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Climate Observations: Some climate stations reported precipitation on 19 to 21 days during November of 2000.

Mark Seeley

October 2, 2020

2 Min Read
flooded farm field
RECORD RAINFALL: During the first week of November 2000, more than 230 daily rainfall records were set within Minnesota’s climate station network.DarcyMaulsby/Getty Images

Twenty years ago, Minnesota farmers expected to have plenty of time in November to wrap up autumn fieldwork, as both September and October 2000 had been drier than normal, and harvest operations had gone well.

There was little expectation that November would bring very challenging weather. However, there was an abrupt shift in the weather pattern to far more frequent rainfall.

The month began with a big rainstorm and even severe weather on Nov. 1. A rare late-season tornado in Kandiyohi County downed power lines and damaged farm buildings.

The thunderstorms produced heavier-than-normal rains the entire first week of the month, with most areas receiving between 1 and 2 inches. During the first week alone, more than 230 daily rainfall records were set within the state climate station network. Many counties did not see a single dry day during the first week.

By mid-month, colder temperatures brought a mixture of rain, sleet and snow. Between Nov. 12 and Nov. 19, many counties reported 6 to 12 inches of snowfall. Portions of Murray County in southwestern Minnesota received 13 to 14 inches of snow, and White Rock Dam in Traverse County received a record 8 inches of snow on Nov. 13.

Thankfully, the last few days of the month were relatively dry, but soils were quite saturated and far too muddy for any fieldwork. Many areas of the state reported 4 inches or more of precipitation for the month, while portions of nine counties reported 5 to 6 inches of precipitation. These amounts are two to four times the normal for November. Some individual climate stations reported precipitation on 19 to 21 days during the month — a very high frequency, indeed.

The overall statewide average monthly total was 3.4 inches of precipitation. Some Minnesota watersheds, like the Red River between North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, reported minor to moderate flooding.

The silver lining of this weather pattern was that the excessive precipitation in November occurred before soils began to freeze up for the winter. Therefore, almost all precipitation helped recharge stored soil moisture values in the agricultural landscape, providing a much-needed asset for the next growing season.

Since that terribly wet November 2000, most years have brought a drier-than-normal November to Minnesota. Only six years, most recently 2015 and 2016, have brought above-normal November precipitation on a statewide basis.

Seeley is a professor emeritus of climatology at the University of Minnesota.

About the Author(s)

Mark Seeley

Mark Seeley is an Extension professor emeritus of meteorology and climatology at the University of Minnesota.

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