STEVE'S "WILD" WORLD OF WEATHER...

When I'm wondering about weather folklore and historical events this is the man I go to. With more than 50 years of statistical and observational research, he's the dude! When it comes to lunar cycles, woolly bear caterpillars, insects, bugs, and animals, he tracks them, records them, and establishes ties to weather patterns. Only one person takes climatology to a level like this. He's even earned a lifetime achievement award from the National Weather Service for his devotion to data and science. His name is Steve Gottschalk by way of Lowden, Iowa. He's a knowledgeable and interesting man. I'm grateful to him for lending his unique perspective to the site. Steve's "wild" world of weather can be found regularly right here on TSwails.com. Take it away Steve!

JUNE RAINFALL TRENDS

Going through Iowa's rainfall records for the month of June, here is what I found.

The 1870's were wet with an average of 5.81".

From 1880 - 1939, it was drier with an average of 4.46".

The 1940's were wetter with an average of 5.82".

From 1950 - 1989 it was drier again with a 4.41" average.

From 1990 - 2019 it was wetter with an average of 5.44".

The 2020's (2020 - 2022) has been much drier with a 3.94" average.

The wettest decade was 2010 - 2019 with a 5.95" average. The driest decade was the 1970's with a 3.90" average.

THE TOP TEN WETTEST JUNE'S

1. 2010 - 10.39".

2. 1947 - 10.33".

3. 2014 - 9.09".

4. 2008 - 9.00".

5. 1967 - 8.67".

6. 1993 - 8.09".

6. 1924 - 8.09".

7. 1998 - 8.05".

8. 1990 - 8.02".

9. 1875 - 7.81".

Please note that 6 of the top 10 occured since 1990.

THE TOP TEN DRIEST JUNE'S

1. 1933 - 1.55".

2. 1988 - 1.72".

3. 1886 - 1.73".

4. 1922 - 1.77".

5. 1911 - 1.86".

6. 1992 - 1.98".

7. 1910 - 2.00".

8. 1927 - 2.26".

9. 1956 - 2.56".

10. 2006 - 2.57".

IOWA'S TEN HOTTEST SUMMER'S

1. 1936 - 77.3 degrees.

2. 1934 - 76.5 degrees.

3. 1901 - 76.0 degrees.

4. 1988 - 75.7 degrees

5. 1983 - 75.6 degrees.

6. 1955 - 74.7 degrees.

6. 1921 - 74.7 degrees.

7. 1873 - 74.5 degrees.

7. 1894 - 74.5 degrees.

7. 1913 - 74.5 degrees.

A WARM START TO JUNE

I recorded 6 straight days with 90 degree temperatures (May 30th - June 4th). In my 64 years of records I never had the first 4 days of June with 90's. I had 3 of the first 4 days (2nd - 4th) in 1972. When you have that many 90 degree days during the first week of June the month tends to end up warmer than normal.

HONEYBEES AND THEIR WEATHER LORE

I have as yet to see any honeybees around here this season. I have examined thousands of white clover blossoms but no bees. Years ago one would have seen scores of of honeybees on the clover but not anymore. They are slowly disappearing. Here are several of the more popular weather sayings about the bees.

"A swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon."

"When bees stay close to the hive, rain is close."

"Bees are restless before thundery weather."

"Bees will not swarm before a storm."

"Bees returning hastily and in large numbers are said to indicate approaching rain, although the weather may be clear."

SOME HISTORICAL JUNE WEATHER EVENTS

June 7, 1984 - A significant tornado outbreak across the state with 21 storms. One tornado tracked nearly 127 miles over a 3 hour span from northern Missouri into Iowa S.E. of Lamoni moving NE, lifting near Sigouney. Two persons were killed and another 63 injured along it's path. In Mahaska and Keokuk counties the towns of Wright and Delta were devastated. In Iowa a total of 3 persons were killed and 91 were injured from the storms.

June 8, 1913 - A strong cold front swept across the state. The temperature fell to 37 degrees at Elkader, Grinnell and Independence. It was 34 at Alma.

June 9, 1913 - For a second straight morning the area experienced cold temperatures with 36 degrees at Independence and Toledo. It was 35 at Decorah, 34 at Humboldt and 33 at Elkader.

June 10, 1902 - Severe thunderstorms across central and SE Iowa during the afternoon and evening hours. Near and south of Marshalltown in Tinker Creek township " hailstones as large as a man's fist fell covering the ground to a depth of 8". The stones went through the roofs of houses. Chickens and livestock were killed, bark was stripped from trees, nothing green was left and farmers were ruined. Significant straight line winds did damage SE at Ottumwa, Sigourney and Mt. Pleasant.

June 11, 1881 - Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes swept across the state. One tornado produced F 3 damage in Hancock County killing 1 person and injuring 8 others. The storm's path was from E of Britt to near Miller. At Waverly hailstones as large as duck's eggs fell with some, even twice as large.

June 13, 2008 - The Cedar River at Cedar Rapids hits an all-time crest of 31.12 feet, shattering the previous record of 20 feet set back in 1851 and 1929. Large sections of the city were inundated including much of the downtown area where thousands of people were displaced.

That's all for this edition. On the "WILD" side of weather I'm Steve Gottschalk.