North Dakota State University * Dickinson Research Extension Center
1089 State Avenue, Dickinson, ND 58601-4642 Voice: (701) 483-2348 FAX:
(701) 483-2005
The Season of 1960
Precipitation for January, February, March and April was far below average this year but temperatures were low and other weather conditions were generally favorable, to get small grain crops off to one of the best starts in the past ten years. Rainfall in May and June was average and very adequate for crop growth, and all crops developed well and made excellent progress during this period. Precipitation in July was far below average with only .58 inches being recorded in scattered showers for the entire month. The average July rainfall for the past sixty-eight years is 2.19 inches. The lack of rainfall in July coupled with a period of high temperatures beginning the second week in July, damaged all grain crops and corn and reduced yields and quality of all crops.
Rainfall in August was fair but too late to help small grains and late enough so that the corn crop could not make maximum use of it.
Table 1. Precipitation - 1960 | ||||||||||||
Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | |
1 | .08 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | .02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | .01 | T | .01 | 0 | T | 0 | .10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .23 | 0 |
3 | .01 | T | T | 0 | .07 | .03 | .01 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | .06 | .10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | T | 0 | .02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .13 | .30 | T | 0 | 0 | T |
6 | .01 | T | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | 0 | T | .02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .36 | .01 | T | 0 | 0 |
8 | 0 | 0 | .03 | 0 | .05 | .81 | 0 | T | .11 | 0 | T | T |
9 | 0 | T | .05 | 0 | .12 | .07 | 0 | .07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
10 | 0 | 0 | .14 | 0 | 0 | .05 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | 0 | T |
11 | 0 | .01 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | .02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T |
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | T |
13 | 0 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | .07 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | T |
14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | .01 | 0 |
15 | 0 | 0 | .01 | .02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .02 | 0 | 0 | T |
16 | 0 | T | T | 0 | 0 | 1.06 | 0 | .21 | 0 | 0 | T | T |
17 | T | .01 | T | 0 | 0 | .11 | .14 | T | T | 0 | .09 | T |
18 | .01 | T | .02 | 0 | .01 | 0 | .04 | 0 | T | .02 | 0 | T |
19 | T | 0 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .10 |
20 | T | T | 0 | 0 | .04 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .02 |
21 | T | T | 0 | T | 0 | .62 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T |
22 | T | T | 0 | T | 0 | T | .02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | 0 | .12 | 0 | .18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .01 |
24 | 0 | 0 | T | 0 | .23 | 0 | .12 | 0 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 |
25 | 0 | T | T | .25 | .05 | 0 | T | .65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T |
26 | .01 | T | 0 | .05 | .25 | 0 | 0 | .28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .01 |
27 | T | .10 | 0 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
28 | 0 | T | T | .03 | .83 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .39 | 0 |
29 | 0 | T | .25 | T | .52 | 0 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | 0 |
30 | 0 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
31 | 0 | .03 | T | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Sums | .13 | .12 | .58 | .35 | 2.23 | 3.06 | .58 | 2.16 | .14 | .02 | .72 | .14 |
Total Annual Precipitation - 10.23 inches |
Table 2. Climatic Data Summary - 1960 | ||||||||||||||
Climatic Data | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total | Mean Seasonal |
Precipitation | ||||||||||||||
1960 Monthly | .13 | .12 | .58 | .35 | 2.23 | 3.06 | .58 | 2.16 | .14 | .02 | .72 | .14 | 10.23 | 6.22 |
68 Year Average | .45 | .45 | .75 | 1.25 | 2.20 | 3.50 | 2.19 | 1.77 | 1.21 | .87 | .55 | .41 | 15.60 | 9.15 |
Mean Temperature - Degrees Farenheit | ||||||||||||||
1960 | 10.6 | 14.6 | 16.3 | 42.1 | 52.8 | 60.2 | 71.5 | 68.1 | 58.8 | 45.3 | 28.8 | 17.0 | ||
40-Year Average | 10.2 | 13.2 | 24.9 | 41.8 | 52.2 | 61.6 | 68.1 | 66.2 | 56.0 | 43.7 | 28.1 | 16.2 | ||
Wind Velocity - Miles per Hour | ||||||||||||||
1960 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.6 | ||||||||
34-Year Average | 6.7 | 6.7 | 5.6 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 5.2 | ||||||||
Last Killing Frost in the Spring | First Killing Frost in the Fall | Frost Free Season | ||||||||||||
1960 - May 16 | 1960 - September 17 | 1960 - 124 days | ||||||||||||
45 Year Average - May 18 | 45 Year Aver. - September 15 | 45 Year Average - 120 days |
Table 3. Maximum Air Temperature oF - 1960 | |||
June | July | August | |
1. | 82 | 77 | 100 |
2. | 74 | 90 | 96 |
3. | 71 | 76 | 89 |
4. | 68 | 76 | 94 |
5. | 61 | 73 | 90 |
6. | 68 | 73 | 86 |
7. | 72 | 82 | 75 |
8. | 86 | 88 | 76 |
9 | 73 | 92 | 67 |
10. | 64 | 98 | 80 |
11. | 69 | 96 | 84 |
12. | 71 | 86 | 89 |
13. | 68 | 87 | 92 |
14. | 74 | 79 | 78 |
15. | 71 | 81 | 78 |
16. | 63 | 96 | 92 |
17. | 67 | 90 | 90 |
18. | 75 | 82 | 82 |
19. | 72 | 91 | 85 |
20. | 76 | 101 | 90 |
21. | 73 | 107 | 96 |
22. | 65 | 95 | 86 |
23. | 60 | 92 | 107 |
24. | 70 | 104 | 71 |
25. | 77 | 81 | 85 |
26. | 89 | 86 | 65 |
27. | 80 | 92 | 80 |
28. | 84 | 97 | 74 |
29. | 78 | 91 | 75 |
30. | 73 | 80 | 86 |
31. | 87 | 92 |