Waterloo weather in February

In February, Waterloo sees average daytime highs of 31°F and overnight lows near 15°F, with 1.4 in of precipitation across 6.5 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 27°F in the first days to 35°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 42 min at the start of February to 10 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, February is Waterloo's 9th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Waterloo's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
11th warmest
Overnight low
15°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
1.4 in
6.5 wet days
Daylight
10 h 18 min
7:16 AM – 5:32 PM
Cloud cover
64%
9th clearest
Wind
10 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
3.12 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Waterloo is city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States.

Density
418/km²
people per km²
Founded
1868

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 27°F in the first days to 35°F by the end.

A typical February day in Waterloo reaches about 31°F in the afternoon and slips back to 15°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 13°F and 46°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)
12711
22712
32712
42712
52812
62812
72813
82813
92913
102913
112914
123014
133015
143015
153115
163116
173216
183216
193217
203317
213317
223318
233418
243418
253519
263519
273519
283619

How February really feels in Waterloo

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.

Waterloo 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
Jan26° / 11°1.46.85.69.20.0
Feb31° / 15°1.46.54.810.30.0
Mar45° / 27°2.593.411.61.1
Apr59° / 39°4.311.21.113.14.3
May70° / 51°5.0130.114.46.0
Jun79° / 61°5.112.4015.16.3
Jul82° / 64°4.210.3014.86.5
Aug80° / 61°3.99.5013.76.8
Sep73° / 53°3.78.6012.37.1
Oct60° / 41°2.88.30.410.85.2
Nov45° / 29°2.17.22.19.61.2
Dec32° / 18°1.76.95.18.90.0

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 (%)
13565
23664
33664
43664
53763
63763
73763
83862
93862
103862
113961
123961
134060
144060
154060
164060
174159
184159
194159
204258
214357
224258
234258
244258
254258
264258
274258
284258

Chance of precipitation in February

Any precipitationSnow

Waterloo gets around 1.4 in of rain and snow over 6.5 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 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202528
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12119
22118
32118
42118
52118
62118
72118
82118
92118
102217
112217
122217
132217
142317
152317
162417
172417
182417
192517
202517
212517
222517
232517
242617
252617
262617
272617
282616

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 11 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
2011light breeze
2111light breeze
2211light breeze
2311light breeze
2411light breeze
2511light breeze
2611light breeze
2711light breeze
2810light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in February

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 42 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 72 minutes over February. Sunrise moves from 7:31 AM to 6:57 AM, and sunset from 5:14 PM to 5:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202528
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.77:315:14
29.87:315:16
39.87:305:17
49.87:295:18
59.97:275:19
69.97:265:21
79.97:255:22
810.07:245:23
910.07:235:25
1010.17:225:26
1110.17:215:27
1210.27:195:28
1310.27:185:30
1410.27:175:31
1510.37:165:32
1610.37:145:34
1710.47:135:35
1810.47:125:36
1910.57:105:38
2010.57:095:39
2110.57:075:40
2210.67:065:41
2310.67:045:43
2410.77:035:44
2510.77:015:45
2610.87:005:46
2710.86:585:48
2810.96:575:49

Solar energy in February

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in February, about 3.12 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.7 kWh/m² to a high of 6.37 kWh/m² in July across the year — February's 3.12 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
133.1Moderate
143.1Moderate
153.1Moderate
163.2Moderate
173.2Moderate
183.3Moderate
193.3Moderate
203.3Moderate
213.4Moderate
223.4Moderate
233.4Moderate
243.5Moderate
253.5Moderate
263.6Moderate
273.6Moderate
283.6Moderate
Planning a trip in February

Is February a good time to visit Waterloo?

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
9th-best month of the year

February is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Waterloo.

What to pack for Waterloo in February

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

In February, Waterloo sees daytime highs around 31°F and nights near 15°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 7 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Waterloo 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 Waterloo peaks around June 18 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 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 18UV 9Jan 1UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Waterloo 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 Waterloo is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodJul 1916 µg/m³Oct 217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr11Good
May12Good
Jun13Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct7Good
Nov8Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Waterloo?

Waterloo sits at 42.5°N, 92.3°W, 856 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Cedar Falls, 5.6 mi away.

Topography around Waterloo

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Waterloo has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 151 ft around an average of 873 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 243 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 620 ft.

The land around Waterloo is covered by trees (39%) and artificial surfaces (39%) within 2 miles, cropland (64%) within 10 miles, and cropland (81%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
151 ft
10 miles
243 ft
50 miles
620 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
February weather nearby: Cedar Falls 5.6 mi · Marshalltown 42 mi · Cedar Rapids 49 mi · Marion 50 mi · Mason City 63 mi · North Liberty 64 mi · Newton 66 mi · Coralville 68 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 Waterloo (42.4928°, -92.343°, elevation 856 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).