Precipitation from the weekend’s storm averaged between a quarter and a half an inch. Oddly, even though some areas around Grand Forks got twice the amount of snow that Fargo did, the water content in the snow was very similar. Grand Forks just had a fluffier snow than what occurred around Fargo. December through February,… Read more Winter Precip So Far
Category: Climate Data
Negative Season
If you look back at all 140 years of weather data for Fargo, the average date for the first below zero temperature is November 28. Today, December 6 was the first negative of this winter. So pretty close to that long-term average date. Fargo almost dropped below zero on Thanksgiving morning with a low of 2… Read more Negative Season
Windathon
The Northern Plains have experienced several strong wind events over the past two weeks, including yesterday for some parts of the area. All of these high wind situations were triggered by what is often called an Alberta Clipper. A fast-moving low pressure that tends to originate in the prairie provinces of Canada and then move… Read more Windathon
NDAWN Snow Depth
NDAWN, the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network started testing snow depth sensors at some of their stations last winter. Although not all installed yet, NDAWN should have 19 stations with snow depth sensors before real winter hits the area. These snow depth sensors measure snow depth by using sound waves. In that way it can… Read more NDAWN Snow Depth
October Mild
If you thought October was a mild month, you would definitely be correct. Although, it did not finish in the Top 10, it was the 12th warmest October on record in Fargo. In Grand Forks it ranked as the 10th and in Bismarck, the 9th warmest on record. Normally, warm October make for great harvest… Read more October Mild
Halloween Flake
You may have missed them, but there were a few snow flakes in the air on Halloween afternoon in Fargo. So yes, technically that was a trace of snow for the month of October, but yet, it was the first October since 2016 that no measurable snow was recorded in Fargo. That statistic is also… Read more Halloween Flake
Drier
There was some rain in the region yesterday, but overall, yes it will definitely be cooler for the next several days, but more drying opportunities are also expected. If you missed the rain yesterday, you’ve had several days of dry weather and no big storms are expected on the horizon. That doesn’t necessarily mean zero,… Read more Drier
Wet Autumn
With the northwest corner of North Dakota being the exception, almost all other locations have already recorded more rain than the average for the entire autumn season. The autumn season by definition is from September 1 through November 30. In turn, after a drier than average winter, spring and summer, autumn will be the first… Read more Wet Autumn
Late Freeze
The latest first freeze of autumn in Fargo is October 24. That was set in 1994. If you’re curious we’ve had the first frost of the season this late in the season even back in 1911, so any talk about this autumn being unique would not be correct. The so-called official climate site in Fargo… Read more Late Freeze
Autumn Drying
This time of year, with the shorter days and the longer nights, a lower sun angle and cooler temperatures, getting fields to dry off can be difficult. With the projected temperatures and sky cover next week, some good drying should occur. The past couple of autumns were cloudy, slowing down evaporation. If we go back… Read more Autumn Drying