February 2018 was a reminder of what winter in South Dakota and Minnesota typically looks like! Looking at the month as a whole, temperatures ranged from 7 to as much as 15 degrees below average. Temperatures began cold and for the most part, with the exception of a brief period in the middle of the month, stayed cold. In fact, Pierre only observed 2 days with an above average high temperature, Mobridge 4 days, and Aberdeen 5.
An active pattern led to generally 8-20” of snow across the area (about 3-15” above average), this in stark contrast to the lackluster snow season up until the month began. Several daily snowfall records fell over the course of the month thanks to at least 4 main distinct snowfall events. After the least snowy January on record at Pierre with just a trace, 16.6” this month goes down as the 6th snowiest February on record. Additionally the 17.4” that fell in Mobridge goes down as the 3rd snowiest February on record, the 17.9” that fell in Sisseton is the 4th snowiest, and the 19.1” in Kennebec is the 6th snowiest.
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FEBRUARY 2018 |
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|
Temperature Data |
Aberdeen |
Sisseton |
Wheaton |
Watertown |
|
Warmest Temperature / Date |
49 / 14th |
50 / 14th |
54 / 15th |
41 / 18th |
|
Coldest Temperature / Date |
-24 / 21st |
-12 / 6th |
-16 / 4th, 5th |
-18 / 10th |
|
Average High / Departure from Normal |
21.4 / -6.5 |
21.9 / -5.6 |
20.4 / -4.7 |
20.1 / -7.2 |
|
Average Low / Departure from Normal |
-6.1 / -13.4 |
-0.5 / -9.2 |
-3.4 / -8.7 |
-2.7 / -10.5 |
|
Monthly Average / Departure from Normal |
7.6 / -10.0 |
10.7 / -7.4 |
8.5 / -6.7 |
8.7 / -8.8 |
|
Precipitation Data |
||||
|
Monthly Precipitation / Departure from Normal |
0.83 / +0.28 |
1.00 / +0.57 |
0.89 / +0.28 |
0.74 / +0.18 |
|
Monthly Snowfall / Departure from Normal |
13.8 / +7.0 |
17.9 / +9.5 |
12.9 / +4.8 |
11.3 / +3.9 |
|
Most Precipitation in 24 hours / Date |
0.33 /24th |
0.36 / 24th |
0.27 / 25th |
0.22 / 22nd |
|
Most Snow in 24 hours / Date |
4.9 / 24th |
7.4 / 24th |
6.1 / 25th |
3.2 / 24th |
|
Temperature Data |
Pierre |
Kennebec |
Mobridge |
Timber Lake |
|
Warmest Temperature / Date |
40 / 14th |
47 / 14th |
45 / 14th |
39/ 14th, 26th |
|
Coldest Temperature / Date |
-16 / 21st |
-17 / 21st |
-23 / 10th |
-19 / 10th |
|
Average High / Departure from Normal |
21.5 / -13.4 |
26.1 / -10.8 |
21.0 / -10.2 |
18.2 / -14.2 |
|
Average Low / Departure from Normal |
-0.4 / -14.2 |
1.4 / -12.7 |
-3.4 / -13.5 |
-2.8 / -14.9 |
|
Monthly Average / Departure from Normal |
10.6 / -13.7 |
13.8 / -11.7 |
8.8 / -11.9 |
7.7 / -14.6 |
|
Precipitation Data |
||||
|
Monthly Precipitation / Departure from Normal |
1.49 / +0.90 |
0.82 / -0.34 |
0.95 / +0.51 |
0.72 / +0.13 |
|
Monthly Snowfall / Departure from Normal |
16.6 / +10.7 |
19.1 / 13.0 |
17.4 / +12.7 |
10.2 / +3.5 |
|
Most Precipitation in 24 hours / Date |
0.40 / 8th |
0.19 / 8th |
0.22 / 8th |
0.16 / 8th |
|
Most Snow in 24 hours / Date |
4.3 / 8th |
5.0 / 20th |
4.0 / 8th |
2.4 / 8th |
February average temperature departure from normal, courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center
February total observed snowfall, courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center
February snowfall departures from normal, courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center
Snow depth comparison between the 1st of February and the 27th, from the NOHRSC
The difference between snowfall from February and the rest of the season up to that point.
