Spencer, IA: (Jan. 04, 2012) - The Iowa office of the National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) says most of the state had no need for a snow shovel in December because of above normal temperatures and below normal snowfall.

 

Temperatures for the month averaged 29.8 degrees, or 6.9 degrees above normal, ranking December as the 19^th warmest month in 139 years of record keeping.

 

Precipitation was well above normal for much of Iowa during December, thanks largely to three large storm systems, but most of the precipitation came as rainfall. Average precipitation was 2.14 inches, or 0.80 inches above normal, according to NASS.