November 2019 In Review

November 2019 was a tale of two halves in terms of temperatures. The area started out much below average (Sisseton set a record low max temp of 13 F on the 11^th and a record low temp of 0 F on the 12^th), but then flipped to much above average. The end result was near average temperatures on a whole for the month.

November was predominantly quite dry, and the whole area would have finished below average for the month in terms of precipitation and snow if not for a major storm at the end of the month. As it turns out, much of central South Dakota finished above average in both regards, far northeastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota finished below average, and those in-between finished near normal. The major storm in reference here is the Nov 29-Dec 1 Post-Thanksgiving winter storm, when significant impacts resulted from heavy snow and strong winds (for more: https://www.weather.gov/abr/Nov29-Dec1Post-ThanksgivingWinterStorm). Several daily records were broken. For precipitation: In Aberdeen, 0.21" of liquid equivalent fell on the 29th (0.21 in 2016) and 1.09" of liquid equivalent fell on teh 30th (0.55" in 2000); in Sisseton, 0.44" fell on the 30th (0.32" in 2015); in Mobridge, 0.13" fell on the 29th (0.11" in 2011) and 0.77" fell on the 30th (0.25" in 2015). For snow: In Aberdeen, 14.3" of snow fell on the 30th (10.5" in 2000); in Sisseton, 7.8" of snow fell on the 30th (4.5" in 2015); in Mobridge, 6.2" of snow fell on the 30th (3" in 1985). Thanks in large part to this storm, Aberdeen ranked 8^th for snowiest November on record with 17.7”, Kennebec 8^th with 14.5”, Timber Lake 7^th with 12.6”, Pierre 6^th with 11.6” and Mobridge 6^th with 12.2”. Amazingly, after being impacted by both the October 10-12^th and Nov 29-Dec1st winter storms, Eureka has already reported 29.6” of snow for the season as of *Dec 3^rd*. Their average for the whole season is 43.2”.   

This winter storm and other precipitation events this month further contribute to an incredibly wet year, and add to concerns about potential spring 2020 flooding. Updated rankings for total year-to-date precipitation through November 30^th:

Aberdeen: 29.48” ranks 11^th, Wheaton: 30.08” ranks 11^th, Watertown: 32.34” ranks 2^nd (38.67” in 1977), Timber Lake: 29.61” ranks 2^nd (33.45” in 1915), Pierre: 29.94” ranks 2^nd (31.80” in 1997), Mobridge: 28.83” ranks 1^st (26.76” in 1915), Sisseton: 33.89” ranks 1^st (32.21” in 2005), Kennebec: 34.99” ranks 1^st (29.65” in 1915)

Updated rankings of total yearly precipitation through November 30^th (every additional hundredth of precipitation from now through the remaining 31 days of the calendar year will only add to these rankings/records):

Wheaton: 30.08” ranks 12^th, Aberdeen: 29.48” ranks 11^th, Timber Lake: 29.61” ranks 2^nd (34.10” in 1915), Pierre: 29.94” ranks 2^nd (31.85” in 1997), Watertown: 32.34” ranks 2^nd (40.04” in 1977), Mobridge: 28.83” ranks 1^st (26.86” in 1915), Sisseton: 33.89” ranks 1^st (32.30 in 1993), Kennebec: 34.99” ranks 1^st (30.25” in 1915)

Monthly temperature departures on a whole, from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center

Monthly precipitation totals (left) and departures (right), from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center

Monthly snowfall totals (left) and departures (right), from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center

The Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center ranks this season as "Severe" to "Extreme" across the region. This index takes into account max/min temperatures, snowfall, and snow depth or precipitation. 

A more in-depth look at three specific sites, Aberdeen, Watertown and Pierre, can be found below: