Fall is Two Days Away, And Record Heat is Possible in Iowa Today

When I wrote about the latest 80-degree day on record in Iowa last week (October 31), I indicated the 90s might be done for the season. I spoke too soon. The KCRG First Alert weather team says we are on the verge of record heat today!

This basically obliterates what KWWL called the average last day in the 90s:

• Cedar Rapids: September 3
• Dubuque: August 24
• Iowa City: September 8
• Waterloo: September 4

Let me remind you about my notes in that previous article so you don't assume this is that unusual.

• The average last 80+ degree day is on October 8
• In the last 30 years, the actual latest 80-degree day was October 29, 2004
• The EARLIEST last 80-degree day was September 16, 2009
• The latest 80+ degree day on record was October 31, 1968

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It's been a relatively uncommon season this year, according to KCRG's Kaj O'Mara. He looked back at records and said the latest Cedar Rapids has ever cracked 90+ was October 10, 1962. With records going as far back as 1893, the likelihood of this happening this late is just 6 percent.

It's going to be a sharp drop-off come Wednesday, according to the Des Moines Register, as temperatures roll back into the 70s, and then, hang on for Thursday, the first official day of fall.

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