The National Climatic Data Center released their statewide official statements for the winter of 2008-09 this past week. The data reinforced what we already knew: It was a cold and wet winter.
Temperature-wise, North Dakota as a whole ranked as the 23rd-coldest winter of the 114 years that such data has been available. Minnesota ranked even colder, having their 18th-coldest winter on record.
North Dakota, Iowa and all the states bordering the Great Lakes finished the winter below average.
Precipitation-wise, North Dakota finished with the fourth-wettest winter on record, with Minnesota having their 30th wettest.
Fargo-Moorhead finished with the third-wettest winter on record and the fourth snowiest.
ADVERTISEMENT
While the northern tier of the United States was colder and wetter than normal, the southern part of the United States was generally warmer and drier than normal.
