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Strong Santa Ana winds will bring critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions to portions of California today into Friday. Rafael has strengthened into a hurricane and is expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday. Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for parts of the Florida Keys. It is too soon to determine any northern Gulf Coast impacts. Read More >

How Early Is It To See Temperatures This Warm?

Spring is starting early and already we have seen record breaking temperatures, and more may be on the way this weekend. So how often do we get 70 or 80 degrees this early?

In Pierre, 70 and 75 degrees are pretty common in March. This year Pierre recorded 74 degrees on March 10th. The earliest 70 degrees ever recorded was actually February 10th of 1951. That day Pierre recorded 73 degrees. Pierre has also exceeded the 80 degree mark this year on March 13th when 82 degrees was recorded. This was a daily high temperatures record for Pierre, but it was not the earliest 80 degrees ever recorded. That record is March 2nd of 1974. Here are the top 5 earliest dates for Pierre to reach 70, 75 and 80 degrees respectively.

First 70 or greater in Pierre

 

First 75 or greater in Pierre

 

First 80 or greater in Pierre

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

1951

10-Feb

73

 

1992

29-Feb

75

 

1974

2-Mar

80

1954

14-Feb

72

 

1974

1-Mar

75

 

1974

4-Mar

80

1983

18-Feb

70

 

1974

2-Mar

80

 

2000

5-Mar

80

1982

21-Feb

73

 

2000

4-Mar

75

 

1995

11-Mar

80

1995

21-Feb

71

 

1937

5-Mar

76

 

2007

12-Mar

82

Aberdeen also broke a daily record on March 13th when the mercury rose to 71 degrees this year. The earliest for Aberdeen to reach 70 degrees was in February 25 of 1958. Friday, March 16th Aberdeen is forecast to rise above 75 degrees. If this occurs it will be the earliest Aberdeen has ever experience 75 degrees or greater.

First 70 or greater in Aberdeen

 

First 75 or greater in Aberdeen

 

First 80 or greater in Aberdeen

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

1958

25-Feb

70

 

1901

16-Mar

75

 

1921

18-Mar

84

1992

1-Mar

73

 

1921

18-Mar

84

 

1963

23-Mar

81

1905

2-Mar

72

 

1910

19-Mar

75

 

1939

24-Mar

80

1905

3-Mar

73

 

1910

20-Mar

76

 

1925

25-Mar

81

2000

5-Mar

74

 

1907

21-Mar

79

 

1939

25-Mar

80

Watertown has also experienced 70 degrees already this year on March 13th breaking the daily record. This also landed Watertown in the top 5 earliest years to ever do so. With temperatures forecast above 75 degrees Friday, it may be the earliest Watertown has ever experienced 75 degrees or greater in any year.

 

First 70 or greater in Watertown

 

First 75 or greater in Watertown

 

First 80 or greater in Watertown

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

2000

5-Mar

71

 

1894

17-Mar

78

 

1921

18-Mar

82

1987

6-Mar

73

 

1921

18-Mar

82

 

1910

23-Mar

82

1987

6-Mar

73

 

1910

21-Mar

78

 

1928

23-Mar

80

2000

7-Mar

74

 

1939

22-Mar

77

 

1939

23-Mar

81

2012

13-Mar

70

 

1910

23-Mar

82

 

1939

25-Mar

81

Mobridge has yet to record 70 degrees this year, but is on track to reach temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees this weekend. Mobridge won’t set any records for earliest 70 degree day, but could be in the top 5 for 75 degrees or greater, or possibly the earliest 80 degree day every experienced!

First 70 or greater in Mobridge

 

First 75 or greater in Mobridge

 

First 80 or greater in Mobridge

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

1958

25-Feb

70

 

1911

11-Mar

75

 

1911

20-Mar

85

1992

29-Feb

70

 

2007

12-Mar

77

 

1939

22-Mar

80

1992

1-Mar

71

 

1911

13-Mar

79

 

1939

23-Mar

84

1974

2-Mar

73

 

1911

19-Mar

75

 

1963

23-Mar

81

1937

5-Mar

70

 

1911

20-Mar

85

 

1939

24-Mar

81

Like Mobridge Sisseton hasn’t recorded a 70 degree day yet this year, but did break a 65 degree daily record on the 13th. The area is on track reach 75 or greater this weekend, though, and if the 75 degree mark is met on Friday it will be the earliest year to ever do so. Sisseton also had a whole week to go before it has ever hit an 80 degree day.

First 70 or greater in Sisseton

 

First 75 or greater in Sisseton

 

First 80 or greater in Sisseton

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

 

Year

Day

Temp

1992

1-Mar

70

 

1968

17-Mar

75

 

1939

24-Mar

81

1905

3-Mar

70

 

1939

22-Mar

75

 

1946

28-Mar

82

2000

5-Mar

72

 

1945

22-Mar

76

 

1986

29-Mar

80

1987

6-Mar

71

 

1939

23-Mar

77

 

1963

31-Mar

82

1987

6-Mar

70

 

1939

24-Mar

81

 

1991

5-Apr

83