Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Watford City (USC00329233), North Dakota, United States, with 111 years of record.
Key Facts for Watford City
Watford City (USC00329233) is a weather station in North Dakota, United States at 47.80 latitude and -103.29 longitude, 661 m (2,170 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1912 to 2022, 111 years of record.
1,464 records set at Watford City still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Watford City tied a daily record high minimum temperature of 0.6 C (33.1 F) on 27 December 2022.
About the Station
Location: North Dakota, United States, 47.80 latitude, -103.29 longitude.
Elevation: 661 m (2,170 ft).
Period of record: 1912 to 2022, 111 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd.
Daily Record Envelope and 2026
0 days at or beyond a record
Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Watford City. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.
Daily record high and record low at Watford City, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
15.6 C (60.1 F)
-42.8 C (-45.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
17.8 C (64.0 F)
-42.2 C (-44.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
27.2 C (81.0 F)
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
33.3 C (91.9 F)
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
n/a
n/a
May
39.4 C (102.9 F)
-11.1 C (12.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
43.3 C (109.9 F)
-7.2 C (19.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
44.4 C (111.9 F)
0.0 C (32.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
43.9 C (111.0 F)
-1.7 C (28.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
39.4 C (102.9 F)
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
35.6 C (96.1 F)
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
25.0 C (77.0 F)
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
18.9 C (66.0 F)
-37.8 C (-36.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Watford City still stand. 1936 holds the most, with 64.
Standing records at Watford City by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1912
28
1917
5
1919
28
1920
12
1921
25
1922
12
1923
12
1924
36
1925
26
1926
7
1927
16
1928
26
1929
21
1930
17
1931
38
1932
13
1933
14
1934
35
1935
20
1936
64
1937
24
1938
8
1939
31
1940
19
1941
11
1942
29
1943
17
1944
16
1945
18
1946
15
1947
14
1948
13
1949
15
1950
20
1951
16
1952
14
1953
11
1954
22
1955
13
1956
14
1957
11
1958
21
1959
15
1960
8
1961
8
1962
16
1963
23
1964
18
1965
16
1966
7
1967
3
1968
11
1969
14
1970
11
1971
5
1972
40
1973
8
1974
9
1975
13
1976
8
1977
4
1991
7
1992
22
1993
12
1994
5
1995
11
1996
24
1997
15
1998
12
1999
18
2000
11
2001
9
2002
19
2003
18
2004
11
2005
16
2006
15
2007
11
2008
11
2009
9
2010
4
2011
10
2012
25
2013
3
2014
4
2015
20
2016
11
2017
8
2018
11
2019
7
2020
18
2021
11
2022
12
All-Time Record Progression
4 new records
4 all-time records were set at Watford City between 1 July 1952 and 15 April 2022. Each dot is a new record.
When Watford City set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
1952-07-01
Record daily precipitation
Record daily precipitation 83.8 mm (3.3 in)
1965-05-25
Record daily precipitation
Record daily precipitation 85.1 mm (3.4 in)
2016-12-26
Record daily snowfall
Record daily snowfall 40.6 cm (16.0 in)
2022-04-15
Record daily snowfall
Record daily snowfall 61.5 cm (24.2 in)
Wettest Day of Each Month
May: 85.1 mm (3.4 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Watford City. The most was 85.1 mm (3.4 in) on 25 May 1965.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Watford City
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
16.8 mm (0.7 in)
25 January 2004
Feb
20.6 mm (0.8 in)
28 February 1951
Mar
29.2 mm (1.1 in)
23 March 2011
Apr
60.5 mm (2.4 in)
24 April 2022
May
85.1 mm (3.4 in)
25 May 1965
Jun
77.5 mm (3.1 in)
9 June 1975
Jul
83.8 mm (3.3 in)
1 July 1952
Aug
62.2 mm (2.4 in)
25 August 1960
Sep
66.8 mm (2.6 in)
5 September 1971
Oct
41.4 mm (1.6 in)
12 October 2013
Nov
46.2 mm (1.8 in)
2 November 2000
Dec
31.2 mm (1.2 in)
26 December 2016
Period of Record Coverage
1912 to 2022
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
93 years of record at Watford City, 1912 to 2022. 21 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1912, 1917, 1919, 1957, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1976 and others.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 67 complete years at Watford City, 1920 to 2018. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 5.2 C (41.4 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1972, at 2.3 C (36.1 F), and the warmest was 1931, at 7.8 C (46.1 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 3.0 C (5.4 F).
