The wind speed on North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) stations measure wind speed at 10 feet (3 meters). Airport sensors measure wind speed at 33 feet (10 meters). That height difference is notable when measuring wind strength as the lower level wind speed is slowed down by fictional forces. The difference between those two… Read more Weekend Wind (3/28 and 3/29/15)
Month: March 2015
3/30/15: This Week
A weak disturbance is passing through northern North Dakota and northern Minnesota today. A large area of cloudiness is associated with this feature with some light rain showers. This will continue to move to the southeast and be out of all of North Dakota during the early part of the afternoon. Otherwise, expecting a mostly… Read more 3/30/15: This Week
3/27/15: Looking into April
In the short term there will be a band of very light snow today across central and east central North Dakota. A light accumulation in some locations, but day time heating, even through the clouds should keep the roads generally wet to slushy beyond early this morning. Best locations for any accumulating snow today will be… Read more 3/27/15: Looking into April
Rain / Melted Snow Totals from 3/24/15 to 3/25/15
Although the air temperatures were not conducive for all the snow that fell to be recorded correctly, there was enough rain in the area as well that the totals presented below are probably close to what actually fell in most locations. There will be a very limited amount of light snow on Friday, especially in… Read more Rain / Melted Snow Totals from 3/24/15 to 3/25/15
The Winter of 2014-2015
The winter of 2014-2015 started on December 1, 2014 and ended on February 28, 2015. Average air temperatures over that period ranged from 7° to 22° in North Dakota via data from the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN). That would place much of the state reasonably close to the current 30-year average winter temperature.… Read more The Winter of 2014-2015
3/24/15: Snow Update
Low pressure is currently centered in southwestern North Dakota and is progged to move to the northeast today. That low is expected to be in northwestern Minnesota early Wednesday morning with snow on the back side of the low pressure center. That low should continue to work into Ontario tomorrow leaving much of the day… Read more 3/24/15: Snow Update
3/23/15: Two Down, Two to Go
On Sunday an area of low pressure tracked across South Dakota through eastern Nebraska and eventually into northern Missouri. That surface feature in combination with a strong upper-air disturbance (vorticity maximum) brought any where from 1 to 4 inches of snow along the North Dakota / South Dakota border, then heavier snow down the… Read more 3/23/15: Two Down, Two to Go
3/20/15: Back to a Clipperathon
A fast moving area of low pressure is currently in western North Dakota moving to the east/southeast. This low will bring a band of rain and snow along and north of the center of the low as it moves across North Dakota and Minnesota. The High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model seems to have… Read more 3/20/15: Back to a Clipperathon
The Perfect Setup: March 15, 2015 Record Maximums
Sunday, March 15, 2015 was a remarkable day temperature-wise especially in portions of southern and eastern North Dakota. The North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) stations maximum temperatures on March 15 are presented below. The warmest temperature recorded that day across the mesonet was in Hettinger with a high of 78°. Although still mild… Read more The Perfect Setup: March 15, 2015 Record Maximums
3/13/15: Two Fronts
A cold front has now pushed south across most of North Dakota. Behind the front the air mass is not exceptionally cold, but certainly colder than it has been much of this week. Plus behind the front has been some stubborn stratocumulus clouds that has also hindered any temperature raise during the day so… Read more 3/13/15: Two Fronts