A panel of representatives from the three state universities is raising concerns about climate change in Iowa. The group is reporting a trend toward warmer temperatures and heavier precipitation, which will likely impact future government policies. The Iowa Legislature asked the 10-member panel to study changes in the state’s climate over the past 50 years.

The panel found winter temperatures in Iowa have risen by nearly two-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit per decade over that time. The number of severe rain storms has increased by more than 30%. State Senator Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids says he doesn’t believe the situation will improve.

Iowa has had three straight very cold winters. And how terribly clever of them to pick fifty years. Why not eighty years?

How about the last ten years? Winters have been cooling at a rate of 130 degrees per century.

How about preciptitation? No change, for as long as NCDC has kept records.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/cag3/ia.html