| Quick Climate Info | |
|---|---|
| Hottest Month | July (76 °F avg) |
| Coldest Month | January (23 °F avg) |
| Wettest Month | May (2.90″ avg) |
| Windiest Month | April (10 mph avg) |
What are the most windy months?
Across most of the country, spring is the windiest time of the year. Wind speeds and wind power tend to be 3-5 times stronger in March and April than in July and August. In the dust bowl days most of the dust storms were in late winter and spring. That continues to be the case in the Plains today.
Is Iowa always windy?
DES MOINES, Iowa — Windy weather is incredibly common in Iowa and the rest of the Midwest, especially during spring, fall and winter months. There’s always wind—moving air—outside, even if it occasionally reaches an unnoticeable speed, typically referred to as calm.
How windy does it get in Iowa?
In Des Moines, March and April both average wind speeds over 12 mph. In March 2022, Des Moines had an average wind speed of 11.8 mph, but there were still 8 days in which the average wind speed was over 15 mph.
Why is Iowa so windy this year?
“We get winds mixing and that enhances the wind gusts.” It’s not only windier but the fact that there have been cooler temperatures in Iowa has played a factor as well. We’ve received a lot of air from Canada and the northwest, which tends to be cooler air.
What state has the most wind?
Texas
Wind Energy Facilities Installed Capacity Ranked by State/Territory
| Rank | State | Installed Capacity (Megawatts) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 33,133 |
| 2 | Iowa | 11,660 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 9,048 |
| 4 | Kansas | 7,016 |
What is the windiest state in the United States?
The top 5 windiest states are: Nebraska (1), Kansas (2), South Dakota (3), North Dakota (4), and Iowa (5). The top 5 least windy states are: Mississipi (1), Florida (2), Kentucky (3), Georgia (4),and Alabama (5).
What time of day is it the windiest?
These gusty surface winds usually begin in the late morning hours, peak in the afternoon, and end by early evening. Winds in the low-levels become much more uniform at night and in predawn hours. Departures into a strong temperature inversion can result in smooth flight conditions.
What is the hottest month in Iowa?
The hottest month of the year in Des Moines is July, with an average high of 86°F and low of 68°F. The cold season lasts for 3.1 months, from November 28 to March 1, with an average daily high temperature below 43°F.
Is the Midwest getting windier?
Five Midwest states (Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio) could get nearly all their electricity from wind, according to updated maps from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR).
What are Iowa winters like?
Winters are cold, with January temperatures averaging about 14 °F (−10 °C) in the northwestern section of the state and in the low 20s F (about −6 °C) in the southeast. Snowfall is light compared with the amount received in other states to the north and east.
Why is March windy?
AccuWeather experts say the angle of the sun, warmer air in the South trying to push north, and the La Niña pattern are all factors behind the wind.
What is Iowa’s cost of living?
Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. An amount below 100 means Iowa is cheaper than the US average.
Iowa cost of living is 83.7.
| COST OF LIVING | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery | 94.4 | 100 |
| Health | 121.5 | 100 |
| Housing | 61.1 | 100 |
| Median Home Cost | $161,700 | $291,700 |
What are five interesting facts about Iowa?
13 Surprising Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Iowa
- Iowa means “beautiful”.
- Hogs outnumber people 4 to 1.
- The Red Delicious apple originated in Peru, Iowa.
- Iowa has the highest literacy rate.
- Elk Horn in the largest Danish settlement in the United States.
- Iowa is home to the National Hobo Convention.
Why is spring so windy?
As we enter the spring months of the year, the sun’s angle relative to the surface of the earth increases, allowing more direct exposure to the ground causing warm air to rise. When this warm air rises, air rushes in to ‘fill’ in where it left, causing greater surface winds.
Why is it always windy in the winter?
During the winter, the jet stream shifts south and as a result, winds aloft increase substantially. In fact, jet stream winds can exceed 100 mph at times during the cold season!
Why are there so many windmills in Iowa?
The development of wind power in Iowa began with the enactment in 1983 of a state law that required investor-owned utilities in the state to buy a total of 105 MW of power from wind generated electricity, one of the first renewable electricity portfolio standards.
What is the windiest place on Earth?
Antarctica
Commonwealth Bay, Antartica
The Guinness Book of World Records and National Geographic Atlas have both listed this bay in Antarctica as the windiest place on the planet. Katabatic winds in Commonwealth Bay are recorded at over 150 mph on a regular basis, and the average annual wind speed is 50 mph.
Why is it windier than it used to be?
One of the reasons for all the wind has been a large contrast between high-pressure systems and low-pressure systems. Since air flows from high to low pressure, these strong systems can create gusty winds for days at a time. Typically, the wind will decrease as we gradually transition from spring to summer.
Where is the least windy place to live?
Catalina Foothills, AZ
With an average wind speed of just 1.1 MPH throughout the year, Catalina Foothills in Arizona takes the lead as the least windy city in the United States. Catalina Foothills has a population of 50,796.
At what height does wind stop?
“Generally, the higher you go, you lose what is called the friction layer,” where friction with the surface of the earth itself slows the wind somewhat, Mr. Searles explained. This happens at 30 to 100 feet, depending on the terrain and vegetation.