DES MOINES, Iowa — It's official: Des Moines just experienced its warmest winter in recorded history.
For the city, average temperature records date back more than 140 years.
With a high of 58° and a low of 22° on Leap Day (the final day of meteorological winter), the average winter temperature in Des Moines came in at 33.2°, according to data from the National Weather Service.
That average is high enough to best the previous "warmest winter", which happened way back during the winter of 1881-1882.
For meteorological purposes, "winter" records include temperature observations from the start of December to the end of February.
Surprisingly, it wasn't too challenging to reach the top spot.
Despite a snap of bitter cold in mid-January, a stretch of 60s and 70s in late February combined with an unusually mild December proved to be enough to reach the record.
The icing on the cake came on Monday, Feb. 26, when the city of Des Moines climbed to 78°, tying the all-time warmest February temperature on record.
It's worth noting five of the top 10 warmest winters have occurred since 2000.
Warmest, but not least snowy
When the phrase "warmest winter" comes to mind, it would be easy to assume there was a notable lack of snow, too.
This wasn't the case.
Aside from lake-effect prone areas of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Des Moines measured more snow than most other major Midwest cities and urban areas.
Since the start of December, 31.6" of snow fell in Des Moines. This is 4.1" above average.
That number doesn't account for a small amount of snowfall in November, and any future snow in March, April, and dare we say-May?
For an entire season, Des Moines receives an average of 36.5" of snow. It's safe to say the 2023-2024 snow season will come in close to average, or perhaps even a little above average.
Winter is warming over time
According to Climate Central, winter is warming faster than any other season in Iowa.
Similar trends have been observed all over the Midwest.
Since 1970, Des Moines has measured a 4.6° rise in average winter temperature.
Warming winters can be attributed, in part, to climate change.
Of course, "warm" winters don't necessarily mean cold snaps are a thing of the past.
They are more short-lived, however, according to a Climate Central report.
Mild winters will still feature quick rounds of dangerous cold, much like this winter did.
On Jan. 14 and 15, the morning low in Des Moines fell to -17°, and the high on the Jan. 14 reached only -7°.