National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

...FEBRUARY 2011 CLIMATE REVIEW FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND
PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

LISTED BELOW ARE A NUMBER OF CLIMATE HIGHLIGHTS AND DAILY WEATHER
RECORDS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2011...WITH SPECIFIC CLIMATE
DATA FOCUSING PRIMARILY ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA TRI-CITIES OF
GRAND ISLAND...HASTINGS AND KEARNEY.

OVERALL...WHEN COMPARED TO OFFICIAL 30-YEAR AVERAGES FROM
1971-2000...FEBRUARY WAS COLDER THAN AVERAGE ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH
CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. PRECIPITATION VARIED
HOWEVER...WITH MOST AREAS NEAR AND NORTH OF U.S. HIGHWAY 6 RECORDING
BELOW-AVERAGE PRECIPITATION...WHILE MANY AREAS SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY
6 CORRIDOR CHECKED IN ABOVE-AVERAGE. 

PRECIPITATION WISE...THE MONTH FEATURED TWO PRIMARY SNOWFALL
EVENTS...BOTH OF WHICH TARGETED THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE HASTINGS
NWS COUNTY WARNING AREA. THE FIRST EVENT WAS FOCUSED ON THE
7TH-8TH...AND BROUGHT MUCH OF THE NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS COVERAGE AREA
6-9 INCHES...WHILE LOCATIONS IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA GENERALLY
WEST OF A LINE FROM KEARNEY TO HEBRON PICKED UP 2-5 INCHES. THEN ON
THE 24TH...MOST COUNTIES ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE
80...INCLUDING NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...PICKED UP AT LEAST 2-6 INCHES
OF SNOW...WITH ONE INTENSE...NARROW BAND DUMPING AS MUCH AS 8-12
INCHES OF SNOW ON SOME AREAS BETWEEN HIGHWAY 6 AND THE KANSAS
BORDER.

GIVEN THAT MOST OF THE SNOW FOCUSED PRIMARILY ALONG AND SOUTH OF
HIGHWAY 6...MOST LOCATIONS NEAR AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 6 ONLY MEASURED
FEBRUARY PRECIPITATION BETWEEN 25-75 PERCENT OF AVERAGE. THIS
INCLUDED GRAND ISLAND...WHICH ONLY PICKED UP AROUND 40 PERCENT OF
AVERAGE FEBRUARY PRECIPITATION. IN CONTRAST...SEVERAL AREAS NEAR AND
SOUTH OF THE NEBRASKA-KANSAS BORDER PICKED UP AMOUNTS BETWEEN
110-175 PERCENT OF AVERAGE. THIS INCLUDED SMITH CENTER
KANSAS...WHICH MEASURED 0.86 FOR THE MONTH...OR AROUND 160 PERCENT
OF AVERAGE.

TEMPERATURE WISE...DESPITE CHECKING IN COLDER THAN AVERAGE AS A
WHOLE...FEBRUARY 2011 HAD PLENTY OF CONTRASTS. THE MONTH BEGAN AND
ENDED ON A COLD NOTE...ESPECIALLY DURING THE FIRST WEEK. ON THE VERY
FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH...MOST OF THE AREA ENDURED SINGLE-DIGIT
HIGHS...AND WIND CHILL VALUES OF AT LEAST -25 TO -30. IN
CONTRAST...A NOTABLE WARM STRETCH DOMINATED A 7-10 DAY PERIOD AT
MID-MONTH. DURING THIS WARM SPELL...GRAND ISLAND HAD 5 DAYS WITH
DAILY READINGS AT LEAST 17 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE. OVERALL
THOUGH...MOST LOCATIONS IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA ALONG AND NORTH OF
HIGHWAY 6 ENDED UP 1-4 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE FOR THE MONTH...WHILE
COUNTIES ALONG THE KANSAS BORDER AND SOUTHWARD INTO NORTH CENTRAL
KANSAS WERE GENERALLY 3-6 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE.  IN THE
TRI-CITIES...KEARNEY FEATURED BOTH THE WARMEST AND COLDEST
TEMPERATURES OF THE MONTH...WITH 71 DEGREES ON THE 13TH...AND -6 ON
BOTH THE 1ST AND 2ND.

 ...GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL NEBRASKA REGIONAL AIRPORT...

