Looking back... A little of everything possible on the first day of Spring

This time of year, it is certainly not uncommon to find a large variation in conditions across the Northern Plains. All one needs to do is look back a couple weeks ago to find one to two feet of snowcover.  The very next week, highs in many similar locations reached the 50s, 60s and even 70s.  Sometimes the variation on a single day is quite remarkable, with highs on Monday across the region varying from teens to 60s. Yes, springtime is certainly a season of large variation across the Northern Plains. 

Over the entire period of record for Sioux Falls, Sioux City and Huron, here are the average temperatures and probability of precipitation: 

Location  

Average High Temperature

Average Low Temperature

Climatological Probability of Precipitation (trace or greater)

Sioux Falls

45

24

35.4%

Sioux City

47

26

41.9%

Huron

43

22

48.8%

 Here’s a look at some extremes on this day when the most direct incoming solar radiation first marks its return to the Northern Hemisphere since six months ago at the Autumnal equnox.

  Sioux Falls
Coldest Minimum Temp.   Warmest Maximum Temp.
Year Date Max Min Precip Year Date Max Min Precip
1951 3/21 26 -11 0 1910 3/21 83 40 0
1965 3/20 18 -2 T 1907 3/21 75 40 0
1899 3/20 14 -1 0.03 1911 3/21 75 39 0
1913 3/20 22 0 T 1939 3/21 74 40 0
1974 3/20 27 5 0.16 1990 3/20 68 32 0
1986 3/20 28 5 T 1916 3/20 65 30 0
1893 3/20 42 6 0 1935 3/21 65 33 0
1960 3/20 30 6 0 1938 3/21 65 49 0
1953 3/20 65 41 0.03
Warmest Minimum Temp. Coldest Maximum Temp.  
Year  Date Max Min Precip Year Date Max Min Precip
1938 3/21 65 49 0 1899 3/20 14 -1 0.03
1987 3/20 63 45 0.13 1965 3/20 18 -2 T
1918 3/21 60 41 0 1913 3/20 22 0 T
1953 3/20 65 41 0.03 1955 3/21 24 7 0.02
1910 3/21 83 40 0 1933 3/20 25 8 0
1907 3/21 75 40 0 1951 3/21 26 -11 0
1939 3/21 74 40 0 1932 3/20 27 20 0.60
1991 3/20 61 40 0.19 1974 3/20 27 5 0.16
1911 3/21 75 39 0 1983 3/20 28 20 T
1972 3/20 54 39 0.07 1986 3/20 28 5 T
Wettest       Snowiest      
Year Date Max Min Precip Year Date Max Min Snowfall
1923 3/21 46 26 0.77 1923 3/21 46 26 6.5
1932 3/20 27 20 0.60 1932 3/20 27 20 5.0
1921 3/20 60 33 0.54 1974 3/20 27 5 1.9
1912 3/20 32 12 0.23 1950 3/20 33 25 1.1
1991 3/20 61 40 0.19 1964 3/20 32 12 1.1
1974 3/20 27 5 0.16 1977 3/20 32 16 0.8
1964 3/20 32 12 0.16 1940 3/20 34 20 0.5
1994 3/20 44 31 0.14 1994 3/20 44 31 0.5
1987 3/20 63 45 0.13
Sioux City
Coldest Minimum Temp.   Warmest Maximum Temp.
Year Date Max Min Precip Year Date Max Min Precip
1951 3/21 29 -1 0 1910 3/21 85 47 0
