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Weather & Climate in Perry, IA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Perry experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 75°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 36.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 993 feet.
Temperature
20°F Jan (-7°C)
75°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 48.9°F |
| 9% below US avg | |
| January Average | 20°F (-7°C) |
| July Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 993 ft (303 m) |
| Area | 4.2 sq mi (10.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,369/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.8379°N, 94.0933°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Dallas County County |
| Nearest Airport | Des Moines International (DSM) 31 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 60.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 98.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1 earthquake (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M2.7.
| Jun 30, 2021 | 4 km E of Rembrandt, Iowa | M2.7 | 138 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
726 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 23 fatalities, 372 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 13, 1976 | EF5 | 21 km | 21.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 27, 1953 | EF5 | 66 km | 0.1 mi | 1 |
| Mar 5, 2022 | EF4 | 68 km | 70.6 mi | 6 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | EF4 | 92 km | 56.0 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 1995 | EF4 | 72 km | 36.0 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 1995 | EF4 | 47 km | 30.0 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 1995 | EF4 | 90 km | 57.0 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 1989 | EF4 | 91 km | 11.0 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1989 | EF4 | 49 km | 66.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 28, 1986 | EF4 | 42 km | 20.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1979 | EF4 | 98 km | 14.9 mi | 3 |
| May 4, 1977 | EF4 | 77 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1974 | EF4 | 41 km | 15.3 mi | 2 |
| Jun 8, 1967 | EF4 | 76 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1965 | EF4 | 60 km | 9.9 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1959 | EF4 | 58 km | 41.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1954 | EF4 | 71 km | 9.9 mi | 1 |
| Jul 14, 2021 | EF3 | 74 km | 10.8 mi | 0 |
| Aug 20, 2019 | EF3 | 80 km | 5.4 mi | 0 |
| Jul 19, 2018 | EF3 | 92 km | 8.4 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
1 wildfire (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: NEAL SMITH WUI 2016 1 (1,050 acres, 2016).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2016 | NEAL SMITH WUI 2016 1 | 1,050 | 73 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°F (-7°C) | 0.8 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 25°F (-4°C) | 0.9 in | |
| March | 37°F (3°C) | 2.1 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 in | |
| May | 61°F (16°C) | 4.3 in | |
| June | 70°F (21°C) | 4.9 in | Wettest |
| July | 75°F (24°C) | 3.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 4.0 in | |
| September | 64°F (18°C) | 3.5 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 2.5 in | |
| November | 36°F (2°C) | 1.6 in | |
| December | 23°F (-5°C) | 1.1 in |
Perry has a seasonal temperature swing of 55°F / from 20°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 32.6 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.9") and January the driest (0.8").