Record Precipitation for Minneapolis, MN in 2016 (H. Michael Mogil, CCM, CBM, DMS)

H. Michael Mogil December 29, 2016December 29, 2016

Throughout 2016, we heard a lot about California’s long-term drought and a short-term, evolving, drought across the southeast U.S. There were also a few heavy rainfall events. Now, as we approach year’s end, annual precipitation (and other weather) records are going to be making the news.

One of the first to cross my desk was from the National Weather Service (NWS) Minneapolis office. Through yesterday, a yearly record 40.32 inches of precipitation had fallen at the Minneapolis (MSP) airport (Fig. 1). This eclipsed a record last set 105 years ago. With weather records dating back to 1871, this takes on even greater weather significance.

Some may ask, “how can weather records at an airport date back to before we had aviation and airports?” This is a very good question with a very easy answer. Due to many factors, including urbanization, observing site relocation, and others, observing sites for most places have undergone some to many relocations during their lifetimes. Each NWS office keeps track of these. The focus is on keeping the weather record as uniformly-obtained as possible.

With that part of history behind us, let’s turn to the precipitation records themselves. Here are the top 5 annual numbers (although 2016 may change a little during the next few days):

2016 – 40.32”

1911 – 40.15”

1965 – 39.94”

1983 – 39.07”

1881 – 39.06”

Note that these totals are NOT for rainfall, but rather precipitation. Snowfall (and possibly sleet and/or hail) is transformed into liquid water content (i.e., melted) and then that water is counted in precipitation totals.

By-the-by, the 30-year precipitation average for MSP is 30.61”. So this year’s precipitation is nearly 32 percent above average!

Originally posted 12/29/16

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