Winter Solstice Climate Statistics

The start of astronomical winter is Sunday, at 604 a.m. CST.  At this time, it appears as if it should be a very cold and windy day.  However, probably not as bitterly cold as was the case in those infamous Decembers of 1983 and 1989 on the first day of winter.  See below how this year may compare to other Winter Solstices.

Sioux Falls              
                     
Coldest Minimum Temp.     Warmest Maximum Temp.
Year Date Max Min Precip   Year Date Max Min Precip
1983 12/22 -10 -26 T   1941 12/21 56 29 0
1916 12/21 2 -26 0   1965 12/21 51 21 0
1989 12/21 -16 -25 T   1957 12/21 50 24 0
1990 12/21 -10 -20 0.02   1904 12/22 47 29 0
1951 12/22 16 -19 T   1950 12/22 46 14 0
1963 12/22 12 -17 0   1982 12/21 46 25 0
1960 12/21 0 -13 0   1934 12/22 44 19 T
1999 12/22 12 -11 T   1979 12/22 44 22 0
1924 12/21 3 -10 0   1991 12/22 44 30 0
                     
Warmest Minimum Temp.   Coldest Maximum Temp.  
Year  Date Max Min Precip   Year Date Max Min Precip
2006 12/21 34 32 0.58   1989 12/21 -16 -25 T
1931 12/22 39 32 0   1983 12/22 -10 -26 T
1894 12/21 38 31 0   1990 12/21 -10 -20 0.02
1991 12/22 44 30 0   1960 12/21 0 -13 0
1941 12/21 56 29 0   1916 12/21 2 -26 0
1904 12/22 47 29 0   1924 12/21 3 -10 0
1959 12/22 32 28 T   1998 12/21 3 -5 T
1922 12/22 42 27 0   2000 12/21 4 -9 T
                     
Wettest         Snowiest      
Year Date Max Min Precip   Year Date Max Min Snowfall
1920 12/21 24 10 1.22   1920 12/21 24 10 12.0
2006 12/21 34 32 0.58   1968 12/21 18 9 5.7
1968 12/21 18 9 0.44   1910 12/22 36 4 3.0
1910 12/22 36 4 0.15   1953 12/21 34 -1 1.1
1926 12/22 32 25 0.12   1996 12/21 29 1 1.0
                     
Sioux City              
                     
Coldest Minimum Temp.     Warmest Maximum Temp.
Year Date Max Min Precip   Year Date Max Min Precip
1989 12/21 -13 -22 T   1933 12/22 61 36 0
1983 12/22 -7 -18 0   1941 12/21 60 37 0
1951 12/22 20 -15 T   1965 12/21 57 23 0
1916 12/21 3 -15 0   1890 12/21 55 29 0
1963 12/22 8 -14 0   1900 12/22 54 34 0
1990 12/21 -6 -12 0.03   1950 12/22 54 15 0
1924 12/21 5 -9 0.08   1904 12/22 53 28 0
1897 12/21 20 -6 T   1954 12/22 53 21 0
1961 12/21 20 -6 0            
1999 12/22 10 -6 T            
                     
Warmest Minimum Temp.   Coldest Maximum Temp.  
Year  Date Max Min Precip   Year Date Max Min Precip
1941 12/21 60 37 0   1989 12/21 -13 -22 T
1891 12/21 45 36 0.56   1983 12/22 -7 -18 0
1933 12/22 61 36 0   1990 12/21 -6 -12 0.03
2006 12/21 39 35 0.59   1916 12/21 3 -15 0
1894 12/21 43 34 0   1924 12/21 5 -9 0.08
1900 12/22 54 34 0   1963 12/22 8 -14 0
1931 12/22 48 33 0   2000 12/21 8 -4 T
1991 12/22 44 32 0   1998 12/21 9 -1 T
                     
Wettest         Snowiest      
Year Date Max Min Precip   Year Date Max Min Snowfall
2006 12/21 39 35 0.59   1968 12/21 25 12 4.5
1920 12/21 24 11 0.58   1990 12/21 -6 -12 0.5
1891 12/21 45 36 0.56   1953 12/21 34 5 0.4
1968 12/21 25 12 0.44   1995 12/22 25 19 0.1
1889 12/21 35 29 0.26            
1938 12/22 34 24 0.25            
                     
Huron                  
                     
Coldest Minimum Temp.     Warmest Maximum Temp.
Year Date Max Min Precip   Year Date Max Min Precip
1989 12/21 -17 -26 0   1965 12/21 55 22 0
1983 12/22 -8 -24 0   1890 12/21 52 21 0
1916 12/21 6 -21 T   1941 12/21 52 31 0
1990 12/21 -11 -21 0.04   1957 12/21 50 21 0
1960 12/21 -1 -20 T   1979 12/22 49 20 0
1963 12/22 4 -18 T   1899 12/21 48 8 0
1884 12/21 1 -16 0.08   1915 12/22 48 19 T
1951 12/22 16 -16 T   1907 12/22 46 16 0
1887 12/21 -2 -14 0.08   1950 12/22 46 17 0
2000 12/21 2 -13 T            
                     
Warmest Minimum Temp.   Coldest Maximum Temp.  
Year  Date Max Min Precip   Year Date Max Min Precip
1941 12/21 52 31 0   1989 12/21 -17 -26 0
1901 12/22 37 30 T   1990 12/21 -11 -21 0.04
1922 12/22 44 27 0   1983 12/22 -8 -24 0
1926 12/22 34 26 T   1924 12/21 -3 -11 0.02
1885 12/21 40 25 T   1887 12/21 -2 -14 0.08
1894 12/21 34 25 0   1960 12/21 -1 -20 T
1987 12/22 44 25 0   1884 12/21 1 -16 0.08
2003 12/22 42 25 0.02   2000 12/21 2 -13 T
2006 12/21 34 25 0.14   1963 12/22 4 -18 T
                     
Wettest         Snowiest      
Year Date Max Min Precip   Year Date Max Min Snowfall
1920 12/21 19 -3 0.38   1968 12/21 19 13 4.8
1968 12/21 19 13 0.34   1993 12/21 32 3 4.5
1993 12/21 32 3 0.21   1920 12/21 19 -3 3.8
1910 12/22 33 20 0.15   1953 12/21 27 -1 1.9
1953 12/21 27 -1 0.15   1990 12/21 -11 -21 1.8
2006 12/21 34 25 0.14   1910 12/22 33 20 1.5
1889 12/21 29 21 0.12   1945 12/21 6 -4 1.5
1935 12/22 37 15 0.10   1935 12/22 37 15 1.0



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