November 2018 Weather Summary Lower than normal temperatures occurred for the second month. The mean temperature for November was 22.7 F, which is 7.2 F below the average of 29.9 F (1886-2017). This November was the 10 th coldest on record. The high temperature for the month was 52 F on November 1 st. The low temperature for the month was -1 F which occurred on two days, November 18 th and 20 th. The highest temperature recorded in November at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 76 F on November 1, 1999. The lowest temperature recorded historically was -27 F which occurred on November 28, 1891. Precipitation for the month totaled 0.86 inches, which is 0.11 inches below the average of 0.97 inches. A total of 4.2 inches of snow fell. Frost depth was reported at 12.5 inches on November 30 th. 1269 heating degree days were recorded for November.
October 2018 Weather Summary The mean temperature for October was 40.3 F, which is 6.5 F below the average of 46.8 F (1886-2017). The high temperature for the month was 74 F on October 19 th. The low temperature for the month was 22 F which occurred on two days, October 12 th and 21 st. The highest temperature recorded in October at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 93 F on October 5, 1947. The lowest temperature recorded historically was 1 F which occurred on October 29, 1895. Precipitation for the month totaled 2.7 inches, which is.85 inches above the average of 1.85 inches.
September 2018 Weather Summary The mean temperature for September was 60.6 F, which is 1.5 F above the average of 59.1 F (1886-2017). The high temperature for the month was 94 F on September 16 th. The low temperature for the month was 29 F on September 30 th. We consider a killing frost to be 28 F. Therefore we did not have a killing frost in September. The highest temperature recorded in September at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 106 F on September 10, 1910. The lowest temperature recorded historically was 20 F which occurred on September 20, 1974, September 30, 1939 and September 29, 1897. On September 17 th the record high of 92 F was tied, it was originally set back in 1891. Recent record highs are unique in September at this location. Prior to this year the last record high was set in 1984. There are three record highs set in the 1970 s and the rest were set before 1956. Precipitation for the month totaled 1.84 inches, which is.5 inches below the average of 2.34 inches. Precipitation this year has totaled 25.02 inches which is 4.15 inches above the average of 20.87 for this time. 366 growing degree days were recorded for September, while the average is 357 (1976-2017). We have accumulated 2596 growing degree days for May, June, July, August and September. Average for this time is 2351. 20.51 inches of evaporation were recorded this year for the evaporation pan. Last year we recorded 19.89.
August 2018 Weather Summary Temperature and precipitation for August 2018 is about average. The mean temperature for August was 68.1 F, which is 0.2 F above the average of 68.1 F (1886-2017). The high temperature for the month was 89 F on August 14 th. The low temperature for the month was 44 F on August 30 th. The highest temperature recorded in August at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 104 F on August 10, 1947. The lowest temperature recorded historically was 31 F which occurred on August 30, 1931. Precipitation for the month totaled 3.19 inches, which is.09 inches above the average of 3.10 inches. Precipitation for May through August totaled 20.48 inches which is 6.74 inches above the average of 13.74. 573 growing degree days were recorded for August, while the average is 558 (1976-2017). We have accumulated 2227 growing degree days for May, June, July and August. Average for this time is 1994, which makes 233 growing degree days above average for 2018 crop season. Since 1976, this is the second highest amount of growing degree days accumulated for this time. Only in 1988 did we accumulate more when 2461 growing degree days were recorded. 1991 and 1976 are third and fourth with 2217 and 2187 growing degree days. Even with average precipitation in August, soil moisture is very high and this may prove to be adverse for corn chopping in many fields. Corn and soybeans fields continue to look good and in most fields little water stress was observed this year. Dry weather would be welcome now.
July 2018 Weather Summary The mean temperature for July was 70.5 F, which is 0.4 F below the average of 70.9 F (1886-2017). The high temperature for the month was 90 F on July 9 th. The low temperature for the month was 52 F on July 27 th. The highest temperature recorded in July at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 109 F on July, 18 1940. The lowest temperature recorded historically was 37 F which occurred on July 12, 1927. Precipitation for the month totaled 6.63 inches, which is 2.99 inches above the average of 3.64 inches. On the 20 th a new precipitation record was set with 3.56 inches of rain recorded, breaking the old record of 1.54 inches set in 1930. 630 growing degree days were recorded for July, while the average is 629. We have accumulated 1654 growing degree days for May, June and July. Average for this time is 1436, which makes 218 growing degree days above average for 2018. In May and June we had above average growing degree days however, cooler temperatures in the last part of July resulted in average growing degree days for the month. Historically, we get about 20 growing degree days for July and 18 for August per day. We are currently 218 growing degree days above average for May, June and July which translates to about ten July or August days. Most corn in the area is pollinated and this occurred with optimal weather. Soybeans are at pod elongation and so far most fields look good.
June 2018 Weather Summary The mean temperature for June was 69.5 F, which is 3.5 F above the average of 66.1 F (1886-2017). The high temperature for the month was 93 F on June 17 th. The highest temperature recorded in June at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 104 F on June 25, 1988 and June 28, 1931. The lowest temperature recorded historically was 27 F which occurred on June 1, 1929. Precipitation for the month totaled 8.55 inches, which is 4.55 inches above the average of 4.00 inches. This was the 6 th wettest June on record. On the 17 th a new precipitation record was set with 3.1 inches of rain recorded, breaking the old record of 1.51 inches set in 1915. 576 growing degree days were recorded for June. For April, May and June we have recorded 1066 growing degree days which is 141 growing degree days above average (1976-2017) for this time and 185 more than last year. We have accumulated 1024 growing degree days for May and June. Average for this time is 807, which makes 217 growing degree days above average for 2018. We are providing weekly weather updates every Monday via email this growing season. If you are interested in receiving these emails sign up at: https://wcroc.cfans.umn.edu/weather. Use the monthly weather update form.
