|
Every January since 1906 the National Western Stock Show comes to town. Several days before the stock show approaches questions are brought up by citizens and the media of the notion that it's always cold during the stock show. A look at stock show statistics from 1906-2003 reveals a different scenario. Lets take a look at the numbers.
The first four years the stock show was held (1906-1910) revealed that the average temperature during the event was 43.6 degrees, 12.9 degrees above normal for that time of year. In fact, 1909 was the warmest stock show on record with a departure from normal of 16.0 degrees.
Cold spells were few and far between. Extreme departures from normal only lasted a year or two at a time. From 1962-1963 the average temperature was 8.6 degrees, 20.4 degrees below normal. This was the coldest consecutive stretch on record.
To summarize, the mean temperature during the National Western Stock Show from 1906-2003 is 31.8 degrees. The normal during the same period is 29.1 degrees, giving a departure from normal of +2.6 degrees. This indicates that the mean temperature is warmer than normal during the National Western Stock Show, disproving the perception that it's always cold.
Below is a chart of yearly observed and climatological normal temperatures and there departure from normal during the National Western Stock Show since 1906.
|
Year
|
Average
High Temp |
Average
Low Temp
|
Mean Temp
|
Normal
High Temp
|
Normal
Low Temp
|
Normal
Mean Temp
|
Departure
from Normal
|
|
2003
|
50.3
|
19.1
|
34.7
|
43.2
|
15.1
|
29.2
|
+ 5.5 degrees
|
|
2002
|
41.9
|
15.8
|
28.9
|
43.3
|
15.2
|
29.3
|
- 0.4 degrees
|
|
2001
|
42.8
|
16.5
|
29.7
|
43
|
14.9
|
29
|
+ 0.7 degrees
|
|
2000
|
52.9
|
23.4
|
38.2
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 9.2 degrees
|
|
1999
|
51
|
22.9
|
37
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 7.9 degrees
|
|
1998
|
42.8
|
19.8
|
31.3
|
43.1
|
15.1
|
29.1
|
+ 2.2 degrees
|
|
1997
|
35
|
11.6
|
23.3
|
43.2
|
15.1
|
29.2
|
- 5.9 degrees
|
|
1996
|
50.3
|
18.4
|
34.4
|
43
|
14.9
|
29
|
+ 5.4 degrees
|
|
1995
|
49.9
|
23.5
|
36.7
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 7.7 degrees
|
|
1994
|
54.4
|
23.1
|
38.8
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 9.7 degrees
|
|
1993
|
31.5
|
10
|
20.8
|
43
|
14.9
|
29
|
- 8.2 degrees
|
|
1992
|
39.5
|
12.3
|
25.9
|
43
|
14.9
|
29
|
- 3.1 degrees
|
|
1991
|
46.5
|
18.6
|
32.6
|
43
|
14.9
|
29
|
+ 3.6 degrees
|
|
1990
|
49.5
|
24.3
|
36.9
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 7.9 degrees
|
|
1989
|
48.5
|
18.5
|
33.5
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 4.5 degrees
|
|
1988
|
38.5
|
16
|
27.3
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
- 1.8 degrees
|
|
1987
|
35.5
|
10.9
|
23.2
|
43.2
|
15.1
|
29.2
|
- 6.0 degrees
|
|
1986
|
58.7
|
27.8
|
43.3
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 14.3 degrees
|
|
1985
|
41.3
|
12.8
|
27.1
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 1.9 degrees
|
|
1984
|
25.3
|
3.5
|
14.4
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 14.6 degrees
|
|
1983
|
38.2
|
20.7
|
29.5
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 0.5 degrees
|
|
1982
|
44.7
|
18.4
|
31.6
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 2.5 degrees
|
|
1981
|
51.8
|
24.5
|
38.2
|
43.2
|
15.1
|
29.2
|
+ 9.0 degrees
|
|
1980
|
44.6
|
25.2
|
34.9
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 5.9 degrees
|
|
1979
|
40.3
|
14.3
|
27.3
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 1.7 degrees
|
|
1978
|
35.1
|
12
|
23.6
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 5.4 degrees
|
|
1977
|
49.2
|
17.8
|
33.5
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 4.5 degrees
