12/6/1939: The Warmest December Temperature EVER in Iowa
Incredibly warm weather across Iowa brought the temperature up to 70* or higher in the Hawkeye State on this date in 1939. The temperature in the town of Thurman marked the highest December temperature ever recorded anywhere in Iowa. Thurman is located in Fremont County in extreme Southwest Iowa:
It reached 69* in Des Moines on that day in 1939, tying the December high-temperature record for our capital city.
In Cedar Rapids on December 6, 1939, the temperature topped out at 58. In Waterloo, it was 60 – which wasn’t even the warmest day that month. On December 16, 1939, it warmed to a toasty 63* in Waterloo. However, the 60* temperature on 12/6/1939, is still a daily record high for Waterloo. (tied with 12/6/1951)
The all-time record high temperature in December for Waterloo is 67*, which occurred three times. December 3, 2012; December 4, 1998; and December 5, 2001.
It has NEVER reached 70* in December in Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, or Des Moines. It reached 69* in Cedar Rapids on December 4, 1998.
Has it ever reached the 70s in January? Yes! The all-time state high temperature in January is 73* in 1950 in Keokuk. The warmest January temperature in Cedar Rapids is 65* on 1/31/1989. As for Waterloo, the record high for January is 65* on 1/26/2002.
And since today is rather chilly, let's delve into the record cold dates for this month. On December 28, 1924, it hit a monthly record low of -28*. Oof.
On December 10, 1919, and December 25, 2000, it bottomed out at -29* in Waterloo. Ouch.