...TEMPERATURES

NO DAILY TEMPERATURE RECORDS SET IN FEBRUARY 2011

AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE:    39.0 DEGREES (0.4 ABOVE AVERAGE)
AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURE:     15.8 DEGREES (1.9 BELOW AVERAGE)
AVERAGE OVERALL TEMPERATURE: 27.4 DEGREES (0.8 BELOW AVERAGE) 

WARMEST DAYTIME HIGH (7AM-7PM): 70 DEGREES ON THE 13TH
COLDEST DAYTIME HIGH (7AM-7PM):  6 DEGREES ON THE 1ST

COLDEST OVERNIGHT LOW (12AM-8AM):  -5 DEGREES ON THE 2ND
WARMEST OVERNIGHT LOW (12AM-8AM):  38 DEGREES ON THE 16TH


WARMEST 2-DAY STRETCH
(BASED ON AVG. HIGH TEMPERATURE):   66.0 DEGREES FEB. 15-16 

WARMEST 7-DAY STRETCH
(BASED ON AVG. HIGH TEMPERATURES):  61.3 DEGREES FEB. 12-18

COLDEST 2-DAY STRETCH
(AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURES):     9.5 DEGREES FEB. 1-2


COLDEST 7-DAY STRETCH
(AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURES):    27.4 DEGREES FEB. 1-7

COLDEST 7-DAY STRETCH
(AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURES):      9.0 DEGREES FEB. 2-8



...PRECIPITATION

NO DAILY PRECIPITATION OR SNOWFALL RECORDS SET IN FEBRUARY 2011

NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION (0.01 OR MORE): 6
NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE SNOWFALL (0.1 OR MORE): 6

TOTAL PRECIPITATION (LIQUID EQUIVALENT): 0.28 IN. (0.40 BELOW AVG.)
ALL-TIME RANK: 23RD-DRIEST FEBRUARY ON RECORD OUT OF 116 YEARS

HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY
PRECIPITATION (LIQUID EQUIVALENT): 0.09 INCHES ON THE 25TH

HIGHEST 2-DAY PRECIPITATION (LIQUID EQUIVALENT): 0.12 INCHES 24TH-25TH


TOTAL SNOWFALL: 2.2 INCHES (3.7 INCHES BELOW AVERAGE)

HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL:  0.7 INCHES ON THE 1ST
HIGHEST 2-DAY SNOWFALL:         0.9 INCHES ON THE 25TH-26TH


PRECIPITATION TOTALS AND DEPARTURES FROM AVERAGE FOR THE PAST 12
MONTHS:

MONTH           PRECIPITATION    DEPARTURE
                     
MARCH 2010                2.53            +0.49           
APRIL 2010                 1.94            -0.67
MAY 2010                   4.24            +0.17
JUNE 2010                  8.77            +5.05    
JULY 2010                  4.10            +0.96
AUGUST 2010              3.87            +0.79
SEPTEMBER 2010         1.66            -0.77
OCTOBER 2010            0.30            -1.21
NOVEMBER 2010          0.44            -0.97
DECEMBER 2010          0.24            -0.42
JANUARY 2011            1.49            +0.95

FEBRUARY 2011           0.28            -0.40

12-MONTH SUMMARY    29.86           +3.97
 

...OTHER WEATHER ELEMENTS

HIGHEST WIND GUST: 43 MPH FROM THE NORTHWEST ON THE 1ST, 17TH
HIGHEST SURFACE SEA LEVEL PRESSURE: 30.81 ON THE 2ND
LOWEST SURFACE SEA LEVEL PRESSURE:  29.39 ON THE 17TH



...HASTINGS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (NWS OFFICE USED FOR SNOWFALL)...

...TEMPERATURES

NO DAILY TEMPERATURE RECORDS SET IN FEBRUARY 2011

AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE:    38.2 DEGREES (1.8 BELOW AVERAGE)       
AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURE:     16.0 DEGREES (3.1 BELOW AVERAGE)  
AVERAGE OVERALL TEMPERATURE: 27.1 DEGREES (2.5 BELOW AVERAGE) 

WARMEST DAYTIME HIGH (7AM-7PM): 66 DEGREES ON THE 13TH, 16TH
COLDEST DAYTIME HIGH (7AM-7PM):  6 DEGREES ON THE 1ST

COLDEST OVERNIGHT LOW (12AM-8AM):  -4 DEGREES ON THE 2ND
WARMEST OVERNIGHT LOW (12AM-8AM):  39 DEGREES ON THE 16TH

WARMEST 2-DAY STRETCH
(BASED ON AVG. HIGH TEMPERATURE):   65.0 DEGREES FEB. 16-17

WARMEST 7-DAY STRETCH
(BASED ON AVG. HIGH TEMPERATURES):  59.6 DEGREES FEB. 13-19


COLDEST 2-DAY STRETCH
(AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE):      9.0 DEGREES FEB. 1-2   

