Rain along with snow showers in the northeast and north central parts of Iowa resulted in an average of 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Nov. 24, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities slowed down this week with reports of fall tillage, and fertilizer and manure applications wrapping up.
Topsoil moisture condition across Iowa rated 8 percent very short, 26 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 8 percent very short, 37 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture condition statewide rated 14 percent very short, 41 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Ratings in west central Iowa were 23 percent very short, 57 percent short, 18 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.
Corn harvested for grain is virtually complete.
Weather summary provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., state climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – The final reporting period of the year was unseasonably warm and wet with above average rainfall over the western and northern portions of the state; stations in the northwest corner registered positive departures of over an inch. Conditions were up to 10 degrees warmer than average in southeastern Iowa with a statewide average temperature of 39.1 degrees, 4.8 degrees warmer than normal.
Scattered showers continued through southern Iowa into Sunday afternoon, Nov. 17, in advance of a large surface low pressure system moving out of Oklahoma. Daytime temperatures held in the low 50s with stations that were experiencing rain reporting totals under 0.10 inch. Clouds increased over southern Iowa into Monday morning as showers expanded across the state ahead of a warm front. Moderate rainfall was observed over much of western and northern Iowa as the low pressure center propagated north along the Iowa-Nebraska border into Minnesota. High temperatures continued to warm through the evening hours, ranging from the low 50s north to mid 60s south.
Gusty westerly winds developed in the wake of the low as clouds cleared from southwest to northeast by sunrise on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Nearly 80 stations collected at least an inch of rain with most stations receiving 0.50 inch or more. Western Iowa experienced the wettest conditions with Atlantic (Cass County) and Estherville (Emmet County) each reporting 1.78 inches while Glenwood (Mills County) registered 2.02 inches; the statewide average rainfall was 0.69 inch. Gusty westerlies persisted through the day with overcast skies across northern Iowa and temperatures in the mid to upper 40s. Sunshine over southwestern Iowa boosted temperatures in the 50s as winds died down.
A fast-moving cold front dipped through the Upper Midwest during the daylight hours on Wednesday bringing the first, but very light, snowfall over northeastern Iowa. High temperatures hovered in the low 30s over northern Iowa as snowflakes flew while southern Iowa was 10 to 15 degrees warmer. Nearly 50 stations measured at least 0.1 inch of snow with 1.0 inch observed at Bellevue Lock and Dam (Jackson County).
Thursday morning, Nov. 21, was overcast with strong northwesterly winds and lows in the upper 20s and low 30s. Cloud cover began to break across western Iowa into the afternoon with temperatures across the state in the upper 30s and low 40s. Overcast skies in Iowa’s eastern two-thirds continued into Friday as morning lows dropped into the upper teens and low 20s in western Iowa where stars were visible. Daytime temperatures rose into the mid to upper 30s in eastern Iowa with low to mid 40s west.
Clearing skies and light, variable winds helped morning lows on Saturday drop down to the 20s at most of Iowa’s stations with patchy fog observed in eastern Iowa. A shift to southeasterly winds through the day aided temperatures warming through the low 50s in western Iowa with slightly cooler conditions at eastern stations. Winds shifted back to an easterly direction by 7 am on Sunday, Nov. 24, as clear skies held on and morning temperatures remained in the 30s statewide.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.20 inch in Fairfield (Jefferson County) to 2.25 inches in Holstein (Ida County). The weekly statewide average precipitation was 0.84 inch; the normal is 0.43 inch. Numerous stations reported the week’s high temperature of 64 degrees on Nov. 18, on average 16 degrees warmer than normal. Mapleton (Monona County) reported the week’s low temperature of 18 degrees on Nov. 24, three degrees warmer than normal.
