Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Ames 3 SW (USC00130205), Iowa, United States, with 72 years of record.
Key Facts for Ames 3 SW
Ames 3 SW (USC00130205) is a weather station in Iowa, United States at 42.00 latitude and -93.65 longitude, 305 m (1,001 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1893 to 1964, 72 years of record.
1,464 records set at Ames 3 SW still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Ames 3 SW tied a daily record low maximum temperature of 20.0 C (68.0 F) on 23 August 1964.
About the Station
Location: Iowa, United States, 42.00 latitude, -93.65 longitude.
Elevation: 305 m (1,001 ft).
Period of record: 1893 to 1964, 72 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd.
Daily Record Envelope and 2026
0 days at or beyond a record
Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Ames 3 SW. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.
Daily record high and record low at Ames 3 SW, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
17.2 C (63.0 F)
-38.3 C (-36.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
24.4 C (75.9 F)
-35.0 C (-31.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
31.7 C (89.1 F)
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
35.0 C (95.0 F)
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
n/a
n/a
May
40.0 C (104.0 F)
-7.8 C (18.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
40.0 C (104.0 F)
2.2 C (36.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
42.8 C (109.0 F)
3.9 C (39.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
41.7 C (107.1 F)
2.2 C (36.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
38.9 C (102.0 F)
-5.6 C (21.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
34.4 C (93.9 F)
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
27.2 C (81.0 F)
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
20.0 C (68.0 F)
-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Ames 3 SW still stand. 1930 holds the most, with 45.
Standing records at Ames 3 SW by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1893
31
1894
33
1895
39
1896
18
1897
32
1898
25
1899
24
1900
12
1901
27
1902
20
1903
12
1904
12
1905
19
1906
16
1907
22
1908
20
1909
28
1910
30
1911
34
1912
31
1913
40
1914
16
1915
22
1916
17
1917
24
1918
21
1919
15
1920
13
1921
21
1922
11
1923
21
1924
18
1925
25
1926
17
1927
24
1928
24
1929
16
1930
45
1931
27
1932
21
1933
16
1934
29
1935
15
1936
44
1937
15
1938
18
1939
24
1940
14
1941
8
1942
21
1943
19
1944
18
1945
17
1946
16
1947
19
1948
18
1949
10
1950
20
1951
27
1952
24
1953
14
1954
13
1955
9
1956
10
1957
9
1958
11
1959
16
1960
14
1961
7
1962
20
1963
18
1964
8
All-Time Record Progression
2 new records
2 all-time records were set at Ames 3 SW between 30 November 1928 and 27 July 1929. Each dot is a new record.
When Ames 3 SW set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
1928-11-30
Record daily snowfall
Record daily snowfall 30.5 cm (12.0 in)
1929-07-27
Record high minimum temperature
Record high minimum temperature 28.3 C (82.9 F)
Wettest Day of Each Month
Jul: 198.1 mm (7.8 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Ames 3 SW. The most was 198.1 mm (7.8 in) on 1 July 1920.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Ames 3 SW
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
52.3 mm (2.1 in)
27 January 1944
Feb
43.7 mm (1.7 in)
28 February 1939
Mar
137.2 mm (5.4 in)
5 March 1900
Apr
76.5 mm (3.0 in)
29 April 1963
May
115.1 mm (4.5 in)
19 May 1944
Jun
94.2 mm (3.7 in)
20 June 1899
Jul
198.1 mm (7.8 in)
1 July 1920
Aug
151.1 mm (5.9 in)
22 August 1954
Sep
109.2 mm (4.3 in)
5 September 1936
Oct
79.2 mm (3.1 in)
6 October 1914
Nov
60.5 mm (2.4 in)
12 November 1931
Dec
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
8 December 1919
Period of Record Coverage
1893 to 1964
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
72 years of record at Ames 3 SW, 1893 to 1964. 9 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1894, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1914, 1918 and others.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 57 complete years at Ames 3 SW, 1893 to 1963. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 9.1 C (48.5 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1893, at 6.4 C (43.6 F), and the warmest was 1931, at 11.8 C (53.2 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 2.8 C (5.0 F).
