2012 was a year for the weather record books here

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With less than three days left in 2012, the year is shaping up to be one for the record books, according to Patrick Ayd, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Bismarck.

“A couple of things stand out,” he said. “But most notably is Jamestown had its warmest March on record with an average temperature of 41.2 degrees.”

Average temperatures are determined by averaging the high and low for the day for each day and then averaging that daily average over the entire month. The weather records for Jamestown go back to 1893. The March average for the previous 119 years was 27.6 degrees.

“There were six days in March that set new record highs,” Ayd said.

Besides the record-setting March, much of the year also included warmer than average conditions.

“The average temperature so far this year is 44.4 degrees, which makes this the fourth warmest year in Jamestown on record,” he said.

Temperatures have declined later in the year according to Harlyn Wetzel, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Bismarck.

“December was about 0.6 degrees above normal but November was 0.6 degrees below normal,” he said. “October was notable for being 2.1 degrees below normal.”

The all-time average temperature for Jamestown is 41.1 degrees, Ayd said. The warmest year ever recorded in Jamestown was 1987 with an average temperature of 46.2 degrees.

“The warm and dry winter and spring led to a dry summer,” he said. “Much of Stutsman County was classified as under severe drought conditions by the fall of the year.”

Precipitation in Jamestown totaled 14.02 inches for the year through Dec. 27. That is well below the average of about 18.75 inches.

Wetzel said the short-term forecast for the next week to 10 days includes drier-than-normal conditions with a chance for warmer than normal temperatures.

The three-month forecast from the National Weather Service includes a slight chance for below-normal temperatures and equal chances of above- or below-normal precipitation.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, weather