COLDEST 7-DAY STRETCH
(AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURES):    27.4 DEGREES FEB. 1-7

COLDEST 7-DAY STRETCH
(AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURES):      8.9 DEGREES FEB. 2-8



...PRECIPITATION

NO DAILY PRECIPITATION OR SNOWFALL RECORDS SET IN FEBRUARY 2011

NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION (0.01 OR MORE): 5
NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE SNOWFALL (0.1 OR MORE): 6

TOTAL PRECIPITATION (LIQUID EQUIVALENT): 0.30 IN. (0.37 BELOW AVG.)
ALL-TIME RANK: 26TH-DRIEST FEBRUARY ON RECORD OUT OF 117 YEARS

HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY
PRECIPITATION (LIQUID EQUIVALENT): 0.19 INCHES ON THE 24TH

HIGHEST 2-DAY PRECIPITATION (LIQUID EQUIVALENT): 0.20 INCHES 24TH-25TH


TOTAL SNOWFALL: 5.2 INCHES (0.2 BELOW AVERAGE)

HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL:  2.8 INCHES ON THE 24TH
HIGHEST 2-DAY SNOWFALL:         3.3 INCHES ON THE 24TH-25TH   
  

PRECIPITATION TOTALS AND DEPARTURES FROM AVERAGE FOR THE PAST 12
MONTHS:

MONTH           PRECIPITATION    DEPARTURE

MARCH 2010               2.95            +0.87           
APRIL 2010                 3.60            +0.73
MAY 2010                   5.95            +1.36
JUNE 2010                  4.76            +1.17    
JULY 2010                  1.85            -1.96
AUGUST 2010             2.86            -0.32
SEPTEMBER 2010         2.70            -0.04
OCTOBER 2010            0.16            -1.51
NOVEMBER 2010          0.80            -0.66
DECEMBER 2010           0.28            -0.45
JANUARY 2011             1.00            +0.45

FEBRUARY 2011           0.30            -0.37

12-MONTH SUMMARY    27.21           -0.73
 

...OTHER WEATHER ELEMENTS

HIGHEST WIND GUST: 45 MPH FROM THE NORTH ON THE 1ST
HIGHEST SURFACE SEA LEVEL PRESSURE: 30.80 ON THE 2ND
LOWEST SURFACE SEA LEVEL PRESSURE:  29.39 ON THE 17TH



...KEARNEY REGIONAL AIRPORT (NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVER)...

...TEMPERATURES

DAILY TEMPERATURE RECORDS SET IN FEBRUARY 2011:

FEB. 13TH: TIED RECORD HIGH OF 71 DEGREES. PREVIOUS YEARS REACHED
           INCLUDE 1967, 1954, 1934, 1904

AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE:    38.2 DEGREES (1.4 BELOW AVERAGE)       
AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURE:     13.6 DEGREES (1.9 BELOW AVERAGE)  
AVERAGE OVERALL TEMPERATURE: 25.9 DEGREES (1.7 BELOW AVERAGE)

WARMEST DAYTIME HIGH (7AM-7PM): 71 DEGREES ON THE 13TH
COLDEST DAYTIME HIGH (7AM-7PM):  6 DEGREES ON THE 8TH

COLDEST OVERNIGHT LOW (12AM-8AM):  -6 DEGREES ON THE 1ST, 2ND
WARMEST OVERNIGHT LOW (12AM-8AM):  34 DEGREES ON THE 17TH

WARMEST 2-DAY STRETCH
(BASED ON AVG. HIGH TEMPERATURE):   67.5 DEGREES FEB. 15-16

WARMEST 7-DAY STRETCH
(BASED ON AVG. HIGH TEMPERATURES):  61.4 DEGREES FEB. 12-18


COLDEST 2-DAY STRETCH
(AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURES):    11.0 DEGREES FEB. 1-2

COLDEST 7-DAY STRETCH
(AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURES):    27.4 DEGREES FEB. 1-7

COLDEST 7-DAY STRETCH
(AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURES):      7.0 DEGREES FEB. 1-7  
   


...PRECIPITATION

NO DAILY PRECIPITATION OR SNOWFALL RECORDS SET IN FEBRUARY 2011

NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION (0.01 OR MORE): 4
NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE SNOWFALL (0.1 OR MORE): 4

TOTAL PRECIPITATION (LIQUID EQUIVALENT): 0.12 INCHES (0.49 BELOW AVG.)

