So far, this summer in Decorah is the 5th most severe

Decorah weather observer Richard Bernatz says June 1st through July 31st has been the 5th most severe summer in Decorah in the 120 years for which data has been recorded.

Bernatz says only 1901, 1910, 1911 and 1936 had hotter and drier summers.  That means 2012 is the hottest and driest summer in Decorah in the last 76 years.

42 days since June 1st have had a maximum temperature greater than 85 degrees.  The average is 21 days.

Only 17 of the past 120 years have had at least one day with a maximum temperature of 100 degrees or greater.  2012 has already had four such days.