The meteorological winter of 2017-2018 as a whole (December through February) ended up between 0 to 4 degrees below average temperature-wise. Snowfall ended generally above average by up to 10” across and west of the Missouri River, and below average by up to between 5 and 10” across northeastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota.
December began quite mild through the first 20 days, but then arctic air of historic levels settled in. The last week of December went down as the coldest on record for the area, ranging from 10 to 25 degrees below average. Snowfall was generally below normal. January began exceptionally cold, but a thaw overtook the area by the middle of the month. Generally only 1-2” of snow fell during the entire month, which expanded drought into northeastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. Pierre recorded just a trace of snow, which was their least snowy January on record. February will be remembered for being cold and snowy, making up for lost time on the snow front. 8-20” fell across the area, leading to a top 10 snowiest February at several locations.
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WINTER 2017-2018 |
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Temperature Data (Dec-Feb) |
Aberdeen |
Sisseton |
Watertown |
Wheaton |
|
Highest Temperature |
52 / Jan 19th |
53 / Dec 2nd |
50 / Dec 2nd |
54 / Feb 15th |
|
Lowest Temperature |
-32 / Dec 31st |
-25 / Dec 31st |
-27 / Dec 31st |
-25 / Dec 31st Jan 1st |
|
Average Temperature |
13.5 |
15.1 |
13.5 |
12.7 |
|
Temperature Departure |
-1.6 |
+1.0 |
-1.9 |
-0.5 |
|
Precipitation Data |
||||
|
Precipitation Total (Dec-Feb) |
1.22 |
1.40 |
1.10 |
1.09 |
|
Precipitation Departure |
-0.32 |
+0.15 |
-0.51 |
-1.06 |
|
Snowfall Total (Oct-Feb) |
18.8 |
22.7 |
19.4 |
15.3 |
|
Snowfall Departure |
-9.0 |
-9.7 |
-7.0 |
-15.3 |
|
Temperature Data (Dec-Feb) |
Pierre |
Kennebec |
Mobridge |
Timber Lake |
|
Highest Temperature |
58 / Dec 10th |
58 / Dec 2nd |
54 / Dec 18th |
52 / Feb 12th |
|
Lowest Temperature |
-25 / Dec 31st |
-35 / Jan 1st |
-30 / Dec 31st Jan 1st |
-32 / Jan 1st |
|
Average Temperature |
17.8 |
19.3 |
15.9 |
14.8 |
|
Temperature Departure |
-4.2 |
-3.5 |
-2.4 |
-5.2 |
|
Precipitation Data |
|
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|
Precipitation Total (Dec-Feb) |
2.04 |
1.43 |
1.55 |
1.73 |
|
Precipitation Departure |
+0.48 |
+0.18 |
0.38 |
+0.23 |
|
Snowfall Total (Oct-Feb) |
21.0 |
23.1 |
31.0 |
23.8 |
|
Snowfall Departure |
-0.8 |
-1.5 |
+9.1 |
-3.0 |
Winter average temperature departure from normal, courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center
Winter total observed snowfall, courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center
Winter snowfall departures from normal on the state scale and NWS Aberdeen County Warning Area scale, courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center
Total snowfall on the season (since September 30th) nationally, courtesy of the NOHRSC. Notice that every state in the Lower 48 has seen snow.
The Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI) compares a combination of temperature and snow data up to the current data to the historical database, and assigns severity categories for select locations. The goal is to provide perspective. As you can see below, this winter has been of "Average" severity, at least through February (winter weather can continue into March and beyond).
Here's a more in depth look at Aberdeen and Pierre. As you can see, both locations are currently within the "Average" category.
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