HIGHEST 24-HOUR PRECIPITATION
(LIQUID EQUIVALENT)ENDING AT 7AM: 0.04 INCH ON THE 2ND, 25TH

HIGHEST 48-HOUR PRECIPITATION
(LIQUID EQUIVALENT)ENDING AT 7AM: 0.06 INCH ON THE 25TH-26TH


TOTAL SNOWFALL: 4.7 INCHES (0.4 INCHES BELOW AVERAGE)

HIGHEST 24-HOUR SNOWFALL ENDING AT 7AM: 1.5 INCHES ON THE 8TH
HIGHEST 48-HOUR SNOWFALL ENDING AT 7AM: 2.2 INCHES ON THE 25TH-26TH


PRECIPITATION TOTALS AND DEPARTURES FROM AVERAGE FOR THE PAST 12
MONTHS:

MONTH           PRECIPITATION    DEPARTURE

MARCH 2010                 1.84            -0.21           
APRIL 2010                 3.22            +0.79
MAY 2010                   3.36            -0.76
JUNE 2010                   5.28            +1.56    
JULY 2010                   4.61            +1.18
AUGUST 2010              3.47            +0.57
SEPTEMBER 2010          1.02            -1.01
OCTOBER 2010             0.34            -1.20
NOVEMBER 2010           0.93            -0.29
DECEMBER 2010            0.14            -0.47
JANUARY 2011             0.86            +0.32

FEBRUARY 2011            0.12            -0.49

12-MONTH SUMMARY    25.19           -0.01



...OTHER NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS OR AUTOMATED ASOS/AWOS SITES...

...A FEW OF THE WARMEST HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING FEBRUARY 2011

76 DEGREES...ALTON KS ON THE 16TH (COOPERATIVE OBSERVER)

76 DEGREES...PHILLIPSBURG KS ON THE 16TH (AWOS)

75 DEGREES...SMITH CENTER KS ON THE 16TH (COOPERATIVE OBSERVER)

72 DEGREES...HOLDREGE ON THE 13TH (COOPERATIVE OBSERVER)

72 DEGREES...BELOIT KS ON THE 16TH (COOPERATIVE OBSERVER)

72 DEGREES...OXFORD (6 MILES NNW) ON THE 13TH (COOPERATIVE OBSERVER)


...A FEW OF THE COLDEST LOW TEMPERATURES DURING FEBRUARY 2011

-10 DEGREES...SUPERIOR (4 MILES EAST) ON THE 3RD (COOP OBSERVER)

-9 DEGREES...BURR OAK KS ON THE 3RD (COOPERATIVE OBSERVER)

-8 DEGREES...OXFORD (6 MILES NNW) ON THE 3RD

-7 DEGREES...ORD ON THE 2ND (ASOS)

-7 DEGREES...OSCEOLA ON THE 8TH (COOPERATIVE OBSERVER)

Grand Island (Regional Airport) - Feb. 2010 - Feb. 2011

 31.3

 50.9

66.6   

69.9 

  83.9

 86.0

89.1 

79.6 

 70.9 

50.1  

36.2 

28.5

 39.0

Average Low (F)

 16.4

 32.6

42.1 

 48.4 

61.8 

 51.9

 40.3

25.8 

14.9 

8.7

15.8 

Average
 Temperature (F)

 23.8

 41.8

 54.3

 59.1

 76.1

76.7 

 65.8

55.6 

37.9 

25.6 

18.6

27.4 

Departure from Normal (F)

 -4.4

 +3.5

 +4.4

 -1.5

+1.7 

 +0.3

+3.1 

 +1.3

 +3.6

+1.5 

 0.0

-3.8

-0.8 

Precipitation (inches)

 0.66

 2.53

     1.94 

 4.24

8.77 

4.10 

 3.87

1.66 

 0.30  

0.44 

1.49

 0.28 

Departure from Normal

 -0.02

  +0.49

+0.17 

 +5.05

 +0.96

 +0.79

-0.77 

-1.21 

-0.97 

-0.42 

 +0.95

-0.40 

Snowfall (inches)

 7.4

 0.5

 T

 0.0

  0.0

 0.0

0.0 

0.0 

 0.0

T 

3.0 

18.7

 2.2 

 Departure from Normal

 +1.5

 -6.3

 -1.5

 0.0

 0.0

 0.0

0.0 

-0.2 

 -1.0

-4.7 

-3.6

+12.5

-3.7 

 Hastings (Municipal Airport) - Feb. 2010 - Feb. 2011

 31.4

 50.7

 66.1

 69.0

 83.7

 86.6

 88.6

 78.5

 70.5

50.5 

 36.2

28.6

 38.2

Average Low (F)

