Climate Comfort Score
68/100
Good
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 50°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Rathbun Dam, IA Climate
Average temperature, precipitation, and a comfort score, drawn from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals →
- 50°F
- Avg annual temp
- 68/100
- Comfort score
- 38.6"
- Annual precip
- 188d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Rathbun Dam
Rathbun Dam, Iowa averages 50°F a year and scores 68/100 on the comfort index - good, milder than 58% of U.S. cities.
- 50°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 68/100
- comfort score, milder than 58% of U.S. cities
- 38.6"
- yearly precipitation total
- 188 days
- frost-free growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
50°F (10°C)
Avg High
61°F
Avg Low
40°F
Annual Precip
38.6"
Comfort Score
68/100
Good
Avg Annual Temperature
50°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
38.6"
Liquid-equivalent total
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Rathbun Dam) 68.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Good for the Rathbun Dam area.
How Rathbun Dam compares to every U.S. city
Rathbun Dam's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
68 Top 42% higher than 58% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Rathbun Dam
MethodologyHow the U.S. land temperature anomaly tracks against the global mean since 1900. The current NOAA 1991-2020 normal for Rathbun Dam captures average conditions across the spread shown, the most recent decade is warmer than the 30-year mean.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F (0°C) | 13°F (-11°C) | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.1" | 29.9 | 0.0 |
| February | 37°F (3°C) | 16°F (-9°C) | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.5" | 25.8 | 0.0 |
| March | 50°F (10°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 2.0" | 21.2 | 0.0 |
| April | 62°F (17°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.9" | 6.2 | 0.0 |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 5.4" | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| June | 81°F (27°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2" | 0.0 | 2.6 |
| July | 85°F (29°C) | 66°F (19°C) | 75°F (24°C) | 4.6" | 0.0 | 8.1 |
| August | 84°F (29°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.6" | 0.0 | 6.0 |
| September | 77°F (25°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 3.8" | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| October | 65°F (18°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 2.9" | 4.9 | 0.1 |
| November | 50°F (10°C) | 29°F (-1°C) | 40°F (4°C) | 2.0" | 18.8 | 0.0 |
| December | 37°F (3°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 1.5" | 28.4 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall
January 1.1"
February 1.5"
March 2.0"
April 3.9"
May 5.4"
June 5.2"
July 4.6"
August 4.6"
September 3.8"
October 2.9"
November 2.0"
December 1.5"
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 23
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
April 18
50% probability date
Growing Season
188 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
6,263
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
976
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What Rathbun Dam's climate means for you
Rathbun Dam runs 50°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 188 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near April 18 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 6,263 heating and 976 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Rathbun Dam, IA
In Rathbun Dam, Iowa, the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals put the annual average temperature at 50°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 61°F to a mean daily low of 40°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. As thirty-year averages computed from station USC00136910, these numbers smooth out year-to-year noise into a working baseline for a typical month.
Anyone planning to live, garden, or travel in Rathbun Dam should weigh precipitation alongside temperature: the annual average runs 38.6 inches, predominantly as rainfall. The frost-free season averages 188 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 18 and the first fall freeze near October 23. And on the energy front, 6,263 heating degree days and 976 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Rathbun Dam scores 68/100 (Good), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. For planning purposes, look to the monthly tables above: shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows, summer brings July-driven heat, and deep winter brings January-driven cold. Treat every figure here as a thirty-year average rather than a forecast - individual years routinely run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than the normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Rathbun Dam, IA? ▼
The average annual temperature in Rathbun Dam, Iowa is 50°F. The warmest month averages 85°F (29°C) and the coldest averages 13°F (-11°C).
How much rain does Rathbun Dam get? ▼
Rathbun Dam receives 38.6 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Rathbun Dam? ▼
Rathbun Dam has a climate comfort score of 68/100 (Good), milder than 58% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Rathbun Dam? ▼
Rathbun Dam has approximately 188 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around April 18 and the first fall freeze around October 23.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Rathbun Dam? ▼
Rathbun Dam has 6,263 heating degree days and 976 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Rathbun Dam climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00136910 near Rathbun Dam.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00136910. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.