The 12 Very Real Seasons Every Iowan Has Come To Know
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Kim Magaraci
Author
In elementary school, we’re taught that there are four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. If you’ve ever lived in Iowa, though, that doesn’t quite sound right. Our weather changes so quickly and goes to extremes at the most random intervals, that it really seems like we’ve got at least a dozen seasons. Read below, and let us know if any of these sound familiar.
The early days of winter are my favorite. Quiet, snowy, peaceful, and the perfect crisp air is a welcome relief after a long, hot summer and fall. Check out 12 Majestic Spots In Iowa That Will Make You Feel Like You're At The North Pole for the best examples of this Iowa season.
Quickly, though, nice winter turns to ice winter. Every driveway becomes a skating rink, roads are hazards any time the sun goes down, and you've got to watch the forecast and pray a tree branch doesn't come falling down onto your house.
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After a few long weeks of living with arctic air and icy sidewalks, we always get a few nice days. This is that Fool's Spring, where we think maybe, just maybe, it's over.
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Then come the blizzards! Just when we think we might be safe from winter, Mother Nature dumps two feet of snow onto the Midwest. It happens every year, and every year, we wonder why we still live here.
After the blizzards make their way through, there's always a patch of really nice weather. After a few warm days, we start to emerge out of our winter hibernation and start thinking about spring! Everyone I know starts their seeds and begins to tend to their overgrown gardens, picks up some new plants and bulbs, and gets ready for the weather to stick around.
Of course, this also coincides with sad frost season. If the daytime temperatures are particularly nice, some of us start plants outside too early or shuffle our potted plants back and forth from outdoors to indoors. For those of us who love plantings and gardening, Sad Frost Season is the longest of them all.
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Mud Season overlaps most of the Iowa seasons. When the rivers flood, we get mud! When it rains for days on end, we get mud! When the snow melt and doesn't quite dry out - mud! Good thing we all own muck boots.
Summer is the most pleasant season. We take our short weeks of hot weather and head out to favorite vacation destinations, like Okoboji. Those of us who love fishing hit the lakes and streams of our favorite state parks.
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In August, Fair Season ramps up. It means long drives and long days to attend the best fairs around - including the State Fair! There's nothing like fair food as summer winds down.
Finally, we get to enjoy fall. The triple digit days of summer heat waves are behind us, and the crisp cool autumn air makes for perfect boating weather. It's the perfect time for these gorgeous fall hikes!
It wouldn't be Iowa if we didn't get one last heat wave in, though! This second summer creeps in after a few weeks of fall weather, giving those who dread winter one last bit of hope.
There's nothing like fall in Iowa - the gorgeous countryside illuminates with stunning colors! The weather begins to slowly cool off, until it finally slips into Nice Winter. Then, the cycle begins again.
What’s your favorite of these Iowa seasons? Let us know in the comments below!
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