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000
CXUS55 KTFX 011210
CLMGTF


CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
505 AM MST TUE JAN 1 2013

...................................

...THE GREAT FALLS MT CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2012...

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1886 TO 2012

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART  LAST YEAR`S
                 VALUE   DATE(S)  VALUE   FROM    VALUE
                                          NORMAL
.............................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH              69   12/05/1939
 LOW              -43   12/29/1968
HIGHEST            58   12/02        37      21       54
LOWEST             -8   12/25        12     -20        3
                        12/09
AVG. MAXIMUM     34.6              34.6     0.0     40.8
AVG. MINIMUM     17.0              14.9     2.1     22.4
MEAN             25.8              24.8     1.0     31.6
DAYS MAX >= 90      0               0.0     0.0
DAYS MAX <= 32     14              10.4     3.6
DAYS MIN <= 32     27              27.2    -0.2
DAYS MIN <= 0       6               5.4     0.6

PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM         2.49   1917
 MINIMUM            T   1954
TOTALS           0.55              0.55    0.00     0.20
DAYS >= .01         7               7.5    -0.5
DAYS >= .10         2               1.8     0.2
DAYS >= .50         0               0.1    -0.1
DAYS >= 1.00        0               0.0     0.0
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL    0.22   12/23 TO 12/24

SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
 TOTAL           30.5   2008
 24 HR TOTAL       MM
TOTALS           10.6               9.5     1.1      4.5
SINCE 7/1        32.3              23.2     9.1     10.0
SNOWDEPTH AVG.      1
DAYS >= TRACE       8               7.5     0.5
DAYS >= 1.0         2               3.1    -1.1
GREATEST
 SNOW DEPTH         3   12/31
                        12/30
                        12/27
 24 HR TOTAL      5.7   MM

DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL    1206              1248     -42     1028
 SINCE 7/1       2823              3217    -394     2640
COOLING TOTAL       0                 0       0        0
 SINCE 1/1        484               298     186      365
..............................................................

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              13.2
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    45/260    DATE  12/05
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    55/260    DATE  12/05

SKY COVER
AVERAGE SKY COVER           0.40

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     61

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM              0     MIXED PRECIP               0
HEAVY RAIN                0     RAIN                       0
LIGHT RAIN                2     FREEZING RAIN              0
LT FREEZING RAIN          0     HAIL                       0
HEAVY SNOW                0     SNOW                       1
LIGHT SNOW                8     SLEET                      0
FOG                      10     FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE      2
HAZE                     12

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.

THE MONTH OF DECEMBER STARTED OUT ON THE WARM SIDE IN THE GREAT
FALLS AREA WITH AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 50S THE FIRST 4
OUT OF 5 DAYS OF THE MONTH. THE WARMEST DAY OF THE MONTH WAS ON
DECEMBER 2ND...WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 58 DEGREES. IT TURNED COOLER
WITH A NICE SNOWFALL ON THE 8TH OF DECEMBER. A DAILY RECORD OF 5.7
INCHES OF SNOW FELL IN THE GREAT FALLS AREA. TEMPERATURES THEN
REMAINED SEASONABLE UNTIL JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. A QUICK MOVING
CANADIAN COLD FRONT MOVED SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE REGION ON CHRISTMAS
EVE AND BROUGHT WITH IT SOME LIGHT SNOW AND MUCH COLDER
TEMPERATURES. MORNING LOW TEMPERATURES WENT BELOW ZERO FOR 4 DAYS IN
A ROW...FROM DEC 24 UNTIL DEC 26TH. THE COLDEST TEMPERATURE THIS
MONTH WAS 8 BELOW ON DEC 9TH AND ON CHRISTMAS MORNING. TEMPERATURES
WARMED UP CLOSE TO SEASONAL NORMALS BY THE END OF THE MONTH...AND
OVERALL THE AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE IN GREAT FALLS ENDED UP
BEING JUST 1 DEGREE ABOVE NORMAL.

$$