Climate and Weather Update - April 29, 2009
NOTE: THIS WILL BE THE LAST “WEEKLY UPDATE” FROM ME SINCE I WILL BE LEAVING S.D. TO TAKE A JOB WITH IBERDROLA USA – A RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY BASED IN PORTLAND, OREGON.
Variability was the word of the week. All stations outside the Black Hills reached the 80s last Thursday with several stations reaching the 90s for the first time this season. Many stations set record high temperatures for the day across the state. Yankton reported the highest temperature for the week at 93o F. These warm temperatures helped push temperatures for nearly all stations above average for the week. Only a few stations along the northern border came in slightly below average. The coldest temperature reported was from Custer at 19o F.
All locations in the state recorded precipitation. The heaviest precipitation again fell over the western part of the state. Several stations around the Black Hills reported over an inch of liquid precipitation. Some of that fell as snow over the weekend. Stations in the far southeast corner picked up heavier rainfalls Sunday and Wednesday. For the month precipitation totals have generally been below average in the eastern part of the state to well above average in the western part. Dennis Todey
Generally westerly flow will occur over the next week or so across the western U.S. including S.D. Cold front passages will only bring cool, Pacific air and should occur next Monday and again by about Thursday next week. Expect breezy southeast winds a day ahead of these fronts and breezy west/northwest winds a day behind. Next week looks mainly dry although there could be a few showers associated with frontal passages. I do not expect any large storms next week to affect the Northern Plains. The following week or the week of the May 11th may see stronger storms return to the plains states as low pressure and storminess should occur across the western 1/3 of the U.S. and then send energy into S.D. increasing chances for thunderstorms toward the middle of the second week in May. Overall, expect near average temperatures for the next 2 weeks with average to slightly below average precipitation. Fire danger is low across the western half of S.D. and moderate across eastern S.D. Randall Benson
