30s to low 40s as cloud cover increased. The statewide average high was 39 degrees, 22 degrees below normal.
A more active pattern set in mid-to-late week, bringing multiple waves of precipitation beginning with a weak low pressure moving through southern Iowa during the nighttime hours through early Wednesday, April 15. Morning lows dipped into the teens across northern Iowa with 20s reported across the south. Statewide, the average low was 19 degrees, 18 degrees below normal. Light snow was observed across Iowa’s southern half as another wave moved from central to eastern Iowa during the afternoon hours; a narrow west-to-east band of snow also formed across extreme south-central Iowa. Daytime temperatures remained near freezing in southwest Iowa with 40s across the rest of Iowa.
A substantial snowstorm impacted southern Iowa late Thursday through Friday morning with measurable snow generally south of Interstate 80. The highest accumulations were reported near the Iowa-Missouri border, where accumulations approached one to two inches per hour. Clarinda (Page County) observed 8.0 inches while across the state Keosauqua (Lee County) reported 7.0 inches. South-central Iowa received the highest totals with Ringgold County stations in Beaconsfield and Mount Ayr reporting 12 inches; Allerton (Wayne County) reported 13 inches. Accumulations dropped off into central Iowa with general totals between three to six inches; the statewide average snowfall was 3.7 inches.
Partly sunny skies prevailed through the day as highs reached into the mid to upper 40s, melting a majority of the snow that had fallen just hours before. Existing snowpack reported at 7 am on Saturday, April 18, was between three to four inches at the Ringgold County stations. The rest of Saturday was pleasant with daytime highs reaching into the 60s under sunny skies and strong southwest winds. Morning temperatures reported on Sunday, April 19, remained above average under starry skies, ranging in the upper 30s to low 40s.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.20 inch in Sioux City (Woodbury County) to 1.86 inches in Donnellson (Lee County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.72 inch while the normal is 0.86 inch.
Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County) reported the week’s high temperature of 75 degrees on April 18, 11 degrees warmer than average. Estherville 4E (Emmet County) reported the week’s low temperature of 9 degrees on April 15, 24 degrees colder than normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low 40s north to upper 40s south as of Sunday.
