Our Minnesota climate history shows us that November and April usually bring the highest average daily wind speeds on an annual basis.

Donald Baker of the University of Minnesota showed this to be the case in a widely cited publication on wind climatology that was published in the 1980s and is still used. However, last year brought a prevailing weather pattern that produced exceptionally strong winds across Minnesota during the month of March. Wind erosion prevailed in some portions of western Minnesota, and there were even damaging winds in some places.

The prevailing winds of March 2020 were dominantly from either the northwest or the southwest and were associated with the presence of the polar jet stream (high-altitude strong winds) over Minnesota. Climatological data for the state show that average daily wind speeds during March typically range from 7 to 9 mph. However, for many areas in 2020, the average daily wind speed was more than 10 mph, and in some cases over 12 mph.

On March 5, 12, 19 and 29, many places in the Red River Valley and the Minnesota River Valley reported average daily wind speeds greater than 20 mph. This is exceptionally rare in climate history for March, occurring only once every 25 years or so. Recall, too, that historically some of our worst blizzards with winds over 35 mph have occurred during the month of March.

The frequency of wind gusts over 35 mph was also exceptionally high, with many areas of the state reporting gusts that exceeded this threshold on over a third of the days in the month. Damaging winds were reported in western Minnesota on March 5 as wind gusts ranged from 50 to 60 mph, damaging some farmstead structures.

Old-fashioned drying weather

The higher wind speeds of March were in some ways an asset to Minnesota farmers. First, the stronger southwestern winds ushered in warmer-than-normal temperatures. Most of the state saw temperatures that averaged about 3 degrees F warmer than normal. This helped to melt snow cover and remove the frost from the soil.

Secondly, following 2019 — the wettest year in state history — the higher winds of March 2020 helped to dry out the state landscape by increasing evaporation. Many areas of the state that started the month with 8 to 12 inches of snow cover had zero snow cover by midmonth and nearly frost-free soils by the end of the month.

Unfortunately, a cool and wet April weather pattern made it difficult for farmers to get fields prepared and planted in a timely manner.

The weather during the month of March is not a true predictor of how the rest of the spring season will play out.

Seeley is professor emeritus of climatology, University of Minnesota.