Powder River Examiner -

Broadus Experienced 143 Degree Temperature Swing in 2021

Despite three new record high temps on December 1st through 3rd in Broadus, the overall weather pattern during the month of December was decidedly average, with an average temp for the month of 25.6 degrees…exactly matching the normal for records dating back to 1920.

The records of 74 and 73 on the 1st and 3rd represented the first occurrences of 70+ degree temps being reached in December in Broadus, while the 69 degree record high on Dec. 2 tied the previous monthly record.

Broadus received 0.24” of precipitation in December, slightly below the long term average of 0.48”. The precip came in the form of snow, in several instances over the month. By New Year’s, the ground in Broadus was covered in several inches of snow.

The low for December in Broadus was -11, on the 27th, the coldest day of the season thus far. That is, until New Years day, when the official reading at the courthouse was -23. Stations around town recorded lower temps, for example the Examiner office showed a low of -25 that morning.

Looking back at 2021 as a whole, Broadus received a significantly higher amount of moisture than the surrounding area, finishing the year with 13.44” of precipitation. This compares to a normal of 14.92”. The lowest yearly total was 1988, with 7.77”, the highest was 2019 with 24.09”.

The last frost of the spring was on May 10th, and the first frost of the fall was October 12th. The mean averages for the first and last frost is May 17th and September 19th.

110 degree highs were recorded on June 15th and July 27th of this year, which are the all time record highs in Broadus. The low for the year of -33 fell on Valentine’s Day, meaning Broadus residents experienced a 143 degree temperature swing in four months.

The 2021 drought was much more evident when looking at weather stations in local areas other than Broadus. At the Biddle 8 miles SSW station received 8.12” of moisture in December. That total is just over an inch ahead of the 7.00” 1979 low, and far behind the normal 15.12” at that station. The high at that station was 22.0”, recorded in 1971.

The Moorhead 9 miles NE station had 9.18” of moisture in 2021, compared to a normal yearly total of 13.06”. The lowest amount received was 1988, with 7.26”, the highest was 1968, with 18.84”.

The Sonnette 7 miles SW station recorded 10.40” in 2021, compared to an average yearly total of 15.91”. The lowest record was 2002, with 9.20”, the highest was 2019, with 23.57”.

The Volborg station had 10.67” of moisture in 2021. The average for that station was not available on the NOAA site, but the lowest was 2020 with 7.42”, the highest was 1967 with 25.32”.

The Powderville 8 miles NNE station had good helping of October moisture to push their total to 12.89” on the year. The average is 15.01”, with a low in 1990 of 6.59”, and a high in 2011 with 21.23”.