1965 3/20 20 4 T 1907 3/21 81 41 0
1892 3/19 26 5 0 1939 3/21 81 41 0
1899 3/20 24 5 T 1911 3/21 72 47 T
1913 3/20 20 6 0.02 1938 3/21 71 47 T
1974 3/20 33 7 0.28 1987 3/20 69 45 0.47
1900 3/20 27 8 0 1988 3/20 69 25 0
1990 3/20 69 26 0
1997 3/20 69 33 0
Warmest Minimum Temp. Coldest Maximum Temp.  
Year  Date Max Min Precip Year Date Max Min Precip
1910 3/21 85 47 0 1913 3/20 20 6 0.02
1911 3/21 72 47 T 1965 3/20 20 4 T
1938 3/21 71 47 T 1955 3/21 23 12 0.04
1972 3/20 67 47 0.05 1899 3/20 24 5 T
1987 3/20 69 45 0.47 1933 3/20 25 12 T
1894 3/20 49 43 0.04 1892 3/19 26 5 0
1953 3/20 64 42 T 1914 3/21 26 11 0.01
1991 3/20 63 42 0.18 1900 3/20 27 8 0
1907 3/21 81 41 0 1912 3/20 27 11 1.39
1939 3/21 81 41 0 1932 3/20 28 22 0.25
Wettest       Snowiest      
Year Date Max Min Precip Year Date Max Min Snowfall
1912 3/20 27 11 1.39 2006 3/20 35 28 7.5
2006 3/20 35 28 0.62 1974 3/20 33 7 3.7
1987 3/20 69 45 0.47 1964 3/20 33 13 3.4
1964 3/20 33 13 0.36 1961 3/20 38 33 0.5
1974 3/20 33 7 0.28 1955 3/21 23 12 0.4
1932 3/20 28 22 0.25 1969 3/20 34 22 0.4
2003 3/20 49 35 0.24 1983 3/20 32 24 0.3
1991 3/20 63 42 0.18 1950 3/20 34 27 0.1
1977 3/20 41 26 0.1
Huron
Coldest Minimum Temp.   Warmest Maximum Temp.
Year Date Max Min Precip Year Date Max Min Precip
1965 3/20 21 -5 T 1907 3/21 84 40 0
1951 3/21 28 -4 0 1910 3/21 83 45 0
1892 3/19 19 -3 0 1939 3/21 76 30 0
1913 3/20 11 -2 0.04 1990 3/20 69 31 0.01
1899 3/20 12 0 0.03 1911 3/21 67 35 0
1900 3/20 28 2 0 1953 3/20 66 40 0
1912 3/20 13 3 0.21 1916 3/20 63 34 0
1943 3/21 39 3 0 1929 3/20 63 28 0
1960 3/20 26 4 0 1946 3/20 63 37 0
2002 3/20 23 4 T 1987 3/20 63 44 0.02
Warmest Minimum Temp. Coldest Maximum Temp.  
Year  Date Max Min Precip Year Date Max Min Precip
1910 3/21 83 45 0 1913 3/20 11 -2 0.04
1926 3/21 62 45 0 1899 3/20 12 0 0.03
1938 3/21 59 45 0 1912 3/20 13 3 0.21
1987 3/20 63 44 0.02 1892 3/19 19 -3 0
1991 3/20 48 43 0.14 1965 3/20 21 -5 T
1907 3/21 84 40 0 1955 3/21 23 7 T
1953 3/20 66 40 0 2002 3/20 23 4 T
1894 3/20 44 38 0.10 1989 3/20 24 5 T
1946 3/20 63 37 0 1932 3/20 25 23 0.03
1972 3/20 42 36 0.48
Wettest       Snowiest      
Year Date Max Min Precip Year Date Max Min Snowfall
1972 3/20 42 36 0.48 1982 3/20 31 26 4.3
1887 3/20 31 20 0.29 1977 3/20 33 13 2.4
1882 3/20 42 10 0.26 1912 3/20 13 3 1.5
1912 3/20 13 3 0.21 1940 3/20 27 14 1.2
1977 3/20 33 13 0.17 1932 3/20 25 23 0.7
1991 3/20 48 43 0.14 1964 3/20 30 5 0.6
1982 3/20 31 26 0.13 1913 3/20 11 -2 0.5
1994 3/20 54 29 0.11 1924 3/20 36 28 0.5
1894 3/20 44 38 0.10 1950 3/20 31 25 0.5



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