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Weather & Climate in Menlo, IA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Menlo experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 37.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 1,262 feet.
Temperature
20°F Jan (-7°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 48.4°F |
| 10% below US avg | |
| January Average | 20°F (-7°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,262 ft (385 m) |
| Area | 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 710/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.5221°N, 94.4038°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Guthrie County County |
| Nearest Airport | Des Moines International (DSM) 36 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 26.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 85.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.5.
| Jul 16, 2004 | 6 km SSE of Riverton, Iowa | M3.5 | 138 km | 5 km |
| Feb 11, 1995 | 6 km E of Clearmont, Missouri | M3.1 | 122 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
705 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 19 fatalities, 294 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 13, 1976 | EF5 | 63 km | 21.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 27, 1953 | EF5 | 26 km | 0.1 mi | 1 |
| May 21, 2024 | EF4 | 82 km | 40.7 mi | 5 |
| Mar 5, 2022 | EF4 | 36 km | 70.6 mi | 6 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | EF4 | 86 km | 49.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | EF4 | 55 km | 56.0 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 1995 | EF4 | 35 km | 30.0 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 1995 | EF4 | 74 km | 36.0 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 1995 | EF4 | 50 km | 57.0 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1989 | EF4 | 66 km | 49.0 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1989 | EF4 | 92 km | 66.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 28, 1986 | EF4 | 71 km | 20.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1976 | EF4 | 100 km | 5.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1974 | EF4 | 69 km | 15.3 mi | 2 |
| May 5, 1965 | EF4 | 87 km | 9.9 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1959 | EF4 | 19 km | 41.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1954 | EF4 | 88 km | 9.9 mi | 1 |
| May 21, 2024 | EF3 | 100 km | 33.9 mi | 0 |
| Jul 14, 2021 | EF3 | 88 km | 10.8 mi | 0 |
| Aug 20, 2019 | EF3 | 79 km | 5.4 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
2 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (4,195 acres, 2005).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 4,195 | 79 km |
| 2016 | NEAL SMITH WUI 2016 1 | 1,050 | 94 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°F (-7°C) | 0.9 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.1 in | |
| March | 37°F (3°C) | 2.3 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 in | |
| May | 61°F (16°C) | 4.2 in | |
| June | 70°F (21°C) | 4.7 in | Wettest |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 in | Warmest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 4.1 in | |
| September | 64°F (18°C) | 3.9 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 2.6 in | |
| November | 37°F (3°C) | 1.8 in | |
| December | 24°F (-4°C) | 1.3 in |
Menlo has a seasonal temperature swing of 55°F / from 20°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 34.0 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.7") and January the driest (0.9").