Another record high

The high temperature was 56° today, breaking the record high by 2°. The average temperature of 43.5° was about 23° above normal.

Thanksgiving Warmth

Yesterday we set a record high of 58°F, shattering the previous record of 52°F set in 1972. As you can see on the right we were 21° above normal, and today should be more of the same. We only had a morning low of 31°F and I fully expect us to reach the low to mid 50s this afternoon. Today's record high is 54°F, established in 1942 then again in 1984. The morning low tied the record warmest low temperature for today, set in 1908 then met again in 1998 and 2001. This Thanksgiving is in stark contrast to last Thanksgiving where the morning low was -9° and the afternoon high was 15°.

October 2011: 7th Warmest on Record in Grand Forks (1893-2011)

Knowing that October was much warmer than normal in Grand Forks, I conducted research to determine just how warm it was. Initially I was led to believe it was the warmest on record, with climate records going back to 1893. However it was not the warmest. Though it was the 7th warmest October on record and the warmest since 1973. Here are the Top 10 warmest and coldest October's, followed by a complete list of climate data for all October's during the period of record from 1893-2011.

Top 10 Warmest

YEAR	AVG. HIGH	AVG. LOW	MEAN
1963	69.13	44.16	56.65
1953	65.42	42.06	53.74
1914	63.48	39.94	51.71
1947	62.77	40.32	51.55
1973	61.03	41.97	51.50
1924	62.45	39	50.73
2011	61.23	39.39	50.31
1938	63.06	37.03	50.05
1962	61.52	37.77	49.65
1940	60.48	38.71	49.60

Top 10 Coldest

YEAR	AVG. HIGH	AVG. LOW	MEAN
1919	44.39	21.16	32.78
1925	41.23	26.9	34.07
2002	41.94	27.87	34.91
1913	49.94	27.03	38.49
1916	48.58	28.52	38.55
1936	52.29	25.71	39.00
1893	48.7	29.79	39.25
2009	45.68	33.06	39.37
1991	49.06	29.71	39.39
1933	51.19	27.68	39.44

