The above-normal fall temperature trend in Iowa and most surrounding areas continued into October, following a September that ranked as the seventh warmest on record. Into late October, temperatures across Iowa were averaging from one to four degrees above normal.

In the Tropical Pacific, strong El Nino conditions continued into fall, and some additional strengthening has continued the past few weeks, but to a lesser degree than a few months ago. This current El Nino is among the strongest since 1950, along with the events of 1972, 1982 ...