Iowa Monthly Weather Summary – February 2026
General Summary
Temperatures averaged 32.2 degrees or 8.1 degrees above normal while precipitation totaled 0.31 inch, 0.86 inch below normal. February 2026 ties 1984/1992 as the 13th warmest Feb. in 154 years of statewide records; it also ties 1933/1964 as the 10th driest. February 2024 was both warmer and drier (4th driest).
Temperatures
Temperatures were well above average across the state through February; notably, Iowa’s northwest corner was over 10 degrees above normal. February’s statewide average maximum temperature was 44.3 degrees, 11.2 degrees above normal while the average minimum temperature was 20.0 degrees, 4.8 degrees above normal. Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County) reported the month’s high temperature of 75 degrees on the 9th, 43 degrees above normal. Mapleton (Monona County) recorded the month’s low temperature of -11 degrees on the 1st, 20 degrees below normal.
Heating Degree Day Totals
Home heating requirements, as estimated by heating degree day totals, were 24% less than last February and 19% less than normal. Thus far this heating season, heating day totals are running 3% less than last year at this time and 9% less than normal.
Precipitation
A swath of southeastern Iowa experienced the driest conditions with precipitation deficit from 0.75 to 1.75 inches. Statewide, widespread departures were over 0.50 inch. Monthly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at several southern and northwestern stations to 1.26 inches at New Hampton (Chickasaw County). The statewide average snowfall was 3.8 inches, 3.0 inches below normal. The highest snowfall of 15.1 inches was observed by a Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) observer in New Hampton.
Winter Summary
Temperatures for the three winter months of December, January and February (DJF) averaged 25.0 degrees or 2.1 degrees above normal while precipitation totaled 2.15 inches, 1.36 inches below normal. Winter 2025-2026 ties 1891 as the 34th warmest and ranks as the 20th driest; 2022-2023 was warmer while 2024-2025 was drier. The statewide average snowfall was 14.1 inches, 8.0 inches below normal, making it the 27th least snowy winter in 139 years of records.
US Drought Monitor
The US Drought Monitor showed degradation across much of Iowa through February. Moderate Drought (D1) began creeping in over northwest and southeast Iowa through the middle of February, as a result of split flow depriving the state of moisture. As of the first week of March, 31% of the state was rated as Abnormally Dry (D0) with 41% of Iowa in Moderate Drought (D1). A 2% pocket of Severe Drought (D2) was also introduced in southeastern Iowa.
Justin Glisan, Ph.D.
State Climatologist of Iowa
Iowa Dept. of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
Wallace State Office Bldg.
Des Moines, IA 50319
Telephone: (515) 281-8981
E-mail: Justin.Glisan@IowaAgriculture.gov
Weather by Districts
| TEMPERATURE (F) | HEATING DEGREE DAYS | PRECIPITATION (inches) | |||||||||
| SNOWFALL | |||||||||||
| February 2026 | February 2026 | Since Jul., 1, 2025 | February 2026 | Since Jan.1, 2026 | Feb 2026 | ||||||
| DISTRICT | Average | Departure* | Average | Departure* | Average | Departure* | Average | Departure* | Average | Departure* | Average |
| Northwest | 31.9 | +10.5 | 927 | -293 | 4986 | -663 | 0.03 | -0.82 | 0.29 | -1.27 | 0.2 |
| North Central | 29.2 | +8.4 | 1002 | -237 | 5221 | -460 | 0.43 | -0.61 | 1.28 | -0.65 | 5.5 |
| Northeast | 27.8 | +6.3 | 1042 | -175 | 5260 | -309 | 0.72 | -0.51 | 2.61 | +0.24 | 8.1 |
| West Central | 33.7 | +9.4 | 876 | -262 | 4586 | -654 | 0.16 | -0.81 | 0.91 | -0.83 | 3.4 |
| Central | 31.9 | +7.8 | 927 | -219 | 4737 | -485 | 0.62 | -0.50 | 1.80 | -0.24 | 6.8 |
| East Central | 31.2 | +6.4 | 946 | -179 | 4770 | -317 | 0.35 | -1.11 | 1.15 | -1.52 | 2.2 |
| Southwest | 35.5 | +8.2 | 826 | -231 | 4257 | -588 | 0.16 | -0.95 | 1.20 | -0.74 | 3.7 |
| South Central | 35.5 | +8.2 | 826 | -230 | 4289 | -523 | 0.17 | -1.17 | 1.23 | -1.09 | 1.7 |
| Southeast | 34.2 | +6.7 | 862 | -189 | 4387 | -350 | 0.09 | -1.53 | 0.75 | -2.19 | 0.4 |
| STATE | 32.2 | +8.1 | 930 | -212 | 4762 | -442 | 0.31 | -0.87 | 1.25 | -0.90 | 3.8 |
* Departures are computed from 1991-2020 normals. Due to the federal government shutdown, observations are still preliminary.
The weather data in this report are based upon information collected by the U. S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA National Weather Service.
