Severe thunderstorms with the potential for several tornadoes, including a strong tornado or two, will be possible this afternoon and evening across southeast Texas. Damaging winds and isolated large hail will also be possible. A series of Pacific storm systems will continue to impact the Northwest U.S. into this weekend with periods of strong winds, low elevation rain and heavy mountain snow. 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 10th. The earliest 70 degrees ever recorded was actually February 10th of 1951. That day Pierre recorded 73 degrees. Pierre has also exceeded the 80 degree mark this year on March 13th 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 2nd 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 13th 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 16th 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 13th breaking 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 13th. 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 |