2012 was the warmest year EVER for Decorah for more than a century

Temperatures in Decorah set an all-time record during 2012--at least for the 103 for which temperature records have been kept.

Decorah weather observer Richard Bernatz says the average temperature for 2012 was 51.6 degrees, which was 5.35 degrees higher than the annual average of 46.25 degrees and one degree higher than the previous warmest year on record--1998, when the temperature averaged 50.62 degrees.

Bernatz says every month during 2012 except October had higher than average average temperatures.  2012 was 10.6 degrees warmer on average than the coolest year on record in Decorah, 1917, when temperatures averaged only 41 degrees.

All the heat was accompanied by dry conditions as well.  Precipitation for 2012 totaled 26.56 inches, 6.08 inches less than the average amount of 32.64 inches.