Iowa counties with the fastest-rising temperatures in the last 100 years
According to recent reports, record-breaking temperatures have hit various parts of the United States in the past few months. In Portland, Oregon, temperatures reached a sweltering 116 degrees Fahrenheit, while Reno, Nevada saw a high of 105 degrees in September, typically a cooler month. Death Valley National Park in California experienced an almost unimaginable temperature of nearly 130 degrees in its Furnace Creek area, setting a new world record for the hottest September day ever. These extreme weather conditions are a cause for concern and highlight the urgency of addressing climate change.
In recent years, we have witnessed some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded in 2021 and 2022. Extreme heatwaves swept across the country, causing havoc in communities that were accustomed to milder weather patterns. The consequences of these heatwaves were dire for many regions, with hundreds of lives lost during the 2021 Western heatwave, mostly due to the lack of air conditioning. Additionally, wildfires devastated the area, leaving behind a trail of destruction. As we move forward, it’s essential to confront the challenges of climate change to prevent these catastrophic events from happening again.
Comparison Between Last Year’s Temperatures and the 100-Year Average:
Different regions within states have experienced varying temperature changes in recent decades, with factors such as proximity to urban areas, water bodies, and mountains playing a significant role in determining a region’s climate. According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Center for Environmental Information, certain counties in Iowa have experienced the greatest deviation from the 1901-2000 average temperature during the period of December 2021 to November 2022. Stacker has identified these counties by considering the average temperature over the past year as a tiebreaker. The article also includes additional information on recent average high and low temperatures for each county.
#50. Calhoun County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.7 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #44 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 35.8 F (0.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 59.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
#49. Guthrie County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #44 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.1 F (0.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.9 F (1.5 F above century average)
#48. Jasper County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #40 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.1 F (0.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.7 F (1.3 F above century average)
#47. Madison County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.1 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #40 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.3 F (0.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.9 F (1.4 F above century average)
#46. Wapello County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #39 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.4 F (0 F below century average)
– Recent average high: 62.2 F (1.5 F above century average)
#45. Black Hawk County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #41 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.4 F (0.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 58.6 F (1.4 F above century average)
#44. Greene County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #41 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.9 F (0.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.2 F (1.3 F above century average)
#43. Jackson County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #36 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.4 F (0.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 58.7 F (1.2 F above century average)
#42. Story County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #41 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.3 F (0.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 59.9 F (1.4 F above century average)
#41. Dallas County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.7 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #42 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.1 F (0.5 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.3 F (1.2 F above century average)
#40. Keokuk County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #34 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.4 F (0 F below century average)
– Recent average high: 61.5 F (1.9 F above century average)
#39. Mahaska County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #39 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.5 F (-0.2 F below century average)
– Recent average high: 62 F (2 F above century average)
#38. Louisa County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #37 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 40.1 F (0.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.4 F (1.1 F above century average)
#37. Dickinson County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #44 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 34.4 F (1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 56.5 F (0.9 F above century average)
#36. Osceola County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #43 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 34.4 F (1.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 56.8 F (0.8 F above century average)
#35. Jones County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #39 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.8 F (0.8 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 58.6 F (1.1 F above century average)
#34. Boone County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #36 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.1 F (0.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.3 F (1.6 F above century average)
#33. Poweshiek County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #37 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.5 F (0.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.5 F (1.6 F above century average)
#32. Adair County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #37 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.1 F (0 F below century average)
– Recent average high: 61.8 F (2 F above century average)
#31. Cass County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #34 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.6 F (0.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.9 F (1.8 F above century average)
#30. Winneshiek County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #39 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 34.9 F (1.5 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 55.7 F (0.7 F above century average)
#29. O’Brien County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #39 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 34.9 F (0.8 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 58.2 F (1.4 F above century average)
#28. Buena Vista County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #39 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 35.7 F (0.8 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 58.3 F (1.4 F above century average)
#27. Audubon County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #35 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.7 F (0.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.6 F (1.8 F above century average)
#26. Montgomery County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #33 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.5 F (0.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 63.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
#25. Clay County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #42 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 35 F (1.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 57.6 F (1.2 F above century average)
#24. Union County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #31 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.2 F (0.5 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.4 F (2 F above century average)
#23. Mills County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #32 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.2 F (-0.1 F below century average)
– Recent average high: 63.7 F (2.4 F above century average)
#22. Fremont County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #32 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.8 F (0.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 64.5 F (2.3 F above century average)
#21. Lyon County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #34 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 34.6 F (1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 58.2 F (1.5 F above century average)
#20. Cherokee County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #33 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 35.4 F (0.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 59.3 F (2.2 F above century average)
#19. Clinton County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #30 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.4 F (1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60 F (1.6 F above century average)
#18. Adams County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #31 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.9 F (0.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
#17. Pottawattamie County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #31 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.6 F (0.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
#16. Clarke County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #27 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.6 F (0.9 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.2 F (1.7 F above century average)
#15. Page County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #31 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.4 F (0.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 63.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
#14. Sioux County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #29 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 35.2 F (0.9 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 59.4 F (2 F above century average)
#13. Shelby County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #28 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.3 F (0.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.5 F (2.2 F above century average)
#12. Decatur County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #29 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.9 F (0.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.1 F above century average)
#11. Ida County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #26 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.4 F (0.8 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.1 F (2.3 F above century average)
#10. Carroll County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #29 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.6 F (0.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.7 F (2.3 F above century average)
#9. Scott County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #26 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 40.2 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
#8. Ringgold County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #28 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.3 F (0.8 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
#7. Sac County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #25 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.4 F (1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60 F (2.2 F above century average)
#6. Woodbury County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #27 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.6 F (0.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.3 F (2.7 F above century average)
#5. Taylor County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #27 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.1 F (0.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 63.2 F (2.5 F above century average)
#4. Plymouth County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #22 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 35.8 F (0.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.7 F (2.9 F above century average)
#3. Monona County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #23 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 37.2 F (0.5 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.5 F (3.2 F above century average)
#2. Harrison County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #23 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.1 F (0.5 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 63.2 F (3.2 F above century average)
#1. Crawford County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #19 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.8 F (1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.5 F (3 F above century average)
