RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
By Jason Nimegeers and Dr. Herb Cutforth
Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre
April, 2013
2012 Weather Review for the Swift Current Area
Swift Current-area weather in 2012 proved to be a mixed bag of contrasts that included abnormally high
precipitation and a record-level dry period during the second half of the growing season.
Wet months, dry months
For the third straight year, the region experienced above-normal precipitation that included 12 days of
freezing rain, four days with hail and two blizzards. Total accumulation at the Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada (AAFC) meteorological weather site (located five km southeast of Swift Current) amounted to 406
mm, much higher than the 127-year (1886-2012) average of 364 mm. However, the distribution of
precipitation was very unusual:
 74% of the 2012 total fell from January-June. In 2011, 60% of the year’s annual precipitation fell
during the same time period, and 49% in 2010. The long-term average is 52%.
 87% of growing-season (April-September) precipitation fell from April-June. In 2011, 65% fell over
the same time period, and 52% in 2010.
Total Precipitation (mm)
The long-term average is 52%.
Yearly
Growing Season
While the first half of the growing season may
Year
Jan-Jun Jul-Dec Apr-Jun Jul-Sep
have been about high precipitation, the second
2012
301
105
257
40
was another story altogether. In fact, the three2011
272
185
215
116
month period from July to September was the
2010
315
323
289
270
driest ever recorded in 127 years of weather data
Long
Term
collected at Swift Current.
Average
189
175
141
127
A little warmer
Though not the warmest year on the books, 2012 took over the No. 10 spot with an average temperature of
5.1°C, warmer than the 127-year average of 3.6°C but well short of 1987’s record of 6.8°C.
The first three months of 2012 were very warm, with an average temperature of -3.6°C, well above the longterm average of -9.1°C. From December of 2011 to February of 2012, the region saw 37 straight days with
above-average temperatures, and temperatures exceeded the daily average on 77 of 91 days over that time
frame. Overall, December 2011 to February 2012 was the fifth warmest on record.
Further, 2012 boasted the sixth warmest average minimum temperature in 127 years. At about -0.3°C, the
2012 average minimum was significantly warmer than the long-term average of -2.5°C. The number of frostfree days (0°C) was 14 days longer and killing frost-free days (-2°C) was 30 days longer than the historic
average. The hottest day occurred on August 28, when the temperature reached 34.1°C, whereas the
coldest day of the year occurred on January
18, when the temperature dipped to -34.6°C.
Statistical Summary for 2012
Thus, the Swift Current area experienced a
yearly temperature range of about 69°C.
The largest range (about 88°C) occurred in
1936 when the high was 39.4°C and the low
fell to -48.3°C.
2012
Long Term
Average
Rank
Max T (°C) average
10.6
9.7
34th warmest in 127 yrs
Min T (°C) average
-0.33
-2.45
6th warmest in 127 yrs
5.1
3.6
10th warmest in 127 yrs
Mean T (°C) average
Total Precipitation (mm)
406
361.3
38th wettest in 127 yrs
snow (cm)
118.3
97.2
37th snowiest in 127 yrs
rain (mm)
305.9
267
37th wettest in 127 yrs
Mean Soil Temp (°C)
6.2
*4th warmest in 50 yrs
Total Sun (hours)
6.7
2252.
9
2233.6
43rd most in 90 yrs
Solar Radiation (Mjoules)
153.9
163.1
6th least in 51 yrs
Less wind, more fog
Wind run – which refers to the amount of
wind passing by a specific site over a certain
period of time – was down in 2012 at the
AAFC metrological site. The total wind run 2
m above ground was 130,992 km, the 10th
lowest in 52 years. The average at 2 m is
135,798 km. The highest gust of 91.3 km/hr
occurred at the 10 m height on June 27.
Frost Free Days (0°C)
Killing Frost Free Days (-2°C)
Wind 2M (km)
Wind 10M (km)
128
114
*32 most in 127 yrs
167
130,9
92
171,9
01
136.8
*6th most in 127 yrs
135,798
10th lowest in 52 yrs
177,267
11th least in 36 yrs
 Indicates a tie
The area had 27 days of fog in 2012; the
average is 7.5 days. Ten spring/summer thunderstorms produced 1660 air-to-ground lightning strikes within
a 10-km radius of the AAFC metrological site. On average, 11.5 thunderstorms occur each year, generating
about 1730 air-to-ground lightning strikes.
Swift Current-area highlights
March 19: Several forms of precipitation occurred: freezing
rain, rain, sleet, ice pellets and snow.
March 23: 10 cm of snow fell, the most since March 18, 2008
when the area received 10.2 cm.
April 27: A total of 23.6 mm of precipitation fell.
May 5-6: Two straight days of precipitation totaled 38.3 mm.
On June 26, the region saw large hail ...
May 26-27: 33.5 mm of rain and 9.5 cm of snow fell. May
2012 was the seventh wettest in 127 years.
June 26: 22.5 mm of precipitation fell in about 30 minutes,
including marble- and toonie-sized hail.
There were several reports of funnel clouds in the area, and
351 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.
October 28-November 4: The area experienced eight
consecutive days with fog.
For more information on this report, contact:
Herb Cutforth, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(306) 778-7259 or herb.cutforth@agr.gc.ca
Available in French upon request.
... several reported funnel clouds and 351
lighting strikes occurred in the area.