This Day In Weather History May 28
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1965: Unusually cold weather resulted in frost and freezing temperatures across much of the northern half of Iowa on the mornings of May 28th and 29th. On the 28th reported low temperatures included 32 F at Cresco, Primghar, and Sibley, 31 F at Grundy Center and Sioux Center, and 30 F at Inwood.
1947: One of the most unusual weather events in Iowa history occurred as an intense low pressure system moved northeast across Missouri and into the Great Lakes region, passing over the far southeastern corner of Iowa. Meanwhile an unseasonably cold area of high pressure spread down the northern plains bringing record breaking cold temperatures to much of the region. A heavy snow storm tracked along the northwestern side of the low across eastern Wyoming and Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and into northern Michigan from May 27-29 producing unprecedented snowfalls for so late in the spring. In Iowa the storm struck on the 28th with most precipitation in the south coming in the form of thunderstorms and rain, sometimes mixed with sleet and snow, while across about the northern half of the state the precipitation fell almost entirely as snow. Measurable snow was recorded at most locations north of a line from Council Bluffs to Dubuque with reported accumulations including an incredible 10.0 inches at Le Mars, 8.0 inches at Cherokee, 7.5 inches at Waukon, 6.0 inches at Alton and Hawarden, 5.0 inches at Cushing, Iowa Falls, Milford, and Northwood, 4.5 inches at Mason City, 2.0 inches at Waterloo, and a trace at many locations including Des Moines. In Nebraska several locations received 10 to 12 inches of snow and in Wisconsin 8 to 10 inches fell in a narrow band from Gays Mills to Green Bay. To put into perspective how unusual this event was, no snow has ever been recorded anywhere in Iowa at a later date in the spring, and the total of 10.0 inches at Le Mars is the highest snow accumulation on record in Iowa any time in the month of May. A series of heavy rains in the following several weeks combined with the snowmelt from this storm to produce historic flooding across many parts of Iowa in June of 1947.
1906: A late season statewide frost visited Iowa on the morning of May 28th. Low temperatures included 32 F at Atlantic, Denison, Elkader, Iowa Falls, and Webster City, 31 F at Inwood, and 30 F at Fayette, Ida Grove, and Washta. A hard frost was reported at many locations across the state but crop damage was mitigated by the brief duration of the freezing temperatures.
Source: National Weather Service Des Moines
