Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2189, FAX: (701) 742-2700, email: rgreenla@ndsuext.nodak.edu

WEATHER AND IRRIGATION, 2001

Table 1. Precipitation and temperature

Table 2. Growing degree units

Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts

Table 4. Irrigation water applied

The winter of 2000 - 2001 was cold. Frost depth in the soil was shallow because of early snow cover before cold temperatures arrived. Spring tillage and planting times were about average. The last frost in the spring was on April 24, one week earlier than average. Early summer temperatures were cool and damp. Hot humid weather followed the cooler temperature for most of the summer. The maximum temperature surpassed 90°F 21 times. The highest temperature was 98°F on August 5. Precipitation was above average in April, August and September and below average in May, June and July. The first frost was on October 4 with a hard frost on October 5. The first frost was later than average and the hard frost the same as the ten year average. Some crops did not mature the way they should have before frost. Growing degree days (GDD) in 2001 were above average. Over all, precipitation for the year was average, temperatures were average early and were above average for the remainder of the year.

Table 1. Precipitation and temperature at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.

The 25-year averages are not available for April and October.

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Table 2. Growing degree units¹ at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.

¹Growing degree units = (Temp_max + Temp_min)/2 - 50. If Temp_max is greater than 86, then

 Temp_max = 86. If Temp_min is less than 50, then Temp_min = 50. Temperature is in degrees F.

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Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts.

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Table 4. Irrigation water applied, 2001.

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Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2001 Annual Report

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site home page