With Memorial Day not on a set date, at least since 1971 when it was changed to the last Monday in May, it is harder to easily calculate weather statistics. I’m sure I’m not the only one that tends to remember all the chilly or cold Memorial Days. When you live as far north as… Read more Memorial Day Weather
Month: May 2021
Say it ain’t Snow
Many residents of southwestern North Dakota woke up to snow on the ground yesterday. Yes, on May 27. No doubt that is a very late date, even by North Dakota standards to record measurable snow. Yet, that is not the latest snow cover in that part of the state this century. Back on June 6,… Read more Say it ain’t Snow
Still Looking Dry
With the recent rains I have been asked a lot lately if I still think the summer is going to be drier than average. My short answer is I do. Much of April into early May I mentioned, even though I am thinking it’s will be a dry summer, yet having said that, we need… Read more Still Looking Dry
Cold and Snow?
Today and tomorrow will be very chilly across much of the northern plains. In fact, some flakes in the higher elevations in central and western North Dakota wouldn’t surprise me tonight. In turn, the threat of frost and or a freeze will certainly be possible today through Friday, with northern North Dakota and northern Minnesota… Read more Cold and Snow?
Rain!
Over the past week, all 166 NDAWN stations recorded some rain, not all, but a high percentage recorded over one-half inch of rain and many sites recorded over 1 inch. In fact, just Sunday Night numerous stations in western North Dakota recorded 1-2 inches of rain as a line of thunderstorms moved from south to… Read more Rain!
Inversion App Update
NDAWN, the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network, added an additional 32 stations to their main webpage last week. Those same 32 stations were also added to the NDAWN Inversion App. What that means is there will be 163 weather stations in Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota with real-time inversion alerts for this year’s spray season. … Read more Inversion App Update
Good and Bad
Wednesday Night into Thursday some NDAWN mesonet stations recorded over 4 inches of rain. Some farmers reported 6 inches or more. When I do seasonal forecasts for rain, I always mention the terms “in most areas”. Sometimes I get a bit of grieve about saying it that way, but it is a rare warm season… Read more Good and Bad
Crop and Pest Report May 20, 2021
The May 20 to May 26, 2021 Weather Summary and Outlook Last week in my Crop and Pest Report I mentioned we would likely record a warm week with spotty precipitation. Looking at Figure 1, the spotty precipitation ended up being an appropriate term. There were clearly pockets with some good rains, yet most of… Read more Crop and Pest Report May 20, 2021
Phenology 2021
The recording and study of the timing of natural events, such as when the ice goes out on a lake, or when bushes or trees bloom, is called phenology. I have been keeping track of when some ornamental crab apple trees have been blooming since 2002. They are in the process of blooming the past… Read more Phenology 2021
A Temperature Quiz
A quick quiz for you. Has 2021 to this point been above, below or near average for temperatures? I’ll pause as you answer…… Congratulations, you answered correctly. How do I know what you answered? Of course, I don’t, but all three answers were correct depending on where exactly you live. Some parts of western North… Read more A Temperature Quiz