If there’s one thing Iowans love talking about, it’s the weather. “Wow! It’s supposed to get up to seventy degrees today!” and “There’s literally snow in the forecast for tomorrow,” are statements Iowans wouldn’t be surprised to hear on the same day. But why is this considered typical in Iowa but unprecedented in other states? What is the connection between Iowa and 30-40 degree variances in temperature?
Well, according to the public broadcasting service, the reason these extreme and quick shifts in temperature occur is due to Iowa’s geographic location. Iowa is a little over a thousand miles away from the nearest ocean, and this fact has greatly influenced the weather. Oceans act as temperature stabilizers; this has to do with the rate at which the water absorbs heat from the sun. The air over the ocean heats up slowly and cools down slowly; this is why states that are on the coast have milder temperature swings as opposed to states that are in the Midwest. Conversely, land heats up quickly and cools down quickly, and thus influences the air above it accordingly.
Second, Iowa’s location is in alignment with cold Canadian airstreams moving south and warm air from the Gulf of Mexico moving north. These collisions of hot and cold air cause not only vast temperature swings but also those tornadoes and thunderstorms that characterize the Midwest. Combined with the fact that Iowa is as flat as a pancake without any mountains to help moderate the climate, it’s easy to see why we see these crazy temps every spring. Since Iowa is mostly flat, there are no barriers (like mountains, for example) to block masses of air, meaning there is nothing to stop streams of hot or cold air from flowing in.
The combination of these geographical factors results in the Iowa weather we know and… I don’t know if love is the right word… but anyway. Dealing with hot summers, freezing winters, and stormy springs is just part of what it’s like to be an Iowan. So the next time the weather comes up in conversation, don’t hesitate to enlighten your counterpart on why exactly we see these patterns in Iowa.
