April 1, 2025 Climate Outlook

Key points:

• There was much less snow in Iowa this winter compared to normal.
• Temperatures are expected to be below normal for the first part of April.
• Be prepared for severe weather during spring in Iowa.

Past weather

This winter, northwest Iowa experienced its third driest winter (December-February) on record. Snowfall totals were below normal for the entire state, with the greatest departures at 26 inches of snow below normal. There were large swings in temperature that persisted for short periods. From February 20-23, there was as much as an 80-degree temperature swing in Iowa. In the end, average temperatures in Iowa this winter were close to normal.

In the past 30 days, temperatures have been around 6-9 degrees above normal across the state, and precipitation has been 0-2 inches above normal. Recent precipitation greater than normal has helped reduce some drought concerns. Rainfall deficits from longer than a year or more still point to long-term drought concerns. The 0-100 cm depth estimated soil moisture from SPoRT-LIS shows slightly below-normal dryness. However, streamflow is near normal across the state for the past 7 days. The US Drought Monitor reduced drought by 1 category for parts of western Iowa from last week. 34.53% of the state is in D1 (Moderate Drought).

Daily 4-inch soil temperatures are hovering around 50 degrees but are forecasted to fluctuate between 40-60 degrees for the next week. Dry soils will warm and cool more readily compared to moist soils.

Climate Outlook

Outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center show a cool and dry signal persisting generally through mid-April. The April monthly outlook shows equal chances for above, below, and near-normal temperatures and precipitation. Normal monthly precipitation in April in Iowa is around 4 inches. The normal high temperature is around 60 degrees and normal low around 40 degrees. With the cool signal ahead, you may want to consider holding off on putting out spring flowers or planting some early-season veggies. The average last spring freeze date (32 degrees) occurs on April 24^th in Story County. The record latest spring freeze in Story County is May 22, 1963. To find the average last spring freeze date in your county, you can use the Midwest Regional Climate Center Freeze Date Tool.

As we enter into spring, be prepared for severe weather conditions. Outlooks for severe weather in Iowa can be found on the National Weather Service Des Moines Decision Support Page. Be sure to have multiple ways to receive warnings, such as a local TV broadcast and cell phone alerts.