As we saw last week, the first half of 2022 was, on balance, cooler than average. Interestingly, it was wetter than average as well, at least so far as measured precipitation goes. Unfortunately, in most locations measured snow and rain didn’t translate very well into soil moisture. Much of the winter snow sublimated or evaporated before it could percolate through frozen topsoil, and spring rains were too sparse to meet the needs of springtime green-up. The important fact is that soil moisture was insufficient to spur plant growth in both crops and grasslands during the vital spring period.

July – July was rather wetter than average, but it was also warmer and breezier than average. The rains didn’t arrive until after the rapid growth phase of cool season grasses. July rain was beneficial for warm season grasses, but soil moisture remained insufficient to maximize biomass production. The continued shortfall of soil moisture also limited most dryland crop production. For the month winds averaged southerly and brisk. There were 18 days with gusts in excess of 25 mph and the high gust for the month was 60 mph on July 15, during the month’s wettest thunderstorm which delivered nearly 1.2 inches of rain. Historically the warmest month of the year, July 2022 featured 18 days that were 90 degrees or warmer, including two days where the mercury reached 101. The average daily high was 90.09, the average overnight low was 59.65, and the daily mean temperature was 74.37. Since 1893 the July averages are 87.4, 56.1, and 71.8, respectively. July precipitation totaled 3.03 inches. The 129-year average is 2.55 inches.

August – August was also wetter and warmer than the long-term average but not as windy as July had been. August precipitation was beneficial for both warm season grasses and dryland crops yet remained insufficient to make up for the shortfall in soil moisture. August winds averaged south southeasterly and occasionally brisk. There were 15 days with gusts in excess of 25 mph. High gust for the month was 43 mph on August 14. Historically the second warmest month of the year, August 2022 featured 15 days that were 90 degrees or warmer, including a single 100-degree day on August 5. For the month the average daily high was 88.61, the average overnight low was 56.38, and the daily mean temperature was 72.5. Since 1893 the August averages are 85.9, 54.2, and 70.0, respectively. August precipitation totaled 2.63 inches. The 129-year average is 1.8 inches.

September – Continuing the summer 2022 trend, September was warmer and wetter than average. For the most part the rains were too little and too late to benefit grass or crop production and were insufficient to redress the soil moisture shortfall. Some localized heavy rains allowed farmers to plant winter wheat into reasonably good moisture, but most wheat plantings in and around the county struggled with germination and stand establishment. September winds were unremarkable for late summer/early autumn, averaging westerly with daily gusts of about 23.76 mph. High gust for the month was 40 mph on September 23. There were seven days with temperatures of 90 or above and the monthly high temperature was 98 on September 5, 6, and 7. For the month the average daily high was 81.83, the average overnight low was 46.93, and the daily mean temperature was 64.38. Since 1893 the September averages are 77.0, 44.4, and 60.7, respectively. September precipitation totaled 2.10 inches with zero snowfall. The 129-year average is 1.26 inches including 0.2 inches of snow.

October – Overall the tenth month of the year was very average. Well managed pastures and rangeland had adequate early-autumn forage, but lack of adequate soil moisture meant little if any late-season green-up. Across the county winter wheat stands struggled and germination/emergence was spotty in many areas. October winds were also unremarkable, averaging westerly and only occasionally windy. There were 16 days with gusts in excess of 25 mph. Gusts averaged 25.77 for the month and the high gust was 43 mph on October 13. High temperature for the month was 77 on October 21 and the monthly low was 23 on October 28. For the month the average daily high was 64.29, the average overnight low was 33.35, and the daily mean temperature was 48.82. Since 1893 the October averages are 64.3, 32.8, and 48.6, respectively. October precipitation totaled 0.8 inches with zero snowfall. The 129-year average is 0.95 inches including 2.3 inches of snow.

November – November was colder than average with slightly more snow than average containing essentially average liquid moisture. The first hard freeze came early in the month and continued cold brought the growing season to an end. The Monthly high was 69 on November 1 and 2 and the monthly low was -3 on November 30, one of three sub-zero readings for the month. The November average daily high was 43.6, the average overnight low was 15.93, and the daily mean temperature was 29.76. Since 1893 the November averages are 50.1, 21.9, and 36.1, respectively. November precipitation totaled 0.55 inches with 7.9 inches of snow. The 129-year average is 0.55 inches including 5.3 inches of snow.

December – December was colder than average and snowier than average. There was a significant winter storm on December 12-13 with heavy snow and gusting winds causing blizzard conditions. The northwest winds continued through December 17 with gusts in excess of 50 mph causing significant drifting, travel disruption, and causing significant difficulties in feeding and watering livestock. Temperatures plunged on December 21 in a sharp three-day cold snap where the low temperature bottomed out at -22 and wind chill readings approached -60. During the blizzard and subsequent cold snap there was considerable livestock death loss. North-northwest winds were severe at times during the month, with gusts averaging 30.81 mph. High gust for the month was 53 mph on December 2. Christmas Eve brought a warming trend which lasted through the end of the year. The monthly high was 55 on December 27 while the monthly low was -22 on December 22. The December average daily high was 37.0, the average overnight low was 12.55, and the daily mean temperature was 24.63. Since 1893 the December averages are 41.7, 15.0, and 28.4, respectively. December precipitation totaled 0.733 inches from 7.95 inches of snow. The 129-year average is 0.5 inches from 6.3 inches of snow.

The 2022 temperature and precipitation numbers are interesting. For the year the daily high temperature averaged 61.6, just slightly cooler than the 129-year average of 62.39. Overnight lows averaged 32.20, compared to the 129-year average of 33.11. The daily mean temperature for 2022 averaged 47.79, almost identical to the 129-year average of 47.77. On a month-by-month basis, about half of the year was warmer than average and the other half was cooler than average. So far as precipitation goes, Kimball had about 2.5 inches above average for the year, 19.37 inches compared to the 129-year average of 16.77 inches. Snowfall was 63.52 inches, well above the 129-year average of 40.5 inches. When it came to crop and grass production in 2022, however, there was a continual shortfall of soil moisture. When combined with a late spring warmup, a hotter and windier than average summer, and precipitation events occurring too early and too late, the result was a hard, dry year for most farmers and ranchers. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that hard, dry years are not unusual in this part of the country, just as the easier, wetter years are not unusual. Normal weather and climate variability is a feature of the system, rather than a bug.