SUBJECT: How Dare This September Be So....Normal
Saint Cloud September 1999 weather summary
If this September felt cold to you, then you are in need of a
reality check. The September temperatures from the St. Cloud Regional
Airport show a nearly perfectly normal month in both high and low temperature
averages. The shock comes after a September in 1997 which was 3 degrees
above normal and a September of 1998 which was the warmest September in
50 years.
The incredibly normal weather pattern was produced by an alternation
between warm air masses from the Southern Plains and the first incursions
of Canadian Polar air masses from the Prairie Provinces. The last of the
really hot and humid weather was pushed out after September 3, allowing
a more normal weather pattern. However, the cooler air was winning late
in the month and the first weekend of October will be off to a very chilly
start.
No temperature records were set and the first frost came along close
to the normal time. The temperature dropped below 32 degrees for the first
time on September 21, bringing an end to the growing season for delicate
plants. Thanks to an early last frost on April 21, the growing season
for frost was 149 days, 7 days longer than normal. September 29 hit 28
degrees, bringing an end to the growing season for hardier plants 10
days earlier than normal. Still, the early end to cold temperatures in
April allowed a growing season of only 4 days less than normal for those
plants hardy enough to survive down to a temperature of 28 degrees.
Rainfall in St. Cloud was about a half an inch below normal. This
continues the '90's trend of dry Septembers. Eight of the 10 '90's Septembers
have had less than normal rainfall and 5 of these years have had less than
2 inches of rain. However, this could be seen as counteracting the '80's
trend in which 5 of the 10 years had September rainfall between 4.3 and 9.4
inches.
On the other hand, St. Cloud joined most of the rest of the state
in being well above normal in growing season rainfall (April 1-Sept. 30).
The total 6-month rainfall was 22.45 inches, almost two inches above the
normal of 20.61 inches.
SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 1999 SEP 1999 NORMAL
TEMPERATURE
Average high temperature ( F) 69.1 69.1
Average low temperature ( F) 45.0 45.4
Average temperature ( F) 57.1 57.3
Warmest high for this month ( F) 89 on the 3rd
Coolest high for this month ( F) 54 on the 20th
Mildest low for this month ( F) 67 on the 2nd
Coldest low for this month ( F) 28 on the 29th
PRECIPITATION (in)
September 2.61 3.14
Greatest in 24 hours (Sept 1998) .58 on the 4th
GROWING SEASON STATISTICS
Temperature cutoff last day in spring first day in fall no of days
32 degrees
1999 April 24 Sept 21 149
normal May 10 Sept 26 142
28 degrees
1999 April 24 Sept 29 157
normal April 28 Oct 8 161
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Bob Weisman, Meteorology Professor SUPERVISOR: Shirley (age 7)
Earth Sciences Department PHONE: (320) 255-3247 (V)
MS 48 (800) 627-3529 (TTY via
Saint Cloud State University Minnesota Relay Service)
720 4th Avenue South FAX: (320) 255-4262
Saint Cloud, Minnesota 56301-4498 EMAIL: scsweisman@tigger.
stcloudstate.edu
(at a store waiting for charge card to be processed)
Shirley: What if they don't give your card back?
Dad: They have to. It's mine.
Shirley: But, what if they don't?
Dad: Then, I'll remind them to give it back and they will.
Shirley: But, what if they don't?
Dad: Then, I guess I'd tell them I'll call the police and they should give it
back.
Shirley: But what if they don't?
Dad: Then I'd call the police and they would come and get the card back.
Shirley: But, what if they don't?
Dad: ENOUGH OF THE "WHAT IF"S!!!
Shanah tovah! Happy Jewish New Year of 5760!
Donate food daily to the world's hungry at no cost to you.
Click on http://www.hungersite.com/
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