APRIL 2009 WEATHER & PHENOLOGY IN REVIEW

From the North Shore of Little Rock Lake

Jim Hovda, Rice MN 56367-0265 jhovda.rice@jetup.net

We’ve been accustomed to winters that are warmer than normal. At least that is my perspective. Old man winter just does not, it seems, want to leave us and usher in the warm weather of spring. The birds and “critters” have their schedule. For some, the weather as cold as it has been has been cruel. Others have just “ruffed” it out. As we venture into May, there will be lots of changes. The warm sun will win. And, before long, we will be in our gardens and enjoying warm weather activities such as grilling burgers and brats outside. Spring brings hope and looking forward to our Minnesota summers.

WEATHER LAST APR: A bit cooler with a lot more rain and snow. Temps in the low 20's were recorded at the end of the month. The average high was 50.92 compared to 56.77 degrees this year. Nearly three more inches of precipitation and eight more inches of snow. 4.12" precip/15.7" of snow. We even had .8" of snow on the 26^th. We ended the month with 6.11" of precipitation for the year and the snow season with 46.2" of the white stuff. The ice left Little Rock Lake on the 21st.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER/LRL EVENT: Barely making this “significant” qualification was the 8.1" of snow at the beginning of the month. This added to the already high water issues for residents of Little Rock Lake. By the 3^rd, the water level was back to acceptable levels. For lake residents, information on high water issues can be found at the Little Rock Lake Associations web site - - www.littlerocklake.org for up to date information. I will record water levels on the 1^st and 15^th of each month.

WEATHER: On the cold side of things, winter just did not want to leave. Only three days made it to the 40 degree mark in the recorded low department. Half the days were in the 20's and 30's. The coldest day was on the 3^rd with a 17.7 degree reading. The average low was 29.37 degrees. Warmer than last year for recorded highs, lot’s of days with temp above 60 degrees. On the 24^th, our first 80 degree day with a reading (warmest) of 80.7 degrees. (Above zero too...)

It was a dry month. The average precip according to the MN Weatherguide Calendar should be 2.31". We received only1.68" here. The most precipitation occurred on the 1^st when 8.1" of snow melted into .80" of precip. From the 3^rd to the 18^th no precip. Very dry and the fire danger was high. We ended the month with a years total measurement of 7.30". On the snow side of things 8.3" fell here and our snow season (I hope) ended with 59.70".

WEATHER RECORDS: Coldest temp here was a -3 degrees below zero in (not so long ago) 1975 while greater MN folks got out their snowmobile suits to brave a -22 degrees below zero in Karlstad. Our warm temp here was a balmy 96 degrees on the 21^st in 1980. Out State MN recorded a sweltering 101 degrees in Hawley. That folks, is a difference of no less than 123 degrees difference in our wild temperature swings in our weather changing State of MN. All in the month of April.

OTHER RECORDS - - The most fatalities from a single tornado (72) occurred on the 14^th of April 1886 in St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids and Rice, MN. Our local history books talk about this historic event in great detail. The Red River recorded its highest level ever with readings of 41 feet above flood stage this year. The Mississippi River in 1965 recorded its highest level at 26.01 feet in St. Paul. This was a tragic year for many of our good MN citizens in NW MN.

PHENOLOGY: THE ICE LEFT LITTLE ROCK LAKE ON 15 APRIL..... With spring on the way even the stubborn “Mr. Winter” is retreating. As temps warmed and the snow left the ground (on the 4^th) our first Loon was observed by Ms. Kathy Ford on the 1^st hunting for fish in the Harris Channel.

I would be remiss if I did not welcome Dr. Ray Merritt back from Florida with his monthly observations. Right on time, the first week in April, his woodchuck “Oscar” came out of his den and their Phoebe was there checking out the carport for nesting sites.

On the 10^th I spotted a Northern Flicker in the garden looking for ants and insects. I hope this bird stays around. Later, I observed no less than fifteen swans either Tundra or Trumpeter and five Bald Eagles eating fish on what was left of the ice. On the 13^th our first flowers, Double Snowdrops came into bloom and Ms. Roxie Saldana reported that the ice went out of their pond. On the 14^th, our first 60 degree day, I observed a lone Mourning Cloak Butterfly looking for a flower. On the 15^th, the day the ice went out of LRL there were no less than sixty American White Pelicans looking for fish. On the 16^th, the first Crocus was in bloom and a pair of Mourning Doves started nest building in a spruce tree next to the house. A week or so later, they had an unfortunate encounter with a Sharp-shinned Hawk and one dove was KIA. The nest site was abandoned.

Our annual ritual of docks in the lake started when Rick Sarff took first place when their dock went in on the 17^th. The (probably) oldest dock in Benton County hit the water on the 30^th. This dock was probably constructed with lumber left over from Noah’s Ark.

The most unusual observation comes from Steve and Becky Bogie when they spotted a Blanding (male) Turtle crossing Benton Co. 78 just east of LRL on the 18th. This turtle measured 13" x 10 3/4". For you turtle folks, this is a very large Blanding Turtle. Yes, Steve and Becky helped it get safely across the road. On the 22^nd, the first Tree Swallow started checking out the houses by the shore and on the 26^th the first Purple Martin Scouts arrived. By the 28^th there were more than ten checking out the three houses I have put up.

Blue Bird numbers seem to be way down. I suspect that when numbers of them started arriving late in March, the late snow storm that occurred and subsequent cold weather may have been the demise of many of them. There has been a dramatic increase in Brow-headed Cowbirds. Only a few years ago only a few showed up at the feeder. Now they are in the majority. So far, only one pair of Wood Ducks are nesting in the many houses that have been erected by residents on the N. Shore of LRL. Their numbers seem to be down, at least so far.

NATURE NOTE: Trumpeter Swans are the largest North American waterfowl and hundreds of them winter on the Mississippi River at Monticello. The Purple Martin is the largest member of the swallow family. Jim Gilbert’s Nature Notes, 2008 pp 85 & 94.