Above average precipitation ended a drought in a roller-coaster weather year for south central Iowa in 2018.

According to archives of data at the National Weather Service, the average temperature last year was 48.9 degrees in Marion County, right around the normal of 50 degrees. At the reporting station near Knoxville, 39.4” of precipitation was recorded, above the 38 typically received in a year. Last year started with record breaking cold, with a daytime high of 3 below on New Year’s Day and an overnight low of 21 below zero. Severe weather was active last year as well, with four tornadoes reported — all coming on July 19th, including the EF3 storm that damaged a significant portion of the Vermeer Mile.

State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan tells KRLS News it was a “year without a spring,” as a near-record cold April was followed up by a near record hot May. Glisan says long-term climate data has shown rainfall events will continue to be more intense in nature moving forward, as evidenced by a wet spring, followed by a bone-dry summer south of Interstate 80, and then a wet autumn.

Stay tuned to 92.1 KRLS and visit KNIAKRLS.com for the latest weather information.