|
|
1976
|
50.9
|
22.1
|
36.5
|
43.2
|
15.1
|
29.2
|
+ 7.3 degrees
|
|
1975
|
48.3
|
16.4
|
32.4
|
19
|
15
|
29
|
+ 3.4 degrees
|
|
1974
|
47.7
|
21
|
34.4
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 5.4 degrees
|
|
1973
|
53.2
|
29.1
|
41.2
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 12.2 degrees
|
|
1972
|
51
|
21.6
|
36.3
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 7.3 degrees
|
|
1971
|
54.8
|
25.6
|
40.2
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 11.1 degrees
|
|
1970
|
54.2
|
24.2
|
39.2
|
43.2
|
15.1
|
29.2
|
+ 10.0 degrees
|
|
1969
|
51.7
|
21
|
36.4
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 7.4 degrees
|
|
1968
|
48.9
|
18.6
|
33.8
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 4.8 degrees
|
|
1967
|
51.1
|
16.6
|
33.9
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 4.9 degrees
|
|
1966
|
33.1
|
6.8
|
20
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 7.0 degrees
|
|
1965
|
52.2
|
24.8
|
38.5
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 9.5 degrees
|
|
1964
|
39.2
|
8.7
|
24
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 5.0 degrees
|
|
1963
|
21.3
|
-5.3
|
8
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 21.0 degrees
|
|
1962
|
21.8
|
-3.4
|
9.2
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 19.8 degrees
|
|
1961
|
47.2
|
25.2
|
36.2
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 7.2 degrees
|
|
1960
|
36.4
|
16.1
|
26.3
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 2.7 degrees
|
|
1959
|
43.3
|
16.6
|
30
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 0.9 degrees
|
|
1958
|
48.4
|
21.4
|
34.9
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 5.9 degrees
|
|
1957
|
44.9
|
14.7
|
29.8
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 0.8 degrees
|
|
1956
|
40.8
|
19.3
|
30.1
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 1.1 degrees
|
|
1955
|
33.3
|
12.4
|
22.9
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 6.1 degrees
|
|
1954
|
53.4
|
20
|
36.7
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 7.7 degrees
|
|
1953
|
53.1
|
27.3
|
40.2
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 11.1 degrees
|
|
1952
|
53.3
|
29.2
|
41.3
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 12.3 degrees
|
|
1951
|
45.8
|
23.4
|
34.6
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 5.6 degrees
|
|
1950
|
54.1
|
19
|
36.6
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 7.6 degrees
|
|
1949
|
31.2
|
9.9
|
20.6
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 8.4 degrees
|
|
1948
|
36.3
|
16.3
|
26.3
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
- 2.8 degrees
|
|
1947
|
39.3
|
20.8
|
30.1
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 1.1 degrees
|
|
1946
|
46.9
|
20.8
|
33.9
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 4.9 degrees
|
|
1945
|
39.2
|
24.6
|
31.9
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 2.9 degrees
|
|
1944
|
53.8
|
29.8
|
41.8
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 12.8 degrees
|
|
1943
|
41.6
|
16.9
|
29.3
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 0.3 degrees
|
|
1942
|
48.3
|
27.4
|
37.9
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 8.9 degrees
|
|
1941
|
46.5
|
25.8
|
36.2
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 7.2 degrees
|
|
1940
|
32.2
|
9.1
|
20.7
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 8.3 degrees
|
|
1939
|
39.3
|
17.5
|
28.4
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 0.6 degrees
|
|
1938
|
50.9
|
31.9
|
41.4
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 12.4 degrees
|
|
1937
|
24
|
4.1
|
14.1
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 12.1 degrees
