From the North Shore of Little Rock Lake

DECEMBER 2010 WEATHER & PHENOLOGY IN REVIEW

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

December was a month that started cold and produced temperatures that could be called January all month except for the last two days. Most of the larger amounts of snow that befell the St. Cloud area just missed us. Those few miles north of St. Cloud caused us to miss the record books as the most snow in any December, tho not by much. It seemed that every time a major weather system plowed into the state, the dividing line between not so bad and terrible, went right thru Benton County. This was the case with the last storm of the month when we got a lot of rain, and just to the north of Rice, a foot of snow. While I measured only 4.2" of snow on the ground at the end of the month (the last rain really gobbled up the snow) over 36" is on the ground in areas by the Canadian Border. The Duluth area has over 40". January 2011 will start out with temps below zero.

WEATHER LAST DECEMBER: Nearly a duplicate of this year with the exception of the storm that lasted from late on the 23^rd until the 27^th. 11.5" of the white stuff fell combined with some rain. Total precipitation for the event totaled 1.33". It was a true test for the snow removal equipment and for sure it was a significant weather event. The coldest day was a -13.2 degrees below zero reading on the 16^th while the warmest day was on the 43.7 degree reading on the 1^st. We ended the month with a total precipitation of 2.02" and snow 16.9". And for the calender year precip measured 30.47". Snow ended with 16.9" (8.0" on the ground) and a year total of 20.3".

WEATHER: A January month for December. Thirteen days saw below zero temps. The coldest day was a -17.9 degrees below zero reading on the 14^th. I noted that St. Cloud did not have the number of below zero days that I had here at the N end of Little Rock Lake. I’m sort of down in a hole here. Our warmest day, believe it or not, occurred on the 29^th when the digital thermometer hit 35.4 degrees ABOVE ZERO (F). Yes, the rain was coming down. The most precipitation fell on the 31^st in the form of rain. The most snow fell on the 4^th when 3.5" hit the deck. The average low was 2.75 degrees (F) and the high was 21.27 degrees (F). We ended the month with 2.06" of precip, 13.6" of snow (18.8" so far this snow season) and 4.2" of snow on the ground. The last rain really ate up the snow. Precip for the year ended with 36.17". Not bad for the growing things that are hiding under the snow.

As a sort of footnote for weather/odd event: On the 12^th Mpls received 17.1" of snow. The snow was so heavy that the Metro-dome collapsed. Since then, the Vikings have had to move their play and more than 200 other sporting events have been cancelled. It is projected that the dome roof will not be repaired until March, 2011.

WEATHER RECORDS: Our December local winter records demonstrate we are in winter. The record cold was a -42 degrees below zero on the 25^th in 1884 while the warm temp was a balmy 63 degrees on the 6^th in 1939. In out-state MN the extremes were more evident. The record cold was a -57 degrees below zero in 1898 while the above zero reading was a very warm 74 degrees in 1939. WOW, 131 degree’s difference of temps in the month of December. The most precip locally was 2.55" in 2010. The most snow in a Dec was 29.7" in 2008.

OTHER WEATHER RECORDS: In MN the most precipitation in a year was 53.52" in St. Francis in 1991 and the least 6.37" in Ortonville in 1976. In 2010 there were 148 tornados in MN. A national record for the number of these storms in one year in any state.

PHENOLOGY: I may as well do this by date. On the 1^st Roxy Saldana observed about 20 Cedar Waxwings eagerly cleaning berries and crab apples off bushes and trees. On the 5^th the first Mourning Dove appeared working on assorted bird seeds. Eventually there would be three. They stay all year. Tho not phenology, my notes say that it was a chilly 26 degrees (F) in Atlanta. On the 8^th I counted seven fish houses on Little Rock Lake. I questioned ice thickness . . .

A special observation. On the 10^th none other than a Brown Thrasher appeared at the bird feeder. I’d seen this bird before but had trouble identifying it. I could not believe that this bird was hanging around. It is supposed to be in Georgia. Of note, it made regular appearances all month. My last sighting was on the 31^st after a week or so of being gone. After consulting with naturalist Jim Gilbert, this observation is rare. If I remember correctly, the last sightings of this bird have occurred in January. Its main diet seems to be cracked corn although I’ve seen it eating assorted seeds and a little suet. This observation was not a fleeting one. Jan and I were able to observe the bird with binoculars over a considerable period of time.

On the 12^th, three crows finally located the large chunk of suet. They are easy to scare away. They can find their food elsewhere. Also, on the 12^th Jan and observed FOUR Pileated Woodpeckers feasting on suet in the yard together. I’ve seen two before, but never four. On the 17^th Jan and I finally observed a pair of flying squirrels eating sunflower seeds. They have been back several times. Those little critters are really hard to spot. On the 22^nd we observed the shortest day of the year. Light at the end of the tunnel (pun) for short days.