Duluth & International Falls winter 2017 Seasonal Climate Summaries & spring Outlook

THE DULUTH CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE SEASON, FROM 
12/1/2016 TO 2/28/2017

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1870 TO 2017

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART  LAST YEAR'S         
                 VALUE   DATE(S)  VALUE   FROM    VALUE               
                                          NORMAL                      
.............................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH              58   02/26/1895                                    
 LOW              -41   01/02/1885                                    
HIGHEST            52   02/18        MM      MM       52              
                        02/17                                         
LOWEST            -22   01/13        MM      MM      -21              
MEAN             18.1              13.3     4.8     18.8              

PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM         8.66   1968-1969                                           
TOTALS           5.03              2.98    2.05     5.58              

SNOWFALL (INCHES)
SINCE 7/1        59.0                                                 

DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL    4208              4653    -445     4174              
COOLING TOTAL       0                 0       0        0              
..............................................................

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              11.5
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    38/100                                
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    51/100                                

SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT)   MM                                      


                                                                    
-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.                                      
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.                                
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.                                       
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.                                          

The 2016-2017 winter was warmer and

wetter than normal at Duluth, MN 

The average temperature for the winter season was 18.1 degrees which was 4.6 degrees above the normal of 13.3 degrees making this the 14th warmest winter in station history. The highest temperature for the winter was 52 degrees on February 17th and 18th. The lowest temperature for the winter was -22 degrees on January 13th. No monthly temperature records were broken this winter. 

The winter of 2016-2017 was above normal for precipitation with a total of 5.03 inches recorded for the season. This was 2.05 inches above the normal of 2.98 inches making this the 13th wettest winter season on record. The greatest amount of precipitation in a 24 hour period occurred on December 25th when 0.87 inches was recorded. At least 0.01 inches of precipitation fell on 36 days. At least 0.10 inches fell on 15 days. At least 0.50 inches fell on 2 days. There was 50.9 inches of snow for the winter which is 1.4 inches above the normal of 49.5 inches. The greatest amount of snowfall in a 24 hour period occurred on December 11th when 8.2 inches of snow fell. No monthly precipitation records were broken this winter. No monthly snowfall records were broken this winter.

The average wind speed for the winter was 11.5 mph. The highest sustained wind occurred on December 25th with a speed of 38 mph out of the east. The highest peak wind gust occurred on December 25th with a speed of 51 mph out of the east.

There were 4208 heating degree days for the winter, which was 445 below the normal of 4653. There were 0 cooling degree days for the winter which was normal. The highest sea level pressure for the winter was 30.89 inches reached on January 13th and the lowest sea level pressure reading was 29.28 inches reached on January 10th.

THE INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE SEASON, FROM 
12/1/2016 TO 2/28/2017

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1895 TO 2017

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART  LAST YEAR'S         
                 VALUE   DATE(S)  VALUE   FROM    VALUE               
                                          NORMAL                      
.............................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH              58   02/17/2017                                    
                        02/22/2000                                    
                        02/22/2000                                    
 LOW              -46   01/21/2011                                    
                        01/06/1968                                    
                        01/06/1968                                    
HIGHEST            58R  02/17        MM      MM       46              
LOWEST            -39   01/13        MM      MM      -29              
MEAN             13.0               8.1     4.9     14.9              

PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM         4.80   2013                                          
TOTALS           4.94R             2.00    2.94     2.44              

SNOWFALL (INCHES)
SINCE 7/1        63.3                                                 

DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL    4668              5123    -455     4526              
COOLING TOTAL       0                 0       0        0              
..............................................................

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              7.5
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    33/330                                
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    42/290                                

SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT)   MM                                      


                                                                    
-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.                                      
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.                                
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.                                       
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.                                   

