12/6/1939: 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 of 74* 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:

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It reached 69* in Des Moines on that day in 1939, tying the December high-temperature record for our capital city.

In Waterloo that day it reached 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) In Cedar Rapids on 12/6/1939, the temperature topped out at 58.

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 10, 1919, and December 25, 2000, it bottomed out at -29* in Waterloo. Ouch.

As for Cedar Rapids, on December 28, 1924, it hit a monthly record low of -28*. Oof.

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