February 2017 Warmth at Des Moines

February of 2017 was remarkably warm across Iowa, including at Des Moines where it was the warmest February on record and continued a streak of 18 consecutive months in which the average temperature has been above normal, dating back to September of 2015. Several daily records were established for warm temperatures in February, including maximum temperature records on the 17th (75°F), 19th (73°F), 21st (68°F) and 22nd (73°F), and a warm minimum temperature record on the 22nd (47°F). During the 28 days of February there were only 4 days with an average temperature below normal, while there were 16 days that were 10+ degrees above normal and 8 days that were 20+ degrees above normal. Here is where the month stacked up in various Des Moines records (going back to 1879):

Warmest February’s on record

  1. 39.2°F (2017)
  2. 38.1°F (1930)
  3. 37.7°F (1954)
  4. 36.9°F (1931)
  5. 36.4°F (2000)

Warmest February days on record

  1. 78°F (2/24/1930)
  2. 75°F (2/17/2017), 75°F (2/15/1921)
  3. 73°F (2/22/2017), 73°F (2/19/2017), 73°F (2/29/1972)

Most 70+ degree days in February

  1. 3 (2017)
  2. 2 (1930)
    (All other years 1 or 0)

Most 60+ degree days in February

  1. 8 (2017)
  2. 7 (1981, 1930)
  3. 6 (2000)
  4. 5 (1999, 1932)

DesMoinesFeb2017Temps

Blog post by Jim Lee, Meteorologist