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Weather & Climate in Ossian, IA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Ossian experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 37.6 inches. The area receives 37.5 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 1,261 feet.
Temperature
19°F Jan (-7°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 48.5°F |
| 10% below US avg | |
| January Average | 19°F (-7°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 260 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,261 ft (384 m) |
| Area | 1.1 sq mi (2.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 779/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 43.1470°N, 91.7646°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Winneshiek County County |
| Nearest Airport | Northeast Iowa Regional (CCY) 43 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 36.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 12.2 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 91.6 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tornado History
465 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 11 fatalities, 375 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 15, 1968 | EF5 | 55 km | 13.1 mi | 5 |
| Aug 12, 1974 | EF4 | 92 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1971 | EF4 | 56 km | 10.9 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1965 | EF4 | 87 km | 41.6 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1953 | EF4 | 62 km | 162.0 mi | 2 |
| Aug 7, 2021 | EF3 | 85 km | 9.4 mi | 0 |
| May 25, 2008 | EF3 | 64 km | 32.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 11, 2004 | EF3 | 70 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| May 11, 2000 | EF3 | 89 km | 18.6 mi | 1 |
| Jul 27, 1995 | EF3 | 61 km | 20.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 19, 1994 | EF3 | 43 km | 23.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 19, 1993 | EF3 | 83 km | 9.0 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 1985 | EF3 | 38 km | 34.0 mi | 2 |
| Jun 5, 1980 | EF3 | 73 km | 26.9 mi | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1971 | EF3 | 96 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 1971 | EF3 | 10 km | 0.1 mi | 1 |
| May 5, 1965 | EF3 | 44 km | 65.2 mi | 0 |
| Sep 3, 1964 | EF3 | 92 km | 17.1 mi | 0 |
| May 7, 1964 | EF3 | 62 km | 2.3 mi | 0 |
| May 26, 1959 | EF3 | 99 km | 34.3 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°F (-7°C) | 0.9 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 21°F (-6°C) | 1.0 in | |
| March | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 in | |
| April | 47°F (8°C) | 3.4 in | |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 4.0 in | |
| June | 68°F (20°C) | 4.4 in | |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 4.1 in | Warmest |
| August | 69°F (21°C) | 4.4 in | Wettest |
| September | 61°F (16°C) | 3.7 in | |
| October | 49°F (10°C) | 2.5 in | |
| November | 34°F (1°C) | 2.0 in | |
| December | 20°F (-7°C) | 1.3 in |
Ossian has a seasonal temperature swing of 55°F / from 19°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 33.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.4") and January the driest (0.9").