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February 2016 Climate Summary Now Available
Author: Crystal Stiles - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2016-03-07 20:31:26
Updated:
Overview - Warm and Windy
February was a very warm month across much of the High Plains. Except for western Colorado, most of the region experienced temperatures that were 3.0-12.0 degrees F (1.7-6.7 degrees C) above normal. North Dakota endured the greatest departures. Bismarck, for example, was an astounding 14.4 degrees F (8.0 degrees C) above normal for the month. The warm temperatures caused winter wheat to prematurely break dormancy in some locations, which leaves the crop susceptible to spring freezes. The presence of El Niño and a positive Arctic Oscillation are likely partly to blame for the warmth, especially in the northern Plains. Additionally, the lack of snow cover across much of the region allowed temperatures to soar higher. Overall, it can be said that most of the High Plains experienced a mild winter.
February was also quite windy across the region. Warm, dry, and windy conditions later in the month combined to elevate fire danger in many locations. With the passage of a strong storm system, it was not uncommon to experience wind gusts of 60 mph (97 km/hr) or higher. The most impressive wind gust occurred at Monarch Pass, Colorado. On the evening of the 18th, the Monarch Pass AWOS weather station, which is located at 12,031 feet above sea level, reported a wind gust of 148 mph (238 km/hr)! The Colorado State Climatologist stated that the wind gust at Monarch Pass surpassed the unofficial state record for highest recorded wind gust, which was previously 147 mph (237 km/hr) and occurred in Boulder on January 25, 1971. Now that’s windy!
Precipitation was variable across the region in February. Snowpack continued to suffer in northern Wyoming, which has been warm and dry since the fall. However, the wet pattern continued across northern Kansas and eastern Nebraska, which was aided by a major winter storm that arrived just in time for Groundhog Day. Lincoln, Nebraska and Clay Center, Kansas had their wettest winters on record, while Omaha, Nebraska experienced its 2nd wettest. While it was a snowy winter in eastern Wyoming, only 0.5 inches (1 cm) of snow was recorded the entire season in Wichita, Kansas.
For more information on temperature, precipitation, and impacts from climate in February in the High Plains region, please see the link to the full PDF of the summary: http://hprcc.unl.edu/climatesummaries.php