The 2016-2017 winter was warmer than normal with

above normal precipitation at International Falls, MN

The average temperature for the 2016-2017 winter was 13.0 degrees which was 4.9 degrees above the normal of 8.1 degrees, making this tie with the 11th warmest winter in station history. The highest temperature for the month was 58 degrees on the 17th. This tied the warmest record daily high temperature in the month of February. The record high of 58 degrees was recorded on the 22nd of February in 2000.  The lowest temperature for the winter was -39 degrees on January 13th. No monthly temperature records were broken this winter. 

The winter of 2016-2017 was above normal for precipitation with a total of 4.94 inches of precipitation recorded for the season. This was 2.94 inches above the normal of 2.00 inches making this the wettest winter in station history. The greatest amount of precipitation in a 24 hour period occurred on December 25th to the 26th when 0.82 inches was recorded. At least 0.01 inches of precipitation fell on 38 days. At least 0.10 inches fell on 19 days. At least 0.50 inches fell on 2 days. 54.9 inches of snow fell for the season which was 14.1 inches above the normal of 40.8 inches making this the 11th snowiest winter season in station history. The greatest amount of snowfall in a 24 hour period occurred on January 2nd to the 3rd where 7.8 inches of snow fell. On monthly precipitation record was broken this winter. December had 2.19 inches of precipitation breaking the previous record of 2.00 inches in 2004. No monthly snowfall records were broken this winter.

The average wind speed for the winter was 7.5 mph. The highest sustained wind occurred on February 14th with a speed of 33 mph out of the northwest. The highest peak wind gust occurred on January 12th with a speed of 42 mph out of the west.

There were 4668 heating degree days for the winter which was 455 below the normal of 5123. There were 0 cooling degree days for the winter which was normal. The highest sea level pressure for the winter was 30.87 inches reached on January 13th and the lowest sea level pressure reading was 29.21 inches reached on December 26th. 

Normal highs for Duluth start in the upper 20's in early March and warm to the mid 60's by the end of May. Normal lows start in the low teens above zero and warm to the mid 40's by the end of the season. Normal precipitation for the spring is 7.15 inches. The normal snowfall for the spring is 20.5 inches. 

Normal highs for International Falls start in the upper 20's in early March and warm to the upper 60's by the end of May. Normal lows start in the single digits above zero and warm to the mid 40's by the end of the season. Normal precipitation for the spring is 5.34 inches. The normal snowfall for the spring is 14.2 inches. 

For both locations the latest Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlook indicates that odds are tilted towards above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for the spring. 

Normals for the spring season
(The seasonal climate normals are from a 30 year period defined by the Climate Prediction Center as 1981-2010)

  The Normal, Seasonal Average Temperature (degrees F)

39.0

  Normal Seasonal Precipitation (inches)

7.15

  Normal Seasonal Snowfall (inches)

20.5

  Normal Heating Degree Days

2399

  Normal Cooling Degree Days

4

Records for the spring season

  Warmest Season (Seasonal Average Temperature)

45.6 in 2010 & 2012

  Coldest  Season (Seasonal Average Temperature)

30.3 in 1950

  Greatest Seasonal Precipitation (inches)

15.77 in 1894

  Least Seasonal Precipitation (inches)

1.96 in 1900

  Greatest Seasonal Snowfall (inches)

76.6 in 2013

  Least Seasonal Snowfall (inches)

3.5 in 1919

Normals for the spring season
(The seasonal climate normals are from a 30 year period defined by the Climate Prediction Center as 1981-2010)

  The Normal, Seasonal Average Temperature (degrees F)

38.2

  Normal Seasonal Precipitation (inches)

5.34

  Normal Seasonal Snowfall (inches)

14.2

  Normal Heating Degree Days

2474

  Normal Cooling Degree Days

9

Records for the spring season

  Warmest Season (Seasonal Average Temperature)

44.5 in 1977

  Coldest  Season (Seasonal Average Temperature)

30.6 in 1950

  Greatest Seasonal Precipitation (inches)

10.56 in 1985

  Least Seasonal Precipitation (inches)

1.31 in 1917

  Greatest Seasonal Snowfall (inches)

41.6 in 1950

  Least Seasonal Snowfall (inches)

0.2 in 2010