Iowa City weather in February

In February, Iowa City sees average daytime highs of 33°F and overnight lows near 18°F, with 1.8 in of precipitation across 6.4 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 30°F in the first days to 38°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time in February, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 48 min at the start of February to 10 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, February is Iowa City's 9th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Iowa City's year-round climate.

Daytime high
33°
11th warmest
Overnight low
18°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
1.8 in
6.4 wet days
Daylight
10 h 18 min
7:11 AM – 5:31 PM
Cloud cover
64%
9th clearest
Wind
10 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
3.1 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Iowa City is city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States.

Density
1,093/km²
people per km²
Founded
1839

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in February

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 30°F in the first days to 38°F by the end.

A typical February day in Iowa City reaches about 33°F in the afternoon and slips back to 18°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 17°F and 49°F. Set against its neighbours, February runs about 4°F warmer than January and about 14°F cooler than March.

20°40°60°151015202528
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13014
23014
33014
43015
53015
63115
73115
83115
93116
103216
113216
123217
133317
143317
153318
163418
173418
183519
193519
203519
213620
223620
233720
243720
253721
263821
273821
283822

How February really feels in Iowa City

Once humidity and wind are folded in, February averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 28 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
28
28 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

The story in February is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Iowa City weather by month

How February compares with the rest of the year at a glance. February is the 11th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 14°1.57.15.39.30.0
Feb33° / 18°1.86.44.210.30.0
Mar47° / 29°2.79.22.811.71.6
Apr60° / 41°4.411.80.813.14.5
May71° / 52°4.913.4014.36.0
Jun80° / 62°5.111.70156.3
Jul83° / 65°3.79.6014.76.1
Aug81° / 63°3.89.1013.76.8
Sep75° / 55°3.98.2012.37.2
Oct62° / 43°2.98.60.210.95.5
Nov47° / 31°2.37.71.59.71.7
Dec34° / 20°1.96.94.590.0

Cloud cover in February

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time in February.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of February, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 60%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13763
23763
33862
43862
53961
64060
74060
84159
94159
104060
114159
124258
134159
144060
154060
164060
174060
184060
194060
204060
214060
224060
234060
244060
254159
264159
274159
284258

Chance of precipitation in February

Any precipitationSnow

Iowa City gets around 1.8 in of rain and snow over 6.4 wet days in February. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 23% and peaks near 26% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202528
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12016
22016
32015
42015
52015
62015
72115
82116
92116
102216
112216
122316
132316
142316
152416
162416
172516
182516
192515
202515
212515
222615
232615
242614
252614
262614
272614
282614

Humidity in February

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of February feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, February lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100

Wind in February

Winds average 10 mph in February.

Across February, daily wind ranges from about 10 mph on the calmest days to 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202528
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
610light breeze
710light breeze
810light breeze
910light breeze
1010light breeze
1110light breeze
1210light breeze
1310light breeze
1410light breeze
1510light breeze
1610light breeze
1710light breeze
1810light breeze
1910light breeze
2010light breeze
2110light breeze
2210light breeze
2310light breeze
2410light breeze
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
2710light breeze
2810light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in February

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 48 min at the start of February to 10 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 66 minutes over February. Sunrise moves from 7:26 AM to 6:52 AM, and sunset from 5:13 PM to 5:47 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202528
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.87:265:13
29.87:255:14
39.97:245:16
49.97:235:17
59.97:225:18
610.07:215:19
710.07:205:21
810.07:195:22
910.17:185:23
1010.17:175:24
1110.27:165:26
1210.27:155:27
1310.27:135:28
1410.37:125:29
1510.37:115:31
1610.47:105:32
1710.47:085:33
1810.57:075:34
1910.57:065:36
2010.57:045:37
2110.67:035:38
2210.67:015:39
2310.77:005:41
2410.76:585:42
2510.86:575:43
2610.86:555:44
2710.96:545:45
2810.96:525:47

Solar energy in February

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in February, about 3.1 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.74 kWh/m² to a high of 6.39 kWh/m² in July across the year — February's 3.1 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202528
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.6Moderate
22.6Moderate
32.7Moderate
42.7Moderate
52.8Moderate
62.8Moderate
72.8Moderate
82.9Moderate
92.9Moderate
103.0Moderate
113.0Moderate
123.0Moderate
133.0Moderate
143.1Moderate
153.1Moderate
163.1Moderate
173.2Moderate
183.2Moderate
193.3Moderate
203.3Moderate
213.3Moderate
223.4Moderate
233.4Moderate
243.4Moderate
253.5Moderate
263.5Moderate
273.6Moderate
283.6Moderate
Planning a trip in February

Is February a good time to visit Iowa City?

Our two travel scores rate February for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

February is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Iowa City.

What to pack for Iowa City in February

From February's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In February, Iowa City sees daytime highs around 33°F and nights near 18°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 6 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Iowa City in February

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in February peaks around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Iowa City peaks around June 19 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 19UV 9Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Iowa City in February

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where February falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Iowa City is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodJul 1916 µg/m³Oct 218 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb14Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr11Good
May13Moderate
Jun13Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Iowa City?

Iowa City sits at 41.7°N, 91.5°W, 669 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Coralville, 3.1 mi away.

Topography around Iowa City

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Iowa City.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Iowa City has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 223 ft around an average of 715 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 384 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 646 ft.

The land around Iowa City is covered by trees (50%) and artificial surfaces (31%) within 2 miles, cropland (57%) within 10 miles, and cropland (72%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
223 ft
10 miles
384 ft
50 miles
646 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
February weather nearby: Coralville 3.1 mi · North Liberty 6.8 mi · Cedar Rapids 25 mi · Marion 26 mi · Muscatine 30 mi · Davenport 50 mi · Rock Island 50 mi · Bettendorf 53 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Iowa City (41.6611°, -91.5302°, elevation 669 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).