National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

The year 2012 will be remembered for the very warm temperatures and also the drought that began in June and continued through the end of the year. The heat began in March and continued through early fall across the region. As a result, in 2012, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, and Huron all had the warmest average maximum temperatures ever recorded. In addition, the mean average temperature at all 3 locations was the 2nd warmest on record. The average minimum temperature was also among the top 10 warmest in Sioux Falls and Huron. While above normal in Sioux City, the average minimum temperature for 2012 was not the 5 warmest. Finally, while the summer and fall were dry, especially south of interstate 90, the wet spring meant both Sioux City and Huron were closer the normal. Only in Sioux Falls was 2012 among the 10 driest years on record. Below is a table showing the Top 5 warmest maximum, minimum and average temperatures for Sioux Falls, Sioux City, and Huron. Also shown is the 5 driest years on record.

In addition for each city having one of the warmest and driest years on record, the states of South Dakota and Nebraska also had the warmest year on record while Iowa and Minnesota were well above normal.  Nebraska also had its driest year on record while Iowa was much below normal.  For more information on the heat and drought of 2012, you can go to National Overview of the State of the Climate for 2012 written by the National Climate Data Center.

Huron, South Dakota

* 3 days missing from 1910

Sioux City, Iowa

Sioux Falls, South Dakota