Annual mean temperature at Ames 3 SW as warming stripes, 1893 to 1963
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1893
6.4 C
-2.73 C
1895
8.0 C
-1.13 C
1901
9.6 C
+0.40 C
1902
8.6 C
-0.52 C
1903
8.7 C
-0.50 C
1904
8.1 C
-1.09 C
1905
8.9 C
-0.27 C
1906
8.7 C
-0.43 C
1909
9.0 C
-0.19 C
1910
9.2 C
+0.04 C
1911
10.3 C
+1.14 C
1912
8.0 C
-1.16 C
1913
10.2 C
+1.02 C
1915
8.8 C
-0.34 C
1917
7.0 C
-2.14 C
1920
9.0 C
-0.16 C
1921
11.3 C
+2.13 C
1923
9.5 C
+0.35 C
1924
8.0 C
-1.15 C
1925
9.6 C
+0.46 C
1926
9.5 C
+0.36 C
1927
9.7 C
+0.57 C
1928
10.3 C
+1.11 C
1929
8.2 C
-0.98 C
1930
10.6 C
+1.45 C
1931
11.8 C
+2.61 C
1932
8.7 C
-0.41 C
1933
10.2 C
+1.03 C
1934
10.5 C
+1.32 C
1935
8.8 C
-0.32 C
1937
8.2 C
-0.92 C
1938
10.5 C
+1.33 C
1939
10.3 C
+1.12 C
1940
8.5 C
-0.70 C
1941
10.3 C
+1.13 C
1942
9.0 C
-0.14 C
1943
8.6 C
-0.55 C
1944
9.4 C
+0.23 C
1945
8.5 C
-0.67 C
1946
10.1 C
+0.93 C
1947
9.2 C
+0.06 C
1948
9.4 C
+0.24 C
1949
9.4 C
+0.26 C
1950
7.8 C
-1.36 C
1951
7.4 C
-1.72 C
1952
9.3 C
+0.10 C
1953
10.1 C
+0.94 C
1954
10.3 C
+1.11 C
1955
9.4 C
+0.24 C
1956
9.7 C
+0.51 C
1957
9.1 C
-0.07 C
1958
8.7 C
-0.44 C
1959
8.7 C
-0.46 C
1960
8.2 C
-0.94 C
1961
8.8 C
-0.34 C
1962
8.6 C
-0.57 C
1963
9.3 C
+0.19 C
The fitted trend in annual mean temperature here over 1893 to 1963 is 0.1 C (-0.1 to 0.2) per decade. The interval includes zero, so the trend is not clearly different from zero. In Fahrenheit: 0.1 F (-0.1 to 0.4) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 57 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.
Fitted temperature trends per decade at Ames 3 SW
Measure
Per decade (C)
Per decade (F)
Period
Complete years
Reading
Annual mean temperature
0.1 C (-0.1 to 0.2) per decade
0.1 F (-0.1 to 0.4) per decade
1893 to 1963
57
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily maximum
-0.1 C (-0.2 to 0.1) per decade
-0.1 F (-0.4 to 0.1) per decade
1893 to 1963
57
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily minimum
0.2 C (0.1 to 0.4) per decade
0.4 F (0.2 to 0.7) per decade
1893 to 1963
57
Rise
A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.
Extremes by Year
1893 to 1964
Yearly extremes at Ames 3 SW: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
42.8 C (109.0 F)
1901
36.7 C (98.1 F)
72
Coldest night (TNn)
-38.3 C (-36.9 F)
1894
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
72
Wettest day (Rx1day)
198.1 mm (7.8 in)
1920
61.3 mm (2.4 in)
72
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
256.3 mm (10.1 in)
1954
98.6 mm (3.9 in)
72
Longest dry spell (CDD)
63 days
1898
26 days
72
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Ames 3 SW, 1893 to 1964. The record is 42.8 C (109.0 F) in 1901, marked on the chart; the median year is 36.7 C (98.1 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Ames 3 SW by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1893
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1894
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1895
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1896
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1897
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1898
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1899
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1900
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1901
42.8 C (109.0 F)
1902
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1903
33.9 C (93.0 F)
1904
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1905
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1906
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1907
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1908
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1909
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1910
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1911
41.7 C (107.1 F)
1912
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1913
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1914
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1915
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1916
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1917
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1918
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1919
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1920
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1921
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1922
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1923
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1924
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1925
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1926
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1927
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1928
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1929
33.9 C (93.0 F)
1930
42.2 C (108.0 F)
1931
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1932
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1933
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1934
41.7 C (107.1 F)
1935
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1936
42.2 C (108.0 F)
1937
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1938
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1939
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1940
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1941
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1942
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1943
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1944
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1945
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1946
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1947
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1948
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1949
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1950
33.9 C (93.0 F)
1951
33.9 C (93.0 F)
1952
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1953
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1954
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1955
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1956
