DES MOINES, Iowa — For the first time in what seems like months, an area of long-lived, heavy rain moved across Iowa.
2.53" of rain fell at Des Moines International Airport between Friday morning and early afternoon Saturday.
On Friday alone, 1.65" of rain fell at the airport, marking the wettest calendar day in all of 2022. This surpasses September 1st and July 6th, when 1.54" and 1.41" of rain fell, respectively.
The total of 1.65" also breaks the daily record for rainfall on November 4th, which was previously 1.28" set in 1959.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines says the "rainiest day of the year" has happened late in the year recently:
- 2.91" on October 24, 2021
- 2.08" on October 22, 2020
- 3.59" on October 1, 2019
This statistic is noteworthy because the wettest calendar days typically happen in the summer, falling in line with Iowa's convective thunderstorm season.
For the entire year so far, 28.24" of rain has been recorded at Des Moines International Airport. Through November 5th, the average rainfall is 33.36", putting the city still 5.12" below average.
Here are some other totals from Friday and Saturday's rainfall event:
- 4.1" in Kellerton
- 3.98" in Corydon
- 3.3" in Centerville
- 3.3" in Thayer
- 3.08" in Lucas
- 3.01" in Lamoni
- 2.67" in Pleasant Hill
- 2.63" in Prairie City
- 2.58" in Floris
- 2.51" in Osceola
- 2.46" in Saylorville
- 2.4" in Melcher-Dallas
- 2.39" in Oskaloosa
- 2.38" in Lovilia
- 2.35" in Waukee
- 2.18" in St. Charles
- 2.17" in Polk City
- 2.14" in Altoona
- 2.12" in Norwalk
With much of the region under 'severe' drought per the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, this round of rainfall will be extremely beneficial.
A new drought outlook will be issued on Thursday, November 10th.