May 2018 Weather Summary The mean temperature for May was 62.8 F, which is 6.5 F above the average of 56.3 F (1886-2017). The high temperature for the month was 95 F on May 27 th. This temperature broke the old record high of 93 F set in 1934. The low temperature for the month was 35 F and occurred on May 10 th. The highest temperature recorded in May at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 106 F on May 31, 1934. Prior to this year, seven of the daily high temperature records for May were set in 1934 with a run of 5 days starting on May 27, 1934 and ending on the 31 st. The lowest temperature recorded historically was 18 F which occurred on three days, May 2, 1911, May 3, 1926, and May 11, 1946. Precipitation for the month totaled 2.11 inches, which is.89 inches below the average of 3.00 inches. On April 30 th frost was measured at 20 to 27 inches. Frost persisted to May 8 th. We accumulated 448 growing degree days in May. Average is 312 (1976-2017). This is the third highest number of growing degree days for May since 1976 and the highest since 1988 when we recorded 490 growing degree days. For April and May we have recorded 490 growing degree days which is 61 growing degree days above average (1976-2017) for this time. The cool trend of April weather turned around in May and this allowed farmers and gardeners to plant their crops. Alfalfa fields at WCROC came through the winter well and the first cutting looks very good. Many corn and soybean fields were planted later than normal but the warm weather has helped catch up to close to normal. However, late planting and the heat may not be good for small grains.
April 2018 Weather Summary April was cold and for the first part more like winter than spring with five cold records broke. The mean temperature for April was 32.2 F, which is 11.3 F below the average of 43.5 F (1886-2017). This April was the coldest on record from 1886. The next coldest April was in 2013 when the average temperature was 32.4 F. The high temperature for the month was 68 F on April 30. The low temperature for the month was 0 F and occurred on April 4 th and 5 th. Both of these readings were record lows for the day. In addition, two other cold records were broke. On April 1 st the recorded high temperature was 17 F and on April 7 th recorded we recorded a high temperature 16 F. Both of these temperatures were the lowest high temperatures recorded for that day. April 7 th was also the coldest high temperature ever recorded in April from 1886. The highest temperature recorded in April at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 98 F on April 23, 1980. The lowest temperature recorded historically was -2 F which occurred on April 7, 1936. Precipitation for the month totaled.68 inches, which is 1.59 inches below the average of 2.27 inches. Snow was recorded at 10 inches which is 6.7 inches above the average of 3.3 inches. We have recorded 39.3 inches of snow during the winter of 2017 to 2018. Average for this time is 39.7 inches. At the end of March frost depth was measured at 28 inches. On April 30 frost was measured at 20 to 27 inches. Heating degree days totaled 952 and the average is 655. We accumulated 42 growing degree days in April. Average is 118. Spring field and lawn work has been delayed due to cold weather. At the WCROC, the alfalfa was starting to grow last week and lawns have started to grow. No corn planting and limited small grain planting were noted in the area.
March 2018 Weather Summary March proved to be about average with both temperature and precipitation. The mean temperature for March was 27.5 F, which is.5 F above the average of 27.0 F (1886-2017). The high temperature for the month was 48 F on March 28 th. The low temperature for the month was -1 F and occurred on March 2 nd. The highest temperature recorded in March at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 83 F on March, 23 1910. The lowest temperature recorded historically was -30 F which occurred on March 11, 1948. Precipitation for the month totaled 1.06 inches, which is 0.09 inches below the average of 1.05 inches. Snow was recorded at 6.6 inches which is 1.1 inches below the average of 7.7 inches. We have recorded 29.3 inches of snow during the winter of 2017 to 2018. Average for this time is 35.9 inches. On March 5 frost was measured at 29 inches. At the end of February frost depth was measured at 28 inches. Heating degree days totaled 1162 and the average is 1162.
February 2018 Weather Summary The mean temperature for February was 7.8 F, which is 5.5 F below the average of 13.3 F (1886-2017). The high temperature for the month was 49 F on February 15 th. The low temperature for the month was -16 F and occurred on February 24 th. The highest temperature recorded in February at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 60 F on February 25, 1902. The lowest temperature recorded historically was -41 F which occurred on February 16, 1936. Precipitation for the month totaled.84 inches, which is 0.16 inches above the average of.68 inches. Snow was recorded at 14.1 inches which is 6.8 inches above the average of 7.3 inches. Nine inches of snow cover was reported at the end of February. We have recorded 22.7 inches of snow during the winter of 2017 to 2018. Average for this time is 28.1 inches. Last year we recorded 22.8 inches of snow for the same time period. On February 4 th frost was measured at 23 inches. At the end of February frost depth was measured at 29 inches. Heating degree days totaled 1601 and the average is 1340.
January 2018 Weather Summary The mean temperature for January was 11.3 F, which is 2.6 F above the average of 8.7 F (1886-2017). The high temperature for the month was 43 F on January 20 and 21. The low temperature for the month was -25 F and occurred on January 1. The highest temperature recorded in January at the WCROC from 1886 to 2017 was 60 F on January 25, 1981. The lowest temperature recorded historically was -40 F which occurred on the 21 st in 1888. Precipitation for the month totaled.12 inches, which is 0.57 inches below the average of.69 inches. Snow was recorded at 2.4 inches which is 4.6 inches below the average of 7.0 inches. No snow cover was reported at the end of January. We have recorded 8.6 inches of snow the winter of 2017 to 2018. Average for this time is 20.7 inches. Last year we recorded 23.5 inches of snow for the same time. At the end of December, 17 inches of frost was measured, by the end of January, 23 inches of frost was measured. Heating degree days totaled 1699 and the average is 1721.