Temperatures were again quite warm on Wednesday making for the fourth such day in a row this week. For an average high temperature over four days, this recent stretch was the warmest for the year for most sites in the state. The featured chart presents the warmest four day period each year for Des Moines based on average high temperature. The top left panel shows the period and value each year. The bottom left panel plots the day of year frequency for participating within such a period and the right two panels present the values in a couple of different ways. Having such a period happen during the end of August is certainly not that rare and in fact, is found squarely within a secondary maximum of frequency for the year. The reason for this secondary maximum likely has to do with the juxtaposition of a period that can easily still experience hot temperatures along with strong solar heating and a small cessation in humidity that can allow further heating. This recent period featured high humidity levels as well, so the aforementioned decrease does not appear to be a requirement.

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