Dangerous Heat Index Temperatures

What a scorcher today! You did not even want to step outside...forget working or playing in the heat index temperatures of 110+

Des Moines had a heat index of 115 this afternoon. The actual temperate reached 96 degrees...but the dew point temperature was 80. That is an extremely high dew point. We rarely see that kind of moisture...even in the most sultry summer months.

The all-time record high dew point was 87 in Cedar Rapids...July 13, 1995. That is a big deal to weather geeks. The extreme moisture over Iowa can produce life-threatening weather for man and beast. Cattle farmers watch for temperatures in the 80s and 90s over dew points in the 70s as anything warmer adds extreme stress in their livestock.

Below you will find a list of the highest dew point on record...

Town
and Temp ..................... Record Dew Point and Date
Today

Ames 81 ... Record...84-29 Jul 1999 1997

Burlington 81... Record...82-29 Jul 1999 1973

Dubuque 80... Record...82-13 Jul 1995 1973

Cedar Rapids 80... Record...87-13 Jul 1995 1973

Davenport 77... Record...83-29 Jul 1999 1997

Des Moines 80... Record... 84- 6 Sep 1998 1970

Esterville 78... Record...83-29 Jul 1999 1997

Iowa City 80... Record...84-20 Aug 1998 1997

Marshalltown 81...Record...83-29 Jul 1999 1997

Mason City 81... Record...83-29 Jul 1999 1961

Ottumwa 81... Record...82-18 Jul 1996 1973

Spencer 79... Record...82-29 Jul 1999 1973

Waterloo 82... Record...83-29 Jul 1999 1970

Sioux City 80...Record...83-22 Jul 2005 1961


I picked up the kids from Vacation Bible School at Hope Lutheran at noon today. The cold air-conditioning combined with the moisture outside to complete fog up the doors to the church. It was fogging up my glasses from the car to the church.

There are going to be more strong storms tonight... some severe...but the humidity will be cut out with the cold front. Thursday will be warm...but the humid air will be absent.