December 2007 Climatic Summary

December temperatures were near normal, averaging 1 degree below normal to 1 degree above normal. Temperatures ranged from 2.8 degrees above normal in Lemmon to 4.0 degrees below normal at Pactola Dam.
Precipitation in December averaged 15 to 30 percent above normal. The wettest areas were across southwestern South Dakota, the northern Black Hills and the Bear Lodge mountains where precipitation averaged 75 to 150 percent of normal. The driest areas were across the central and northwest plains of western South Dakota where precipitation averaged 60 to 80 percent of normal.  The wet spot was Ardmore 2N where precipitation was 311 percent of normal, while Ludlow 3SSE was the dry spot with only 20 percent of normal precipitation. The precipitation surplus for the month averaged 0.14 inches.
Snowfall in December was 40 to 60 percent above normal. Snowfall averaged 1 to 2 feet across the northern Black Hills and Bear Lodge mountains. On the northeast Wyoming plains and southwest South Dakota snow averaged 10 to 20 inches with 5 to 10 inches elsewhere on the plains of western South Dakota and in the southern and central Black Hills.

December Storm Summary

On December 1 a weak upper level system moved just south of the region and brought 1 to 3 inches of snow region wide.

On December 7 and 8 and strong storm system moved south of the region bringing heavy snow to portions of northeast Wyoming...southwestern South Dakota and the southern Black Hills where 5 to 9 inches of snow fell.  Farther north across the northern Black Hills and the central plains of western South Dakota 1 to 4 inches of snow fell.

On December 21 an upslope snowstorm brought 8 to 14 inches of snow to the northern Black Hills and 1 to 3 inches of snow to portions of northwest South Dakota.

On December 24 a weak upper level disturbance brought 1-3 inches of snow to northeast Wyoming and 4-6 inches to northern Black Hills.

On December 30 an upper level storm system brought 1-2 inches of snow to northeast Wyoming and northwest South Dakota, and 2 to 4 inches to the northern Black Hills.

Local Extremes

Temperature Data Rapid City   Lead   Gillette  
  Temperature Date Temperature Date Temperature  Date
Maximum Temperature 66 degrees 4th  52 degrees 4th 58 degrees 4th
Minimum Temperature -4 degrees 12th 3 degrees 22nd -9 degrees 2nd
             
Precipitation Data Rapid City   Lead   Gillette  
Monthly  Data Amount Data Amount Date Amount Date
Precipitation 0.51 inches   2.34 inches   0.74 inches  
Snowfall 10.7 inches   36.9 inches   17.0 inches  
             
Daily Data            
Maximum Precipitation 0.18 inches 8th 0.70 inches 21st .20 inches 1st
Maximum Snowfall 3.9 inches 8th 14.5 inches 21st 5.0 inches 1st

Regional Extremes

Temperature Data   Western South Dakota     Northeastern Wyoming  
  Temperature Site Date Temperature Site Date
Maximum Temperature 66 degrees             66 degrees Cottonwood      Rapid City Arpt 5th                        4th 59 degrees Dillinger 4th
Minimum Temperature -16 degrees Ladner 9SW 2nd -13 degrees           -13 degrees Dillinger        Upton 14ENE 2nd                   2nd
             
Precipitation Data   Western South Dakota     Northeastern Wyoming  
Monthly Data Amount Site Date Amount Site Date
Maximum Precipitation 2.34 inches Lead   1.15 inches Upton 14ENE  
Minimum Precipitation 0.08 inches Ludlow 3SSE   0.04 inches Colony  
Maximum Snowfall 36.9 inches Lead   28.8 inches Upton 14ENE  
Minimum Snowfall 1.5 inches Lodgepole 5SW   0.7 inches Colony  
             
Daily Data            
Maximum Precipitation 0.70 inches Lead 21st 0.28 inches Upton 14ENE 22nd
Maximum Snowfall 14.5 inches Lead 21st 7.0 inches Upton 14ENE 22nd


Monthly Records

LOCATION DATE NEW RECORD OLD RECORD DATE
    NO RECORDS SET    


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