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Spring 2013: What a difference a year makes!
Author: Natalie Umphlett - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2013-06-03 13:09:44
Updated: 2013-07-01 22:39:28
There was quite a contrast in temperatures between this spring and last. Many locations across the High Plains Region had their warmest spring on record last year, while this year, many of those same locations ranked among the coldest. Spring 2012 was characterized by an early green-up and quick planting due to hot and dry conditions, while spring 2013 had late snows and delayed planting due to cool and wet conditions.
The photographs to the right help illustrate those contrasting conditions in Lincoln, Nebraska. The top photo of an extremely early blooming peony was taken at the end of April 2012. Peonies were not the only early bloomers as most plants were at least 5 weeks ahead of schedule in eastern Nebraska. Meanwhile, the bottom photo shows a late season snow scene taken at the beginning of May 2013. Ultimately, Lincoln received 2.7 inches (7 cm) of snow from this storm and snow was also reported across Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
One of the most interesting contrasts between this spring and last may have occurred in Aberdeen, South Dakota which actually had back to back warmest and coldest springs. 2012’s record warm spring had an average temperature of 50.4 degrees F (10.2 degrees C), while 2013’s record cool spring had an average temperature of just 37.0 degrees F (2.8 degrees C). When compared to normal, the spring of 2012 was 6.8 degrees F (3.8 degrees C) above normal, while the spring of 2013 was 6.6 degrees F (3.7 degrees C) below normal.
Check out the table below to see more rankings from across the High Plains Region.
| Location | 2013 Spring Average Temperature (F) / Rank | 2012 Spring Average Temperature (F) / Rank | Period of Record |
| Alamosa, CO | 41.3 / 31st coolest | 45.7 / 2nd warmest | 1906-2013 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 45.9 / 51st coolest* | 53.4 / warmest | 1894-2013 |
| Denver, CO | 45.8 / 19th coolest* | 54.3 / warmest | 1872-2013 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 51.3 / 34th coolest* | 56.3 / 4th warmest* | 1893-2013 |
| Pueblo, CO | 49.5 / 30th coolest* | 55.5 / 2nd warmest* | 1888-2013 |
| Concordia, KS | 49.8 / 19th coolest | 61.4 / warmest | 1885-2013 |
| Dodge City, KS | 52.2 / 35th coolest* | 60.3 / warmest | 1874-2013 |
| Goodland, KS | 47.6 / 20th coolest* | 56.1 / warmest | 1895-2013 |
| Salina, KS | 52.2 / 11th coolest | 62.9 / warmest | 1948-2013 |
| Topeka, KS | 51.8 / 15th coolest* | 63.8 / warmest | 1887-2013 |
| Wichita, KS | 53.2 / 19th coolest* | 64.4 / warmest | 1888-2013 |
| Grand Island, NE | 47.9 / 32nd coolest* | 59.0 / warmest | 1895-2013 |
| Lincoln, NE | 47.5 / 11th coolest* | 59.3 / warmest | 1887-2013 |
| Norfolk, NE | 45.4 / 8th coolest* | 57.4 / warmest | 1893-2013 |
| North Platte, NE | 46.1 / 35th coolest* | 54.7 / warmest | 1874-2013 |
| Omaha, NE | 47.9 / 21st coolest* | 60.6 / warmest | 1871-2013 |
| Scottsbluff, NE | 46.2 / 39th coolest* | 54.4 / warmest | 1893-2013 |
| Valentine, NE | 44.1 / 35th coolest* | 53.4 / warmest | 1889-2013 |
| Bismarck, ND | 37.4 / 15th coolest | 48.5 / warmest* | 1874-2013 |
| Fargo, ND | 36.2 / 9th coolest* | 50.2 / warmest | 1881-2013 |
| Grand Forks, ND | 33.5 / 6th coolest | 47.2 / 3rd warmest | 1893-2013 |
| Williston, ND | 35.4 / 7th coolest | 47.0 / 5th warmest | 1894-2013 |
| Aberdeen, SD | 37.0 / coolest | 50.4 / warmest | 1893-2013 |
| Huron, SD | 40.0 / 8th coolest | 53.5 / warmest | 1881-2013 |
| Rapid City, SD | 41.8 / 11th coolest* | 51.3 / warmest | 1942-2013 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 41.4 / 8th coolest | 54.4 / warmest | 1893-2013 |
| Casper, WY | 41.5 / 19th coolest | 48.4 / 3rd warmest | 1939-2013 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 41.0 / 46th coolest | 49.3 / warmest | 1872-2013 |
| Lander, WY | 43.1 / 53rd warmest | 49.4 / 2nd warmest | 1891-2013 |
| Sheridan, WY | 41.9 / 30th coolest* | 48.2 / 5th warmest | 1907-2013 |
*indicates tie