This document provides an overview of climate measurement and data in Missouri. It discusses the history of weather observation dating back to the colonial era. It then describes the current network of cooperative weather stations maintained by the National Weather Service across Missouri. The rest of the document highlights various applications of climate data for agriculture, including normal temperature and precipitation maps, frequency of heavy rainfall events, wind patterns, soil temperatures, impacts of extreme weather like hail, and long-term temperature and precipitation trends. Real-time automated weather station networks and online weather resources are also mentioned.

1. Measuring Climate
Pat Guinan
Extension/State Climatologist
Commercial Agriculture Program
Livestock and Climate Workshop
Univ. of Missouri, 146 ASRC
April 14, 2012

2. Famous Early Weather Observers
“All Science Begins with Observation”
John
Holm George
Washington
Recorded the first George took regular
known weather observations; the last
observations in the weather entry in his
American Colonies 365 diary was made the
years ago, 1644-1645 day before he died.
Thomas Benjamin
Jefferson Franklin
In 1797, Jefferson As Postmaster General in
outlined a plan for 1743, Franklin was able to
providing weather get weather reports from
instruments to postmasters along the
someone in every coast and track a
county in Virginia. hurricane along the
On July 4, 1776, the high temp in Philly was 76°F Atlantic Coast

3. U.S. National Weather Service
Cooperative Weather Station Network
“The Backbone of the Nation’s Climate Records”

4. NWS Cooperative Network in Missouri
28 Pioneer Stations (still active)

5. NWS Cooperative Weather Station Site

6. MMTS
Stevenson Screen or Cotton
Region Shelter

7. 8-inch diameter gauge
Recording Rain Gauge

8. Climate Data Application…
Annual Normal Temperature (1981-2010)

9. Climate Data Application…

10. Climate Data Application…
Hottest Temperature
Ever Recorded in
Missouri
July 14, 1954
118°F
Union
&
Warsaw

11. Climate Data Application…
Coldest Temperature
Ever Recorded in
Missouri
February 13, 1905
-40°F
Warsaw

12. Climate Data Application…
Annual Normal Precipitation (1981-2010)

13. Average Weekly Summer Rainfall for Past 30 Years
in Central Missouri
Period of Record: 1981-2010
Average Weekly Rainfall (in.)
Silking date: 7/4
Silking date: 7/27
Weekly Periods

14. Number of Daily Rainfall Events ≥ 3 inches in Missouri
1895-2010
10 yr. running mean
1895-1952: 922 events
1953-2010: 1005 events 2008
Average: 17 events
1993
1961 1982 2009
Data Source: Midwestern Regional Climate Center

15. Climate Data Application…
Rainfall frequency analyses are used in design specifications and
regulations established for construction of drainage ditches,
culverts, pipes, dams, ponds, lagoons, buildings, roads etc.
100 year, 24-hour
rain event
NOAA Atlas 14
Precipitation frequency estimates

16. Climate Data Application…
Wind Rose
Columbia, MO, South Farm
(2000-2010)

17. Climate Data Application…
Soil temperature, not air temperature, controls germination of seeds. Soil
temperature needs to be above 50°F for corn to germinate and 60°F for
soybeans to germinate. Optimum temperatures for germination are higher.

18. Climate Data Application…
Hail
HOMEOWNER’S AND
CROP INSURANCE
Missouri’s most expensive hail storm in state
history: April 10, 2001, Nearly $2 billion of
property damage due to a hail storm, particularly
in the north St. Louis area.
Meadville, MO on May 24, 2004 2-3 days

19. Missouri Annual Average Temperature
(1895-2011)
5 yr. running mean Long-term average: 54.6°F
1921 1931 1938 1954
1946
1904
1924 Warm Period
1917 1979
1895 Cool Period

20. Missouri Annual Average Precipitation
(1895-2011)
Long-term average: 41.18” 5 yr. running mean
1973 1993 2008
1898 1927
1963 19761980
1901 Wet Period 1953
Dry Period

21. Missouri Average Winter Temperature
(Dec-Jan-Feb, 1895-2012*)
5 yr. running mean Long-term average: 32.4°F
1931-32 2011-12
’91-92 ’99-00
’01-02
1904-05 1917-18 1935-36 1977-78 1978-79
Warm Period
Cool Period
*The winter of 2012 is defined as Dec 2011 and Jan, Feb 2012

22. Missouri Average Spring Temperature
(Mar-Apr-May, 1895-2011)
5 yr. running mean
Long-term average: 54.2°F
1977
1991
1938 1946 2007
1947 1983
1924 1984
1960
Warm Period
Cool Period

23. Median Date of Last Spring Frost (≤ 32 F)
4/19 4/21
4/20
Long term (1895-2010)
4/16 4/18
4/17
vs.
Past 30 years (1981-2010)
4/12
4/12 Locations
4/13 Conception 3 days earlier
4/09 Kirksville 3 days earlier
Steffenville 3 days earlier
4/14 Lexington 1 day later
Columbia 3 days earlier
4/10 Appleton City 4 days earlier
4/18
4/12 Lamar 4 days earlier
4/11 4/19 Lebanon 7 days earlier
4/08 Marble Hill 2 days earlier
4/17

24. Missouri Average Summer Temperature
(Jun-Jul-Aug, 1895-2011)
5 yr. running mean
1934 1936
1901 1954
1980
1927 1950 1992 2004
1915 Warm Period
Cool Period

25. Columbia, Missouri
No. of Days When the Temperature Was ≥ 100 F
(1890-2011)
1936 More triple-digit heat in
1936 than in the past 23
1934 years in Columbia!!
1901
1980
1901

26. Columbia, MO Average Summer Dew Point Temperature (°F)
(Jun-Jul-Aug, 1948-2011)
Long-term average: 64.3°F
19931995 2010
1949 2011
1953 1972 1992
1967
1975
1976
Year Data Source: Missouri Climate Center/NOAA

27. Missouri Average Autumn Temperature
(Sep-Oct-Nov, 1895-2011)
Long-term average: 56.5°F
1931
5 yr. running mean
1963
1938 1998
1971
1951
1896 1996
1993
Warm Period 1976
Cool Period

28. Columbia, MO March Daily Max/Min Temperature (°F)
Normal vs. 2012
Date

29. Missouri Average March Temperature (°F) (1895-
2012)
Year

30. Extension Commercial Agriculture
Automated Weather Station Network
Real-time
(Updates every 5 minutes)
One new station added
in 2010 for a total of 30
in the network.
agebb.missouri.edu/weather/stations/index.htm

31. http://agebb.missouri.edu/weather/stations/

32. Weather Resources on the Internet
agebb.missouri.edu/weather/wealinks.htm
River Information Resources for Missouri
agebb.missouri.edu/weather/river.htm
guinanp@missouri.edu