National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

The preliminary data collected at the three climate stations in the Red River Valley show what we've known all along; it was a warm winter. Based on the early information the meteorological winter months of December 2011 through February 2012 was the warmest for the Fargo Area, and in the top ten for the Grand Forks Area. Below is a table with the specifics of the record warmth.

Precipitation and snowfall ended up within the "normal" range, as the last few weeks saw an increase in precipitation across the area. Remember these are based on preliminary data and the final assessment will be made by the National Climate Data Center in Asheville North Carolina.

The data below are based on the 91 day period of December 1 through February 29.

Fargo Area  (ThreadEx Station) Extremes
Highest Average Average Temperature degrees F
Days: 12/1 - 2/29
Length of period: 91 days
Years: 1881-2012
                                                                                 
Rank  Value  Ending Year
  1    22.1    2012
  2    22.0    1987
  3    21.7    1931
  4    20.7    1998
  5    20.1    2002
  6    19.5    1992,  1983
  8    17.8    2000
  9    17.6    1944,  1942
                                                                                 
Ending Date is the last day of the 90-day period.Only periods with no missing data were evaluated. This station's record may include data from more than one, possibly incompatible, locations. It reflects the longest available record for the Fargo Area.                  

GRAND FORKS INTL AP (KGFK)Extremes
Highest Average Average Temperature degrees F
Days: 12/1 - 2/29
Length of period: 91 days
Years: 1941-2012
                                                
Rank  Value  Ending Year
  1    19.6    1983                        
  2    19.2    2012                        
  3    18.7    1987                        
  4    17.8    1992                        
  5    17.4    2002                        
  6    16.5    2000                        
  7    15.6    1981                        
  8    14.3    2006                        
  9    12.8    1980                        
 10    12.3    2007                        
                                                
Ending Date is the last day of the 90-day period. Only periods with no missing data were evaluated. Last value also occurred in one or more previous years.

GRAND FORKS UNIV (323621)Extremes               
Highest Average Average Temperature degrees F   
Days: 12/1 - 2/29                               
Length of period: 91 days                       
Years: 1890-2012                                
                                                
Rank  Value  Ending Year
  1    21.2    2006                        
  2    20.0    1983                        
  3    19.9    1987
  4    19.4    2012                       
  5    19.3    1998
  6    19.0    1931                        
  7    17.8    2002,  1992            
  9    17.3    2000                        
 10    15.9    1981                        
                                                
Ending Date is the last day of the 90-day period. Only periods with no missing data were evaluated.

Very Warm Half A Year

Not only the warmest meteorological winter, but the warmest September - February period as well for Fargo and Grand Forks. It was the second warmest for the UND/NWS Climate Station. Not only the warmest, but very dry as well. For Fargo, it was the 5th driest meteorological fall & winter on record. Information for the 3 climate stations is listed in the tables below. Once again, the information provided is preliminary and subject to adjustments by the NCDC.

Fargo Area  (ThreadEx Station)
Extremes
Highest Average Average Temperature degrees F
Days: 9/1 - 2/29
Length of period: 181 days
Years: 1881-2012

Rank  Value  Ending Year
  1    35.5    2012
  2    34.0    2002
  3    33.0    1931
  4    32.8    1964
  5    32.4    1998,  1921,  2006,  1932
  9    31.8    1995,  1987

Ending Date is the last day of the 181-day period. Only periods with no missing data were evaluated.

This station's record may include data from more than one, possibly incompatible, locations. It reflects the longest available record for the Fargo Area.

GRAND FORKS INTL AP (KGFK)
Extremes
Highest Average Average Temperature degrees F
Days: 9/1 - 2/29
Length of period: 181 days
Years: 1941-2012

Rank  Value  Ending Year
  1    33.2    2012
  2    31.3    2002
  3    30.7    1983
  4    29.9    2000
  5    29.8    1981
  6    29.5    2006
  7    29.3    1987
  8    28.6    1992
  9    27.7    1980,  1976

Ending Date is the last day of the 181-day period. Only periods with no missing data were evaluated.

GRAND FORKS UNIV (323621)
Extremes
Highest Average Average Temperature degrees F
Days: 9/1 - 2/29
Length of period: 181 days
Years: 1890-2012

Rank  Value  Ending Year
  1    33.7    2006
  2    33.1    2012
  3    32.0    2002
  4    31.6    1983
  5    31.3    1964
  6    31.2    1998
  7    30.9    2000
  8    30.6    1931
  9    30.5    1981
 10    30.2    1987

Ending Date is the last day of the 181-day period. Only periods with no missing data were evaluated. 

For additional information contact the Grand Forns NWS