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Cool, wet weather dominates August

Lead Summary

Western Minnesota received more rain over the weekend with totals ranging form eight-tenths to nearly 2 inches.
With another eight tenths in Benson August’s total rainfall is now 6.85 inches – 3.43 inches above the average for the month of 3.42 inches. However, there are locations around the area that have seen more than 9 inches of rain this month.
Ten days during the month have seen measurable precipitation, delaying the small grain and sugar beet harvest. However, dry conditions toward the end of last week allowed farmers to get into their fields to get their wheat and oat crops outs.
Temperatures remained cooler than average this past week with August now averaging about 4.8 degrees below its mean temperature of 69.7 degrees. August’s average high is 80.8 degrees through the 27th, but this year it has been 76.0 degrees. Lows that should average 60.3 degrees have averaged 54.2 degrees – 6.1 degrees below average.
There have only been seven highs in August that have reached 80 degrees or more though the month’s average high between Aug. 1 and Aug. 21 is 81.5 degrees. So far, the month’s high has been 88 degrees recorded back on Aug. 1. Monday’s 81-degree high was the first temperature of 80 or higher since Aug. 19.
Six times this month the low has slipped into the 40s though we should be averaging in the mid to upper 50s. A record low of 46 degrees was recorded Aug. 22 and another record low was tied Aug. 12 when it fell to 46 degrees.
Those cool temperatures have slowed crop progress this month.
At the USDA’s Swan Lake Research Farm in Stevens County the growing degree-days accumulated through Aug. 27 were 1,863. That is 177.5 days behind the average of 2,040.5.
Considering we now average about 16.5 growing degrees days each day if we reach the average highs and lows, we are about 10.8 growing degree-days behind average....
 
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Pictured: Kathy Ruppe combines wheat west of Danvers last Friday while son-in-law Dalton Staton drives the grain cart. Riding with Kathy in the combine was her infant grandson Mason Staton.

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