2/25/26 - The Best and Worst of 2025

What in the Weather – Episode Summary

Iowa Specialty Producers Conference | February 24, 2026 | Ankeny, Iowa

This episode is a live recording of the What in the Weather podcast session presented at the Iowa Specialty Producers Conference. State Climatologist Justin Glisan and host Dan Fillius cover current weather conditions, a full 2025 weather year in review, and crop and pest impacts for Iowa specialty producers.

Current Conditions & Outlook

• February 2025 has been one of the top five warmest on record; the state is now in a brief cool spell following a significant snowfall event near Waterloo (12–14 inches)
• Precipitation is at 72% of normal statewide, with northwestern Iowa below 50%; drought conditions are emerging and could worsen if dry weather continues
• The forecast for early March shows a warm and wet signal, which typically brings increased thunderstorm activity

2025 Weather Year in Review

• 2025 was the 25th warmest year on record (1.3°F above average); the past five years are the warmest five-year period on record
• June and July were exceptionally humid — dew points above 70°F were recorded on more than half of July's days, producing heat index values near 109°F
• The second wettest July on record was followed by a dry fall — Red Oak went 33 days without measurable precipitation
• Iowa recorded 36 tornadoes in 2025, below the average of 44, with no fatalities

2025 Weather Superlatives

• Coldest stretch: Feb. 10–22, with daytime highs as low as -20°F (NW Iowa) and a dew point of -29°F in Sioux County
• Warmest overnight low: 82°F in June (Quad Cities)
• Highest temperature: 101°F, Little Sioux (June 20)
• Coldest overnight low: -23°F, Fayette
• Biggest single rain event: 8.64 inches in Decorah
• Wettest location: Boone at 47.84 inches; driest: Randolph at 24.56 inches
• Longest growing season: southeastern Iowa; shortest: northwestern Iowa

Crop Impacts

• Low winter precipitation in 2024–25 led to garlic winter damage on multiple farms
• Wet June and July caused widespread disease, delayed plantings, and poor early fruit set in tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant
• Worst-performing crops: onions (waterlogged soils), watermelons, and summer broccoli (heat and disease)
• Best-performing crop: tomatoes — scarce supply drove strong prices, with tunnel growers fetching ~$4/lb late in the season; late-planted fall carrots were a standout surprise

Pest & Disease Highlights

• Top insect pests: aphids (especially damaging on fall and winter greens) and onion thrips
• Top diseases: pepper anthracnose, Alternaria on brassicas, and southern rust in corn
• Management tips discussed include pre-transplant aphid dips with M-Pede or Suffoil-X, interplanting sweet alyssum to attract beneficials, and a conventional onion thrips spray rotation using Movento and Radiant per the 2026 Midwest Veg Guide

Podcast summary generated using Claude.ai