|
|
1936
|
42.4
|
20.6
|
31.5
|
43.3
|
15.1
|
29.2
|
+ 2.3 degrees
|
|
1935
|
43.3
|
21.1
|
32.2
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 3.2 degrees
|
|
1934
|
52.3
|
29.9
|
41.1
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 12.1 degrees
|
|
1933
|
45.6
|
23.8
|
34.7
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 5.7 degrees
|
|
1932
|
36
|
18.4
|
27.2
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 1.8 degrees
|
|
1931
|
47.3
|
25.5
|
36.4
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 7.3 degrees
|
|
1930
|
20.5
|
-2.6
|
9
|
43.3
|
15.1
|
29.2
|
- 20.2 degrees
|
|
1929
|
43.9
|
24
|
34
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 5.0 degrees
|
|
1928
|
41.3
|
22.3
|
31.8
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 2.8 degrees
|
|
1927
|
40.6
|
16.8
|
28.7
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 0.3 degrees
|
|
1926
|
33.1
|
14.1
|
23.6
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 5.4 degrees
|
|
1925
|
50.8
|
26.3
|
38.6
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 9.5 degrees
|
|
1924
|
43.5
|
20.5
|
32
|
43.4
|
15.3
|
29.4
|
+ 2.6 degrees
|
|
1923
|
55.5
|
28.1
|
41.8
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 12.8 degrees
|
|
1922
|
32.5
|
9.5
|
21
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 8.0 degrees
|
|
1921
|
50.9
|
28.5
|
39.7
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 10.7 degrees
|
|
1920
|
48.9
|
29.4
|
39.2
|
43.1
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 10.0 degrees
|
|
1919
|
49.6
|
28.5
|
39.1
|
43.3
|
15.1
|
29.2
|
+ 9.9 degrees
|
|
1918
|
39.6
|
15.3
|
27.5
|
43.4
|
15.3
|
29.4
|
- 1.9 degrees
|
|
1917
|
40.7
|
13.8
|
27.3
|
43.7
|
15.5
|
29.6
|
- 2.3 degrees
|
|
1916
|
30.9
|
8.5
|
19.7
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 9.3 degrees
|
|
1915
|
39.5
|
14
|
26.8
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 2.2 degrees
|
|
1914
|
47.7
|
27.7
|
37.7
|
43.2
|
15
|
29.1
|
+ 8.6 degrees
|
|
1913
|
47.3
|
23.8
|
35.6
|
43.3
|
15.2
|
29.3
|
+ 6.3 degrees
|
|
1912
|
47.7
|
23.2
|
35.5
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 6.5 degrees
|
|
1911
|
53.7
|
26.7
|
40.2
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 11.2 degrees
|
|
1910
|
50.8
|
26.8
|
38.8
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
- 9.8 degrees
|
|
1909
|
54.2
|
35.7
|
45
|
43
|
15
|
29
|
+ 16.0 degrees
|
|
1908
|
48.2
|
24.5
|
36.4
|
43.3
|
15.2
|
29.3
|
+ 14.0 degrees
|
|
1907
|
43.3
|
17.8
|
30.6
|
43.5
|
15.3
|
29.4
|
+ 14.1 degrees
|
|
1906
|
54.3
|
21.4
|
37.9
|
44.6
|
16.6
|
30.6
|
+ 7.3 degrees
|
Mean observed high (1906-2003).......44.2 degrees Mean normal high (1906-2003)........42.8 degrees Departure.....+1.4 degrees
Mean observed low (1906-2003)........19.3 degrees Mean normal low (1906-2003).........15.0 degrees Departure.....+4.3 degrees
Mean observed normal(1906-2003)....31.8 degrees Mean normal average (1906-2003)...29.1 degrees Departure......+2.7 degrees
Top 10 coldest stock shows on record |
Top 10 warmest stock shows on record |
|
1. 1963 (8.0 degrees)
|
1. 1909 (45.0 degrees)
|
|
2. 1930 (9.0 degrees)
|
2. 1986 (43.3 degrees)
|
|
3. 1962 (9.2 degrees)
|
3. 1923, 1944 (41.8 degrees)
|
|
4. 1937 (14.1 degrees)
|
4. 1938 (41.4 degrees)
|
|
5. 1984 (14.4 degrees)
|
5. 1952 (41.3 degrees)
|
|
6. 1916 (19.7 degrees)
|
6. 1973 (41.2 degrees)
|
|
7. 1949 (20.6 degrees)
|
7. 1934 (41.1 degrees)
|
|
8. 1940 (20.7 degrees)
|
8. 1911, 1953, 1971 (40.2 degrees)
|
|
9. 1993 (20.8 degrees)
|
9. 1921 (39.7 degrees)
|
|
10. 1955 (22.9 degrees)
|
10. 1920, 1970 (39.2 degrees)
|
David Thede, Meteorologist
National Weather Service
Goodland, KS
|
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