It has been a windy fall. Very windy compared to last year. Through September, October, and the first 21 days of November, there have been wind gusts of at least 20 mph on 56 of the 82 days and gusts of at least 30 mph on 19 of those 82 days. In the fall of 2013, the same period produced just 49 days with gusts of at least 20 mph and just eight days with wind gusts of at least 30 mph. The reason for the wind is a high frequency of storm systems which have produced a lot of changes in air pressure. Interestingly, those same storm systems have not generated much precipitation. Fargo Moorhead has only received 3.27 inches since September 1, and most of that came on two days. We received 1.99 inches in a thunderstorm September 4 and 0.40 inches in a rain shower November 5. The remaining 0.88 inches has come from occasional rain or snow showers. To be fair, there was a significant snow storm which passed just south of the Fargo Moorhead area November 10.
I am reminded of a very old English nursery rhyme. Meteorologist John Wheeler
The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then?
Poor thing.
He’ll sit in a barn,
And keep himself warm,
And hide his head under his wing,
Poor thing.