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!

AUGUST 40 YEARS AGO

August of 1983 was sunny, hot and dry, a continuation of July's weather. By late in the month the drought was statewide with the SE parts of the state seeing extreme drought.

The temperatures were the highest since 1947, tying it with August of 1936 as the second hottest on record. Iowa saw an average of 20 days with 90 degrees or higher and readings of 100 degrees were reported on at least one day over 2/3rd's of the state. The hottest days were the 16th and 17th. The warmest reading was 108 at Keosaqua on the 17th and the coolest was 44 at Maquoketa on the 12th.

The soil temperatures heated to a maximum of 120 degrees at the 1" depth at Shenandoah on the 19th. At the 2-1/4" depth it was 105 at Ankeny and Ames.

Iowa City saw 5 such days.

Muscatine saw 5 such days.

Williamsburg saw five 100 degree days from the 16th-20th.

Cedar Rapids warmest reading was 99.

The number of days with 90 degree or higher readings:

Anamosa - 22 days.

Cedar Rapids - 18 days.

Belle Plaine - 20 days.

Iowa City - 23 days.

Muscatine - 22 days.

Williamsburg - 23 days.

The average monthly rainfall for the the East Central district was 2.05".

OUR JULY'S ARE TRENDING TO BE DRIER

My weather station recorded it's 3rd straight July with below normal rainfall. The rainfall this past month was only 49% of normal. Looking back to 2012, I had 9 of the last 12 July's with below normal rainfall. The 2 small creeks here in town have dried up for the 2nd time in the past 3 years.

THE FIREFLIES DISAPPEARED RATHER QUICKLY

Just before the windstorm swept through the area on the evening of July 28th with 71 mph winds, I had been counting at least 2 dozen fireflies almost every evening for the past several weeks over the cornfield east of my place. After the storm, the numbers dropped to just 1 or 2 individuals and sometimes none at all. Did the high winds kill them? I have never seen this happen before. A mystery?

USING A COIN AND DICE TO PREDICT THE WEATHER

I decided to predict the weather using the flip of a coin and the roll of the dice to see which was the more accurate. Every evening I would flip a coin and then roll the dice to see if the following day would be wet or dry. I did this for 3 out of 5 times. For the month of July the coin was correct 83% of the time and the dice only 43%.

Last July the coin was correct 77% of the time and the dice 47%.

SPIDER WEBS AND WEATHER

Last week, after a heavy fog, the lawn out in front of my apartment was covered with small spider webs. I counted at least 100 of them. A bit of weather folklore says: "Many spider webs on the grass is a prediction of dry weather." The spiders were right, we didn't see any rain for the next 2 days.

THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWERS

The annual Perseid meteor showers are on the 11th and 12th. The best time for viewing them is after midnight. According to the almanacs, there will be no interference from the moon this year.

EASTERN IOWA WEATHER EVENTS

Aug. 9, 1934 - In a summer of excessive heat, today Keokuk soared to a high of 116 degrees. Keosaqua had 115 and it was 113 at Fairfield.

Aug. 10, 1882 - Unseasonably cold weather brought frost to NE Iowa. Light frost was reported at Ead's Grove in Delaware County and at Nora Springs in Floyd County. At Cresco, the frost killed tender vegetation.

Aug. 14, 1964 - Unseasonably cold weather settled over the state for the second consecutive night. Saratoga got down to 32, Elkader - 33, Decorah - 36 and Fayette - 37.

Aug. 15, 1988 - A very hot and dry summer continues. Today Muscatine and Ottumwa saw 104, Fairfield had 105, It was 106 at Keosaqua and Washington. Iowa Falls and Sigourney saw 107.

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