Hottest Decembers in Iowa since 1895
In 2022, the continental United States experienced its , according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while 20 states saw one of their in the same month. The year prior, July marked the .
Climate change is driving rising temperatures and more record heat. The has climbed each decade since 1880 by about .14 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit total.
compiled a ranking of the hottest Decembers in Iowa since 1895 using data from the . Rankings are based on the highest average temperature in each month. For each of the hottest months listed below, we've included the average state temperature, state-wide highs and lows for the month, and the total precipitation.
#10. December 2001 (tie)
- Average temperature: 30.7掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 39.7掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 21.8掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.83"
#10. December 1939 (tie)
- Average temperature: 30.7掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 40.9掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 20.4掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.6"
#9. December 1918
- Average temperature: 30.9掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 38.6掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 23.2掳F
- Total precipitation: 1.23"
#8. December 2006
- Average temperature: 31.1掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 40.1掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 22.1掳F
- Total precipitation: 2.09"
#7. December 1959
- Average temperature: 31.2掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 38.3掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 24.1掳F
- Total precipitation: 1.77"
#6. December 1965
- Average temperature: 31.8掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 40.5掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 23.1掳F
- Total precipitation: 1.68"
#4. December 2021 (tie)
- Average temperature: 31.9掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 41.9掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 21.9掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.87"
#4. December 1923 (tie)
- Average temperature: 31.9掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 41.2掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 22.5掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.77"
#3. December 1931
- Average temperature: 32.2掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 38.9掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 25.5掳F
- Total precipitation: 2.4"
#2. December 2015
- Average temperature: 33掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 39.5掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 26.6掳F
- Total precipitation: 4.71"
#1. December 2023
- Average temperature: 34.5掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 42.4掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 26.7掳F
- Total precipitation: 1.84"