Complete October Climate Record for Grand Forks, ND

WARMEST RANK	COLDEST RANK	YEAR	AVG. HIGH	AVG. LOW	MEAN	NOTES
112	7	1893	48.7	29.79	39.25	Missing 10/1-10/3
91	28	1894	51.58	32.97	42.28
103	16	1895	52.42	28.45	40.44
101	18	1896	52.39	29.35	40.87
37	82	1897	57.65	35.93	46.79	Missing 10/1 low temp
107	12	1898	48.23	31.32	39.78
72	47	1899	53.81	34.71	44.26
11	108	1900	60.35	38.74	49.55
42	77	1901	58.74	34.1	46.42
88	31	1902	54.48	31.06	42.77
53	66	1903	57.68	33.74	45.71
33	86	1904	56.43	37.43	46.93	Missing 10/31
98	21	1905	52.35	30.23	41.29
74	45	1906	58.32	30.13	44.23
83	36	1907	57.77	28.71	43.24
61	58	1908	55.61	34.18	44.90	Missing 10/12-10/14 low temp
81	38	1909	55.06	31.61	43.34
19	100	1910	62.47	33.33	47.90	Missing 10/9
87	32	1911	51.87	33.71	42.79
57	62	1912	57.74	33.06	45.40
115	4	1913	49.94	27.03	38.49
3	116	1914	63.48	39.94	51.71
54	65	1915	58.55	32.77	45.66
114	5	1916	48.58	28.52	38.55
		1917				Entire month missing
56	63	1918	55.61	35.61	45.61
118	1	1919	44.39	21.16	32.78
12	107	1920	62.16	36.06	49.11
38	81	1921	58	35.58	46.79
46	73	1922	60.35	32.39	46.37
71	48	1923	56.03	32.52	44.28
6	113	1924	62.45	39	50.73
117	2	1925	41.23	26.9	34.07
95	24	1926	51.55	32.35	41.95
49	70	1927	57.1	35.58	46.34
82	37	1928	54.84	31.68	43.26
50	69	1929	57.13	35.12	46.13
96	23	1930	50.1	33.16	41.63
14	105	1931	59.94	37.45	48.70
104	15	1932	49.19	31.48	40.34
109	10	1933	51.19	27.68	39.44
18	101	1934	58.06	37.77	47.92
90	29	1935	56.13	28.68	42.41
113	6	1936	52.29	25.71	39.00
94	25	1937	52.61	31.52	42.07
8	111	1938	63.06	37.03	50.05
106	13	1939	48.58	31.87	40.23
10	109	1940	60.48	38.71	49.60
58	61	1941	55.97	34.52	45.25
29	90	1942	60.23	33.74	46.99
27	92	1943	61.45	33	47.23
24	95	1944	59.48	35.13	47.31
78	41	1945	56.26	30.81	43.54
84	35	1946	51.87	34.26	43.07
4	115	1947	62.77	40.32	51.55
30	89	1948	59.39	34.58	46.99
76	43	1949	54.1	33.32	43.71
36	83	1950	56.97	36.74	46.86
97	22	1951	50.19	32.9	41.55
93	26	1952	55.42	28.72	42.07
2	117	1953	65.42	42.06	53.74
68	51	1954	54.29	34.9	44.60
31	88	1955	59	34.94	46.97
13	106	1956	61.19	36.55	48.87
64	55	1957	54.03	35.35	44.69
23	96	1958	58.77	35.87	47.32
108	11	1959	47.61	31.84	39.73
26	93	1960	58.52	35.94	47.23
39	80	1961	57.71	35.74	46.73
9	110	1962	61.52	37.77	49.65
1	118	1963	69.13	44.16	56.65
45	74	1964	57.52	35.26	46.39
21	98	1965	58.35	37.32	47.84
65	54	1966	56.03	33.35	44.69
63	56	1967	55.1	34.29	44.70
73	46	1968	54.68	33.84	44.26
105	14	1969	47.81	32.74	40.28
59	60	1970	54.19	36.13	45.16
22	97	1971	56.1	39.03	47.57
89	30	1972	52.58	32.39	42.49
5	114	1973	61.03	41.97	51.50
28	91	1974	60.26	33.84	47.05
15	104	1975	60.16	36.94	48.55
102	17	1976	53.62	27.37	40.50
43	76	1977	58.1	34.74	46.42
32	87	1978	57.61	36.29	46.95
79	40	1979	53.06	33.9	43.48
85	34	1980	51.19	34.94	43.07
51	68	1981	54.45	37.68	46.07
55	64	1982	52.84	38.39	45.62
62	57	1983	52.61	37.1	44.86
34	85	1984	54.9	38.94	46.92
69	50	1985	54.74	34.45	44.60
67	52	1986	56.26	32.97	44.62
77	42	1987	54	33.35	43.68
80	39	1988	54.77	32.1	43.44
41	78	1989	60.26	32.77	46.52
48	71	1990	59.1	33.61	46.36
110	9	1991	49.06	29.71	39.39
60	59	1992	57.55	32.61	45.08
99	20	1993	51.71	30.58	41.15
17	102	1994	57.48	38.9	48.19
75	44	1995	52.52	35.81	44.17
35	84	1996	57.97	35.81	46.89
70	49	1997	53.97	35.03	44.50
47	72	1998	54.75	37.97	46.36	Missing 10/30-10/31
86	33	1999	54.13	31.84	42.99
20	99	2000	58.68	37.06	47.87
92	27	2001	51.58	32.65	42.12
116	3	2002	41.94	27.87	34.91
40	79	2003	58.68	34.48	46.58
66	53	2004	54.81	34.55	44.68
44	75	2005	55.87	36.97	46.42
100	19	2006	51.58	30.35	40.97
25	94	2007	56.65	37.94	47.30
52	67	2008	55.13	36.42	45.78
111	8	2009	45.68	33.06	39.37
16	103	2010	59.65	37.45	48.55
7	112	2011	61.23	39.39	50.31

3°F

The morning low was 3°F, the coldest temperature I have experienced since early February. The wind was calm so it really didn't feel too bad. The air felt fresher and more invigorating. That being said, I'm glad I have an indoor job. Our high temperature is actually right now at 23°F, for a mean temperature of 13°F. The 1981-2010 climate normal for 11/17 is 25°F. So today was a cold day even for GFK standards, with a departure from normal of -12°F.

The potential snow for Saturday has trended south, with virtually all guidance suggesting a SD/MN snowstorm. We will be lucky to see even flurries. Oh well. Thanksgiving looks warm with a ridge over the Plains.

First Accumulating Snowfall

Yesterday on 11/15, we had our first accumulating snowfall in GFK. It was only about an inch, but enough to get the roads slick. The official observation was 0.8", while the University measured 1.1". Yesterday also served as the first below normal day since 10/29. Quite cold today with a 4pm temperature of only 23°F. Tonight's low is forecast to drop into the single digits. Should be a seasonably cold week with highs in the 20s and lows in the 10-15°F range. Still looking at the possibility for snow this weekend, but models continue to trend it further south. It now looks like the northern bound of snow will only make it to Fargo.

My First Snow in Grand Forks

Earlier this week during the afternoon of November 9th, I experienced the first snow of the season here in Grand Forks. It lasted for a good half hour or so, starting around 2:30PM. Pavements were warm enough for it to just make the roads wet though. The question now becomes: When will I see my first inch of snowfall? The upcoming week looks seasonably cold, with a couple decent opportunities for snow by week's end. Latest prognosis has an organized storm system producing snowfall next weekend, so we shall see.

It is unclear on the latest date is for the first inch of snowfall in GFK. I may look into that after I complete my current side project of determining where October 2011 ranks amongst warmest Octobers. I can say with certainty that October 2011 was not the warmest ever, in fact it was at best the third warmest. I expect to conclude this research during the upcoming days.