April ended with a string of five-straight 70+* days, culiminating with a record-high 93* on May 1 in Waterloo.

As the Pacific Northwest is having unseasonably warmth in the mid-80s this week, it appears that while it will be warmer this week in Iowa, we won't be setting any record-high temperatures.

However, by the end of the week, the highs should reach into the lower-80s in the Cedar Valley.

2020 featured 29 days of at least 90* in Waterloo. The Waterloo-area will reach 90* for the first time, on average, around the first of June. We were a month early this year, with a record-high of 93* on May 1.

The average final occurrence of a 90* day in Waterloo happens on average during the first week of September.

Since 2015, the National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued only 13 Excessive Heat Warnings for its 51-county coverage area.

Iowa Environmental Mesonet
Iowa Environmental Mesonet
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Four Heat Advisories were issued in 2020, three in July and one in August:

Iowa Environmental Mesonet
Iowa Environmental Mesonet
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On average, Waterloo will spend around 123 hours per year with air temperatures between at or above 90*.  In 2020, Waterloo spent 176 hours in that temperature range. So far in 2021, Waterloo has only spent eight hours in that zone.

Iowa Environmental Mesonet
Iowa Environmental Mesonet
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LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Iowa

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Iowa using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

 

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