2011 was near average when it came to temperatures across the state. During the year the new 1981-2010 normals came out. Some stations re-calibrated the numbers for the whole year while others used them only since August 1st when they went into effect. Outside of Des Moines finishing the year just under 2° above the average, all other stations were within a degree either way. A cold beginning to the year followed into Spring before a warmer than average Summer and then a warmer Fall. The warm December really lifted many of the numbers back toward the average reading due to the lack of a snow cover.