Active Weather for the West, Warming in the East

The potential for heavy snow at higher elevations in the western U.S. will continue for many spots through the weekend. In the meantime, the eastern half of the continental U.S. will transition to above normal temperatures ahead of a pair of cold fronts next week that will bring readings back to closer to normal as we approach Thanksgiving Day. Read More >

How Early Is It To See Temperatures This Warm?

Spring is starting early and already we have seen record breaking temperatures, and more may be on the way this weekend. So how often do we get 70 or 80 degrees this early?

In Pierre, 70 and 75 degrees are pretty common in March. This year Pierre recorded 74 degrees on March 10^th. The earliest 70 degrees ever recorded was actually February 10^th of 1951. That day Pierre recorded 73 degrees. Pierre has also exceeded the 80 degree mark this year on March 13^th when 82 degrees was recorded. This was a daily high temperatures record for Pierre, but it was not the earliest 80 degrees ever recorded. That record is March 2^nd of 1974. Here are the top 5 earliest dates for Pierre to reach 70, 75 and 80 degrees respectively.

First 70 or greater in Pierre			First 75 or greater in Pierre			First 80 or greater in Pierre
Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp
1951	10-Feb	73	1992	29-Feb	75	1974	2-Mar	80
1954	14-Feb	72	1974	1-Mar	75	1974	4-Mar	80
1983	18-Feb	70	1974	2-Mar	80	2000	5-Mar	80
1982	21-Feb	73	2000	4-Mar	75	1995	11-Mar	80
1995	21-Feb	71	1937	5-Mar	76	2007	12-Mar	82

Aberdeen also broke a daily record on March 13^th when the mercury rose to 71 degrees this year. The earliest for Aberdeen to reach 70 degrees was in February 25 of 1958. Friday, March 16^th Aberdeen is forecast to rise above 75 degrees. If this occurs it will be the earliest Aberdeen has ever experience 75 degrees or greater.

First 70 or greater in Aberdeen			First 75 or greater in Aberdeen			First 80 or greater in Aberdeen
Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp
1958	25-Feb	70	1901	16-Mar	75	1921	18-Mar	84
1992	1-Mar	73	1921	18-Mar	84	1963	23-Mar	81
1905	2-Mar	72	1910	19-Mar	75	1939	24-Mar	80
1905	3-Mar	73	1910	20-Mar	76	1925	25-Mar	81
2000	5-Mar	74	1907	21-Mar	79	1939	25-Mar	80

Watertown has also experienced 70 degrees already this year on March 13^thbreaking the daily record. This also landed Watertown in the top 5 earliest years to ever do so. With temperatures forecast above 75 degrees Friday, it may be the earliest Watertown has ever experienced 75 degrees or greater in any year.

First 70 or greater in Watertown			First 75 or greater in Watertown			First 80 or greater in Watertown
Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp
2000	5-Mar	71	1894	17-Mar	78	1921	18-Mar	82
1987	6-Mar	73	1921	18-Mar	82	1910	23-Mar	82
1987	6-Mar	73	1910	21-Mar	78	1928	23-Mar	80
2000	7-Mar	74	1939	22-Mar	77	1939	23-Mar	81
2012	13-Mar	70	1910	23-Mar	82	1939	25-Mar	81

Mobridge has yet to record 70 degrees this year, but is on track to reach temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees this weekend. Mobridge won’t set any records for earliest 70 degree day, but could be in the top 5 for 75 degrees or greater, or possibly the earliest 80 degree day every experienced!

First 70 or greater in Mobridge			First 75 or greater in Mobridge			First 80 or greater in Mobridge
Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp
1958	25-Feb	70	1911	11-Mar	75	1911	20-Mar	85
1992	29-Feb	70	2007	12-Mar	77	1939	22-Mar	80
1992	1-Mar	71	1911	13-Mar	79	1939	23-Mar	84
1974	2-Mar	73	1911	19-Mar	75	1963	23-Mar	81
1937	5-Mar	70	1911	20-Mar	85	1939	24-Mar	81

Like Mobridge Sisseton hasn’t recorded a 70 degree day yet this year, but did break a 65 degree daily record on the 13^th. The area is on track reach 75 or greater this weekend, though, and if the 75 degree mark is met on Friday it will be the earliest year to ever do so. Sisseton also had a whole week to go before it has ever hit an 80 degree day.

First 70 or greater in Sisseton			First 75 or greater in Sisseton			First 80 or greater in Sisseton
Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp	Year	Day	Temp
1992	1-Mar	70	1968	17-Mar	75	1939	24-Mar	81
1905	3-Mar	70	1939	22-Mar	75	1946	28-Mar	82
2000	5-Mar	72	1945	22-Mar	76	1986	29-Mar	80
1987	6-Mar	71	1939	23-Mar	77	1963	31-Mar	82
1987	6-Mar	70	1939	24-Mar	81	1991	5-Apr	83

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Active Weather for the West, Warming in the East

How Early Is It To See Temperatures This Warm? March 2012