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1957
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1958
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1959
33.9 C (93.0 F)
1960
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1961
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1962
33.9 C (93.0 F)
1963
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1964
35.6 C (96.1 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Ames 3 SW, 1893 to 1964. The record is -38.3 C (-36.9 F) in 1894, marked on the chart; the median year is -28.3 C (-18.9 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Ames 3 SW by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1893
-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
1894
-38.3 C (-36.9 F)
1895
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
1896
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1897
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1898
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1899
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
1900
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1901
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1902
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1903
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1904
-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
1905
-35.0 C (-31.0 F)
1906
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1907
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1908
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1909
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1910
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1911
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1912
-37.2 C (-35.0 F)
1913
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1914
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1915
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1916
-33.3 C (-27.9 F)
1917
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1918
-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
1919
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1920
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1921
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1922
-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1923
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1924
-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
1925
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1926
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1927
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1928
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1929
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1930
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1931
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1932
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1933
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1934
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1935
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1936
-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
1937
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1938
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1939
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1940
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1941
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1942
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1943
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1944
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1945
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1946
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1947
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1948
-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1949
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1950
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1951
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1952
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1953
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1954
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1955
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1956
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1957
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
1958
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1959
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1960
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1961
-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1962
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1963
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1964
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Ames 3 SW, 1893 to 1964. The record is 198.1 mm (7.8 in) in 1920, marked on the chart; the median year is 61.3 mm (2.4 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Ames 3 SW by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1893
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1894
63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1895
68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1896
56.9 mm (2.2 in)
1897
67.3 mm (2.6 in)
1898
59.2 mm (2.3 in)
1899
94.2 mm (3.7 in)
1900
137.2 mm (5.4 in)
1901
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
1902
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1903
59.9 mm (2.4 in)
1904
56.1 mm (2.2 in)
1905
48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1906
44.2 mm (1.7 in)
1907
108.2 mm (4.3 in)
1908
49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1909
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1910
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1911
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1912
98.6 mm (3.9 in)
1913
51.3 mm (2.0 in)
1914
79.2 mm (3.1 in)
1915
60.7 mm (2.4 in)
1916
43.2 mm (1.7 in)
1917
86.4 mm (3.4 in)
1918
74.4 mm (2.9 in)
1919
86.4 mm (3.4 in)
1920
198.1 mm (7.8 in)
1921
61.5 mm (2.4 in)
1922
81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1923
77.5 mm (3.1 in)
1924
39.6 mm (1.6 in)
1925
102.9 mm (4.1 in)
1926
89.2 mm (3.5 in)
1927
78.7 mm (3.1 in)
1928
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1929
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1930
41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1931
60.5 mm (2.4 in)
1932
64.8 mm (2.6 in)
1933
81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1934
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1935
59.9 mm (2.4 in)
1936
109.2 mm (4.3 in)
1937
36.6 mm (1.4 in)
1938
54.4 mm (2.1 in)
1939
43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1940
105.7 mm (4.2 in)
1941
73.2 mm (2.9 in)
1942
68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1943
90.9 mm (3.6 in)
1944
115.1 mm (4.5 in)
1945
58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1946
56.4 mm (2.2 in)
1947
69.9 mm (2.8 in)
1948
42.9 mm (1.7 in)
1949
52.3 mm (2.1 in)
1950
67.8 mm (2.7 in)
1951
73.9 mm (2.9 in)
1952
56.9 mm (2.2 in)
1953
50.3 mm (2.0 in)
1954
151.1 mm (5.9 in)
1955
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1956
29.5 mm (1.2 in)
1957
72.9 mm (2.9 in)
1958
75.7 mm (3.0 in)
1959
46.7 mm (1.8 in)
1960
91.9 mm (3.6 in)
1961
105.7 mm (4.2 in)
1962
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1963
84.1 mm (3.3 in)
1964
92.7 mm (3.6 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Ames 3 SW, 1893 to 1964. The record is 256.3 mm (10.1 in) in 1954, marked on the chart; the median year is 98.6 mm (3.9 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Ames 3 SW by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1893
59.3 mm (2.3 in)
1894
87.9 mm (3.5 in)
1895
105.4 mm (4.1 in)
1896
138.0 mm (5.4 in)
1897
74.4 mm (2.9 in)
1898
81.8 mm (3.2 in)
1899
99.3 mm (3.9 in)
1900
142.3 mm (5.6 in)
1901
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1902
108.8 mm (4.3 in)
1903
122.7 mm (4.8 in)
1904
71.9 mm (2.8 in)
1905
85.1 mm (3.4 in)
1906
70.9 mm (2.8 in)
1907
120.4 mm (4.7 in)
1908
147.1 mm (5.8 in)
1909
115.1 mm (4.5 in)
1910
84.3 mm (3.3 in)
1911
89.4 mm (3.5 in)
1912
102.9 mm (4.1 in)
1913
86.3 mm (3.4 in)
1914
137.4 mm (5.4 in)
1915
131.6 mm (5.2 in)
1916
65.3 mm (2.6 in)
1917
143.3 mm (5.6 in)
1918
202.9 mm (8.0 in)
1919
117.4 mm (4.6 in)
1920
229.8 mm (9.0 in)
1921
95.2 mm (3.7 in)
1922
136.9 mm (5.4 in)
1923
105.2 mm (4.1 in)
1924
67.1 mm (2.6 in)
1925
135.9 mm (5.4 in)
1926
120.8 mm (4.8 in)
1927
99.1 mm (3.9 in)
1928
83.4 mm (3.3 in)
1929
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1930
63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1931
93.8 mm (3.7 in)
1932
85.8 mm (3.4 in)
1933
98.0 mm (3.9 in)
1934
78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1935
107.5 mm (4.2 in)
1936
110.5 mm (4.4 in)
1937
72.7 mm (2.9 in)
1938
80.8 mm (3.2 in)
1939
53.9 mm (2.1 in)
1940
135.9 mm (5.4 in)
1941
118.4 mm (4.7 in)
1942
78.5 mm (3.1 in)
1943
142.5 mm (5.6 in)
1944
234.3 mm (9.2 in)
1945
93.2 mm (3.7 in)
1946
83.1 mm (3.3 in)
1947
89.9 mm (3.5 in)
1948
61.5 mm (2.4 in)
1949
79.0 mm (3.1 in)
1950
86.1 mm (3.4 in)
1951
115.0 mm (4.5 in)
1952
72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1953
64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1954
256.3 mm (10.1 in)
1955
53.6 mm (2.1 in)
1956
54.2 mm (2.1 in)
1957
120.1 mm (4.7 in)
1958
148.1 mm (5.8 in)
1959
106.4 mm (4.2 in)
1960
102.8 mm (4.0 in)
1961
106.7 mm (4.2 in)
1962
62.7 mm (2.5 in)
1963
117.6 mm (4.6 in)
1964
123.2 mm (4.9 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Ames 3 SW, 1893 to 1964. The record is 63 days in 1898, marked on the chart; the median year is 26 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Ames 3 SW by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1893
27 days
1894
31 days
1895
33 days
1896
24 days
1897
23 days
1898
63 days
1899
43 days
1900
21 days
1901
20 days
1902
19 days
1903
36 days
1904
42 days
1905
23 days
1906
31 days
1907
25 days
1908
25 days
1909
26 days
1910
46 days
1911
19 days
1912
26 days
1913
28 days
1914
45 days
1915
32 days
1916
31 days
1917
27 days
1918
18 days
1919
31 days
1920
18 days
1921
34 days
1922
20 days
1923
25 days
1924
21 days
1925
22 days
1926
35 days
1927
23 days
1928
35 days
1929
18 days
1930
18 days
1931
44 days
1932
23 days
1933
27 days
1934
34 days
1935
18 days
1936
24 days
1937
21 days
1938
27 days
1939
21 days
1940
20 days
1941
22 days
1942
37 days
1943
26 days
1944
31 days
1945
22 days
1946
32 days
1947
21 days
1948
40 days
1949
21 days
1950
30 days
1951
18 days
1952
55 days
1953
27 days
1954
25 days
1955
21 days
1956
37 days
1957
18 days
1958
29 days
1959
37 days
1960
16 days
1961
16 days
1962
34 days
1963
25 days
1964
17 days
Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.
Frost Dates and Growing Season
57 years with a frost
Across 57 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Ames 3 SW falls on 28 April and the median first autumn frost on 5 October, which leaves a median of 160 days between them.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by +2.2 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Ames 3 SW
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1933 to 1963)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
28 April
n/a
27 April
n/a
-0.9 days per decade
First autumn frost
5 October
n/a
6 October
n/a
+1.4 days per decade
Growing days
160 days
n/a
161 days
n/a
+2.2 days per decade
A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.
Rainfall Return Levels
69 years, 1893 to 1963
A day with at least 63.4 mm (2.5 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 177.9 mm (7.0 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Ames 3 SW: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
63.4 mm (2.5 in)
5 years
86.9 mm (3.4 in)
10 years
105.0 mm (4.1 in)
25 years
131.2 mm (5.2 in)
50 years
153.3 mm (6.0 in)
100 years
177.9 mm (7.0 in)
Longer than the 69 years of record
The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 69 years of values from 1893 to 1963.
A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.
The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 198.1 mm (7.8 in) in 1920; 151.1 mm (5.9 in) in 1954; 137.2 mm (5.4 in) in 1900.
Station Changes
No change in the annual mean temperature of this station was found against its neighbours.
Download the Data
Data for Ames 3 SW standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Ames 3 SW threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.