The numbers have been tabulated, and the month of November will go down as the warmest one in the state of Iowa’s recorded weather history.

“This month was eight-tenths of a degree warmer than the previous record set back in 1913,” said Harry Hillaker, state climatologist. “The statewide average was 7.3 degrees above normal.”

In addition to the warm averages, Iowa had three record-breaking high temperature days and tied the all-time November maximum temperature of 83 degrees.

Gene Takle, professor of atmospheric science and agricultural meteorology, attributed November’s warm temps to global warming.

“Generally, when we have a record event, the first thing we like to look at is the spatial size of the event,” said Takle, who does research at Iowa State on global warming. “The larger the scale of the event, the more likely it is related to something other than statistical fluctuation.”

If the length of the warming spell continues, Takle said people should take notice.

“The other thing we look at is the extent of the period,” he said. “There is nothing magical about this one-month time period. If it was a three-month or six-month period, then we may be able to make some connections.”

Whatever the cause of the climactic oddity, it has saved the university some money and allowed more work on the grounds before the first snowfall.

“The warm weather has allowed us to do a lot of other cleanup activities,” said Dennis Erickson, manager of Campus Services. “We have also been able to sod a lot of areas, and that is very unusual for this late in the year.” Even on Tuesday, sod was being laid around the recently renovated Farm House museum.

This fall won’t only be remembered for its warm temperatures; it also will be remembered as a dry season.

“This has been the driest November since 1982,” Hillaker said. “This fall will also go down as the fifth-driest fall on record.” Some places, such as the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wis., are reporting their first-ever November without any snowfall.

Josh Clemens, freshman in aerospace engineering, has been taking advantage of the lack of snow as a chance to get some exercise.

“I have been going out and playing Frisbee because it is just nice to get outdoors,” he said. “It has been good in helping to prevent that winter fat buildup.”