Author: Heleena

  • 2021 Annual Top 10 Rankings

    2021 Annual Top 10 Rankings

    Warmest Temperature/Ranking Record/Year Period of Record Sisseton, SD 48.0 / WARMEST 47.1 / 2016 1931-2021 Bismarck, ND 47.2 / WARMEST 46.5 / 2016 1886-2021 Aberdeen, SD 47.7 / 2nd Warmest 48.1 / 1987 1893-2021 Valentine, NE 51.9 / 2nd Warmest 52.0 / 2012 1889-2021 Alamosa, CO 44.2 / 3rd Warmest (tied with 1954) 44.7 /…

  • December 2021 Top 10 Monthly Rankings

    December 2021 Top 10 Monthly Rankings

    Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, Precipitation in inches Warmest Temperature / Ranking Record / Year Period of Record Grand Island, NE 35.5 / WARMEST 35.4 / 1896 1895-2021 Salina, KS 40.8 / WARMEST 40.6 / 1939 1948-2021 Norfolk, NE 32.6 / WARMEST 32.4 / 1957 1893-2021 Topeka, KS 43.1 / 2nd Warmest 45.3 / 1889 1887-2021…

  • November 2021 Climate Summary

    November 2021 Climate Summary

    Colorado sunset, Photo courtesy Jennifer Balch Warm and Dry in the High Plains Warm and dry conditions were observed across the High Plains in November. Above-normal temperatures were recorded across the entire region with the highest departures 10 degrees F (5.6 degrees C) and higher. Precipitation across the majority of the region was below-normal outside…

  • November 2021 Top 10 Monthly Rankings

    November 2021 Top 10 Monthly Rankings

    Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, Precipitation in inches Warmest  Temperature/ Ranking Record/Year Period of Record  Rawlins, WY 38.9 / WARMEST  38.5 / 2017 1951-2021 Colorado Springs, CO 45.9 / 2nd warmest  47.4 / 1949 1894-2021 Alamosa, CO 35.1 / 2nd warmest  38.4 / 2017 1906-2021 Valentine, NE 43.6 / 2nd warmest  44.3 / 1949 1889-2021 Denver,…

  • Missouri River Basin La Niña Impacts and Outlook

    Missouri River Basin La Niña Impacts and Outlook

    Typical La Niña Winter Pattern The image (source: NOAA) above shows the typical pattern in the winterduring La Niña events. The polar jet stream tends to transverse throughthe Missouri Basin, making it the dividing line between cold and warm airmasses. This means that colder conditions could be in store for areas of theupper Basin, while…

  • October 2021 Climate Summary

    October 2021 Climate Summary

    Snow in Laramie WY, Photo courtesy Gavin Rush First Snow for the High Plains Snow made its first appearance for many portions of the region in October. Cooler fall temperatures and above-normal precipitation in Wyoming, The Dakotas, and the higher elevations in Colorado contributed to the appearance of the season’s first significant snowfall.   Southeastern Wyoming had its first Winter…