Thone: Autumn 2015 likely among Top 10 warmest on record

Autumn 2015 will likely go down as one of the Top 10 warmest on record. 
Comparing Sioux Falls' climatology records, the warmest autumn was in 1963 when temperatures averaged 53.87 degrees.
The Top 10 is rounded out with No. 10 coming in at 51.57 degrees set in 2005.  Luverne's 2015 Autumn temperature average was 52.80 degrees, which easily makes its way into the history books. 
This record was helped along by another "balmy" month where November highs climbed nearly 5 degrees above average and overnight lows soared over 7 degrees above average.  Temperatures also hit an unusual 70 degrees on both the 3rd and 4th of November. That’s 20 degrees above normal.
At the same time as the temperatures were soaring to record levels, precipitation amounts also were soaring past November normals. 
Total precipitation recorded was nearly 3 1/2 inches and over 2 inches above normal, making for a pretty wet November.  While most of this precipitation was in the form of rainfall (given the warm temperatures), November snowfall amounts were not that shabby either. 
A total of 14 inches of snow was recorded for the month, almost doubling the normal for November. 
The Nov. 30-Dec. 1 storm accounted for the bulk of this snowfall when 8.8 inches fell.  Calculating snowfall based on the calendar year, this still leaves us over 7 inches below normal due to a very snow-free February, March and April. 
However, calculating the snowfall based on the season puts us ahead of the curve by over 5 inches.  The combination of warm temperatures with heavy snowfalls has created a melt-freeze-melt-refreeze pattern on sidewalks and other surfaces, making for treacherous walking and, occasionally, driving conditions. 
Be careful and stay safe!
 
A blog of daily summary and other interesting weather events for the Luverne area is at http://luvernemnweather.blogspot.com. Thone can be reached at tathone@gmail.com.