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2016 was sixth warmest year on record for Benson area

Lead Summary

2016 will go into the records books as the sixth warmest on record for the Benson area despite no 100 degree days and just nine days that hit 90 degrees or higher.
However, from January to June 2016 every month saw above average temperatures and 10 of 12 months were warmer than average. March was the third warmest on record falling behind 2000 and 2012. March’s mean temperature was 9.4 degrees above average and saw five high temperature records broken.
November was also the third warmest on record with the mean 10.5 degrees above the average.
The warm March weather led to many area lakes setting record early ice-out dates and the Benson Golf Course opened for play March 12. It opened March 15 in 2015, another very warm March.
Benson saw 15 temperature records broken or tied in 2016, 12 were high temperature records and three were low temperature records. One of those cold temperature records was a minus 28 degrees Dec. 18, the coldest low temperature the area has seen in nearly seven years.
February saw its all-time monthly high temperature record broken when it hit 61 degrees Feb. 27....
 
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2016 was very warm and wet, but despite the wettest July to October period in the area’s recorded history, farmers saw record yields. Pictured: a street corner is flooded in July when more than 3 inches of rain falls in a short time.

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