The featured chart presents some metrics for the largest drop in season to date low temperature for Ames. The largest drop this year is a mere five degrees when the low temperature on 23 September reached 39 degrees after having a previous coldest value of 44 degrees. Please note that the algorithm for this chart uses the July data to begin accumulating a season to date coldest temperature, but does not include that month in the calculation of largest drop for the season. The left panel indicates that much larger drops are likely to occur with the simple average near 12 degrees. The two right panels show that larger drops occur later in the season when much colder temperatures are possible. During this time of year, relatively warm soil temperatures and soil moisture help to dampen large temperature drops. Later in the season, snow starts to show up and can very much help really plummet temperatures to set new season to date cold temperatures.

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