 32.4

42.7 

 49.0

 62.8

 67.2

 65.0

 53.2

41.5 

26.9 

 16.0

 10.2

 16.0

Average Temperature (F)

24.2

 41.6

 54.4

  59.0

 73.2

 76.9

 76.8

65.8 

 56.0

38.7 

  19.4

 27.1

 Departure  from Normal (F)

-5.4

 +2.5

 +3.8 

 -2.5

 +1.6

+0.8 

 +2.9

 +0.8

 +3.0

 +1.5

  -0.6

-4.2

 -2.5

Precipitation (inches)

  2.95

   3.60

5.95 

 4.76

 1.85

2.86 

 2.70

  0.16

0.80 

0.28 

 1.00

 0.30

 Departure from Normal

  0.00

 +0.87

 +0.73

 +1.36

 +1.17

 -1.96

 -0.32

  -0.04

 -1.51

 -0.66

-0.45 

 +0.45

 -0.37

Snowfall (inches)

  8.3

 2.0

  T

0.0 

 0.0 

 0.0 

  0.0 

   0.0 

  0.0 

0.1 

3.3 

 20.0

5.2  

Departure from Normal 

 +2.9

 -3.7

 -1.3

 0.0 

 0.0

 -0.2

 -1.0

-3.4 

-2.7 

 +15.1

 -0.2 

Kearney (Cooperative Observer at Airport)  - Feb. 2010 - Feb. 2011

Feb. 2010

 March 

 April 

 May 

 June 

 July 

August

 September

October

November

 December

January

February

Average High (F)

33.4

50.5

66.3

68.7

82.5

 85.9

87.7

79.2

71.3 

 50.6

 36.4

29.7

38.2

 Average Low (F)

15.2

 29.7

 40.0

 46.0

59.2

 64.5

63.5

 50.4

38.4 

 24.3

 13.5

8.5

 13.6

Average Temperature (F)

 24.3

40.1

53.2

57.4

 70.9

 75.2

75.6

 64.8

54.9

37.5

25.0 

19.1

25.9

  Departure from Normal (F)

-3.3

+3.1

+5.0

 -1.8

+1.1 

+0.5

+3.1 

 +1.3

+3.5

+1.7

-0.9 

-3.3

-1.7

Precipitation (inches)

0.67 

 1.84

3.22

3.36

5.28 

4.61  

3.47

1.02

0.34 

0.93 

0.14 

0.86

0.12

 Departure from Normal

+0.06

 -0.21

 +0.79 

 -0.76

+1.56

 +1.18

 +0.57

 -1.01

 -1.20 

-0.29 

-0.47 

+0.32

-0.49

  Snowfall (inches)

4.9

1.0 

T

0.0 

 0.0

0.0 

 0.0

 0.0

 0.0

T 

 1.8

 15.6

4.7

 Departure from Normal

-0.2

-4.6 

-2.0 

0.0

 0.0 

  0.0

 0.0 

 -0.2

 -0.8

-4.8

-4.8 

+10.3

-0.4

Smith Center KS (Cooperative Observer)  - Feb. 2010 - Feb. 2011

Feb. 2010

 March 

 April 

 May 

 June 

 July 

August

 September

October

November

 December

January

February

Average High (F)

37.2

53.5

70.1

72.4

88.5

 91.2

93.6

82.9

74.6

 54.0

 39.9

34.6

 40.6

 Average Low (F)

18.1

 30.3

 42.0

 48.5

62.4

 66.4

65.0

 54.6

42.8

 27.7

 17.6

10.8

 13.5

Average Temperature (F)

 27.7

41.9

56.1

60.5

 75.4

 78.8

79.3

 68.8

58.7

40.9

28.8

22.7

 27.1

  Departure from Normal (F)

-5.1

+0.8

+2.3

 -3.1

+1.1 

-0.9

+1.7

 +1.3

+2.6

+1.0

-1.0

-4.1

-5.7 

Precipitation (inches)

0.74 

 3.09

2.84

3.82

6.63 

5.06  

2.23

1.68

0.12

1.20 

0.25

0.75

0.86 

 Departure from Normal

+0.21

 +1.08

 +0.49 

 -0.07

+3.47

 +1.81

 -0.92

 -0.58

 -1.52 

-0.18 

-0.31

+0.28

+0.33 

  Snowfall (inches)

6.6

1.0 

0.0

0.0 

 0.0

0.0 

 0.0

 0.0

 0.0

T 

 2.2

 10.2

 11.2 

 Departure from Normal

+2.8

-2.5 

-0.8 

0.0

 0.0 

  0.0

 0.0 

 -0.2

 -0.5

-2.2

-0.9

+6.5

+7.4