Memorial Day Climate Data

History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Memorial Day was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. It is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363)). On Memorial Day the American flag should be flown at half-staff until noon. It should then be raised to the top of the staff.

Memorial Day in Aberdeen, SD (Period of Record 1895-2011)
Normals		Records
Maximum Temperature	72 F	Warmest High Temperature	110 F	30, 1934
Maximum Temperature	72 F	Coldest High Temperature	54 F	27, 1996
Minimum Temperature	49 F	Warmest Low Temperature	68 F	30, 1925
Minimum Temperature	49 F	Coldest Low Temperature	27 F	30, 1947
Average Temperature	61 F	Warmest Average Temperature	88.5 F	30, 1934
Average Temperature	61 F	Coldest Average Temperature	44 F	30, 1897
Precipitation	0.10"	Wettest	1.60"	30, 1937

The weather for the past five Memorial Days:

Date	High	Low	Precip	Remarks
May 30, 2011	77	56	0.06	Mostly cloudy with breezy SE to NW winds
May 31, 2010	76	47	0.00	Sunny with southwest winds
May 25, 2009	79	55	0.00	Partly cloudy with breezy south winds
May 26, 2008	56	41	0.00	Cloudy with gusty northwest winds
May 28, 2007	82	58	0.00	Sunny with south winds

Memorial Day in Pierre, SD (Period of Record 1934-2011)
Normals		Records
Maximum Temperature	74 F	Warmest High Temperature	103 F	30, 1934
Maximum Temperature	74 F	Coldest High Temperature	49 F	27, 1996
Minimum Temperature	50 F	Warmest Low Temperature	70 F	30, 1934
Minimum Temperature	50 F	Coldest Low Temperature	32 F	30, 1947
Average Temperature	62 F	Warmest Average Temperature	86.5 F	30, 1934
Average Temperature	62 F	Coldest Average Temperature	45.5 F	25, 1992
Precipitation	0.12"	Wettest	1.57"	26, 1997

The weather for the past five Memorial Days:

Date	High	Low	Precip	Remarks
May 30, 2011	65	52	0.06	Overcast with breezy northwest winds
May 31, 2010	76	51	0.00	Sunny with southeast winds
May 25, 2009	73	54	Trace	Partly cloudy with breezy south winds
May 26, 2008	52	43	0.08	Cloudy with gusty north winds
May 28, 2007	85	58	0.00	Sunny with south winds

Memorial Day in Watertown, SD (Period of Record 1897-2011)
Normals		Records
Maximum Temperature	71 F	Warmest High Temperature	106 F	30, 1934
Maximum Temperature	71 F	Coldest High Temperature	52 F	25, 1992
Minimum Temperature	50 F	Warmest Low Temperature	65 F	30, 1934
Minimum Temperature	50 F	Coldest Low Temperature	31 F	30, 1947
Average Temperature	60 F	Warmest Average Temperature	85.5 F	30, 1934
Average Temperature	60 F	Coldest Average Temperature	43.5 F	30, 1897
Precipitation	0.11"	Wettest	2.00"	30, 1959

The weather for the past five Memorial Days:

Date	High	Low	Precip	Remarks
May 30, 2011	85	54	1.19	Mostly cloudy with thunderstorms
May 31, 2010	75	45	0.00	Sunny with southwest winds
May 25, 2009	80	56	0.99	Partly cloudy with thunderstorms
May 26, 2008	57	45	0.00	Cloudy with gusty northwest winds
May 28, 2007	80	59	Trace	Mostly sunny with gusty south winds

Memorial Day in Sisseton, SD (Period of Record 1931-2011)
Normals		Records
Maximum Temperature	73 F	Warmest High Temperature	113 F	30, 1934
Maximum Temperature	73 F	Coldest High Temperature	50 F	25, 1992
Minimum Temperature	50 F	Warmest Low Temperature	70 F	30, 1939
Minimum Temperature	50 F	Coldest Low Temperature	33 F	30, 1947
Average Temperature	62 F	Warmest Average Temperature	87 F	30, 1934
Average Temperature	62 F	Coldest Average Temperature	43.5 F	25, 1992
Precipitation	0.10"	Wettest	2.12"	31, 1971

The weather for the past five Memorial Days:

Date	High	Low	Precip	Remarks
May 30, 2011	87	55	0.67	Southerly winds with showers
May 31, 2010	79	50	0.00	Southwesterly winds
May 25, 2009	85	62	0.50	Southerly winds
May 26, 2008	59	46	0.00	Gusty northwest winds
May 28, 2007	86	54	0.00	Gusty south winds

Memorial Day in Mobridge, SD (Period of Record 1911-2011)
Normals		Records
Maximum Temperature	73 F	Warmest High Temperature	105 F	30, 1934
Maximum Temperature	73 F	Coldest High Temperature	50 F	25, 1992
Minimum Temperature	51 F	Warmest Low Temperature	77 F	30, 1934
Minimum Temperature	51 F	Coldest Low Temperature	35 F	30, 1947
Average Temperature	62 F	Warmest Average Temperature	91 F	30, 1934
Average Temperature	62 F	Coldest Average Temperature	44 F	25, 1992
Precipitation	0.10"	Wettest	3.24"	30, 1943

The weather for the past five Memorial Days:

Date	High	Low	Precip	Remarks
May 30, 2011	58	47	0.32	Overcast with light rain
May 31, 2010	75	53	Trace	Partly cloudy with southeast winds
May 25, 2009	70	52	Trace	Mostly cloudy with breezy northwest winds
May 26, 2008	52	39	Trace	Cloudy with gusty northwest winds
May 28, 2007	87	57	0.34	Partly sunny with gusty northwest winds

Memorial Day in Timber Lake, SD (Period of Record 1912-2011)
Normals		Records
Maximum Temperature	73 F	Warmest High Temperature	98 F	30, 1939
Maximum Temperature	73 F	Coldest High Temperature	48 F	27, 1996
Minimum Temperature	49 F	Warmest Low Temperature	64 F	30, 1988
Minimum Temperature	49 F	Coldest Low Temperature	31 F	30, 1947
Average Temperature	61 F	Warmest Average Temperature	80.5 F	30, 1939
Average Temperature	61 F	Coldest Average Temperature	45 F	27, 1996
Precipitation	0.09"	Wettest	1.73"	30, 1943

Memorial Day in Kennebec, SD (Period of Record 1893-2011)
Normals		Records
Maximum Temperature	77 F	Warmest High Temperature	107 F	30, 1934
Maximum Temperature	77 F	Coldest High Temperature	47 F	27, 1996
Minimum Temperature	51 F	Warmest Low Temperature	70 F	30, 1934
Minimum Temperature	51 F	Coldest Low Temperature	28 F	30, 1947
Average Temperature	64 F	Warmest Average Temperature	88.5 F	30, 1934
Average Temperature	64 F	Coldest Average Temperature	45 F	27, 1996
Precipitation	0.11"	Wettest	2.88"	30, 1919

Memorial Day in Wheaton, MN (Period of Record 1914-2011)
Normals		Records
Maximum Temperature	73 F	Warmest High Temperature	95 F	29, 2006
Maximum Temperature	73 F	Coldest High Temperature	54 F	25, 1992
Minimum Temperature	51 F	Warmest Low Temperature	64 F	26, 1980
Minimum Temperature	51 F	Coldest Low Temperature	34 F	30, 1924
Average Temperature	62 F	Warmest Average Temperature	78.5 F	29, 2006
Average Temperature	62 F	Coldest Average Temperature	46 F	25, 1992
Precipitation	0.10"	Wettest	1.70"	31, 1999

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Memorial Day Climate Data