Annual mean temperature at Watford City as warming stripes, 1920 to 2018
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1920
4.7 C
-0.56 C
1921
5.9 C
+0.67 C
1922
4.4 C
-0.84 C
1923
5.4 C
+0.19 C
1924
3.7 C
-1.60 C
1925
5.4 C
+0.17 C
1926
5.4 C
+0.11 C
1928
5.4 C
+0.15 C
1929
3.8 C
-1.47 C
1930
5.4 C
+0.19 C
1931
7.8 C
+2.57 C
1932
5.0 C
-0.27 C
1933
5.7 C
+0.45 C
1934
6.6 C
+1.33 C
1935
4.2 C
-1.07 C
1936
4.7 C
-0.60 C
1937
5.5 C
+0.27 C
1938
6.7 C
+1.42 C
1939
6.8 C
+1.58 C
1940
6.4 C
+1.19 C
1941
6.8 C
+1.59 C
1942
5.9 C
+0.66 C
1943
5.3 C
+0.08 C
1944
5.8 C
+0.57 C
1945
4.6 C
-0.65 C
1946
5.7 C
+0.45 C
1947
5.6 C
+0.31 C
1948
5.7 C
+0.49 C
1949
5.3 C
+0.06 C
1950
2.9 C
-2.36 C
1951
2.9 C
-2.34 C
1952
5.7 C
+0.48 C
1953
7.0 C
+1.72 C
1954
6.0 C
+0.73 C
1955
5.2 C
-0.07 C
1956
5.5 C
+0.29 C
1958
6.5 C
+1.29 C
1959
5.4 C
+0.13 C
1962
5.8 C
+0.56 C
1963
7.1 C
+1.86 C
1965
4.5 C
-0.73 C
1969
4.2 C
-1.10 C
1970
3.8 C
-1.44 C
1971
4.0 C
-1.27 C
1972
2.3 C
-2.97 C
1973
4.8 C
-0.42 C
1974
5.0 C
-0.24 C
1975
3.9 C
-1.33 C
1992
5.6 C
+0.36 C
1993
3.7 C
-1.55 C
1994
4.3 C
-0.93 C
1995
4.5 C
-0.72 C
1996
2.6 C
-2.69 C
1997
5.1 C
-0.11 C
1998
6.1 C
+0.83 C
1999
5.9 C
+0.67 C
2000
4.7 C
-0.60 C
2001
5.9 C
+0.67 C
2002
5.0 C
-0.27 C
2003
5.4 C
+0.17 C
2004
5.2 C
-0.03 C
2005
6.5 C
+1.24 C
2006
7.2 C
+1.91 C
2007
6.6 C
+1.31 C
2008
5.3 C
+0.09 C
2010
5.2 C
-0.03 C
2018
4.5 C
-0.78 C
The fitted trend in annual mean temperature here over 1920 to 2018 is -0.03 C (-0.13 to 0.06) per decade. The interval includes zero, so the trend is not clearly different from zero. In Fahrenheit: -0.1 F (-0.2 to 0.1) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 67 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.
Fitted temperature trends per decade at Watford City
Measure
Per decade (C)
Per decade (F)
Period
Complete years
Reading
Annual mean temperature
-0.03 C (-0.13 to 0.06) per decade
-0.1 F (-0.2 to 0.1) per decade
1920 to 2018
67
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily maximum
0.00 C (-0.11 to 0.10) per decade
-0.01 F (-0.20 to 0.18) per decade
1920 to 2018
67
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily minimum
-0.06 C (-0.16 to 0.04) per decade
-0.1 F (-0.3 to 0.1) per decade
1920 to 2018
67
Not clearly different from zero
A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.
Extremes by Year
1912 to 2022
Yearly extremes at Watford City: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
44.4 C (111.9 F)
1936
38.9 C (102.0 F)
93
Coldest night (TNn)
-42.8 C (-45.0 F)
1912
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
93
Wettest day (Rx1day)
85.1 mm (3.4 in)
1965
37.6 mm (1.5 in)
93
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
139.0 mm (5.5 in)
1929
57.9 mm (2.3 in)
93
Longest dry spell (CDD)
71 days
1934
31 days
93
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Watford City, 1912 to 2022. The record is 44.4 C (111.9 F) in 1936, marked on the chart; the median year is 38.9 C (102.0 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Watford City by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1912
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1917
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1919
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1920
42.2 C (108.0 F)
1921
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1922
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1923
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1924
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1925
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1926
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1927
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1928
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1929
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1930
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1931
43.3 C (109.9 F)
1932
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1933
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1934
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1935
42.2 C (108.0 F)
1936
44.4 C (111.9 F)
1937
42.2 C (108.0 F)
1938
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1939
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1940
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1941
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1942
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1943
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1944
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1945
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1946
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1947
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1948
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1949
43.9 C (111.0 F)
1950
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1951
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1952
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1953
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1954
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1955
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1956
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1957
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1958
41.7 C (107.1 F)
1959
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1960
43.3 C (109.9 F)
1961
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1962
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1963
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1964
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1965
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1966
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1967
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1968
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1969
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1970
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1971
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1972
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1973
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1974
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1975
41.1 C (106.0 F)
1976
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1977
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1991
13.9 C (57.0 F)
1992
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1993
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1994
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1995
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1996
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1997
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1998
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1999
37.8 C (100.0 F)
2000
38.3 C (100.9 F)
2001
38.3 C (100.9 F)
2002
37.2 C (99.0 F)
2003
40.0 C (104.0 F)
2004
38.3 C (100.9 F)
2005
37.8 C (100.0 F)
2006
38.3 C (100.9 F)
2007
42.8 C (109.0 F)
2008
37.8 C (100.0 F)
2009
36.7 C (98.1 F)
2010
36.7 C (98.1 F)
2011
37.8 C (100.0 F)
2012
40.0 C (104.0 F)
2013
35.6 C (96.1 F)
2014
36.1 C (97.0 F)
2015
40.0 C (104.0 F)
2016
36.7 C (98.1 F)
2017
33.3 C (91.9 F)
2018
42.2 C (108.0 F)
2019
35.0 C (95.0 F)
2020
37.8 C (100.0 F)
2021
35.6 C (96.1 F)
2022
37.8 C (100.0 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Watford City, 1912 to 2022. The record is -42.8 C (-45.0 F) in 1912, marked on the chart; the median year is -34.4 C (-29.9 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Watford City by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1912
-42.8 C (-45.0 F)
1917
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1919
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
1920
-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
1921
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
1922
-37.8 C (-36.0 F)
1923
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
1924
-36.1 C (-33.0 F)
1925
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1926
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1927
-36.1 C (-33.0 F)
1928
-37.8 C (-36.0 F)
1929
-38.3 C (-36.9 F)
1930
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
1931
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1932
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
1933
-38.3 C (-36.9 F)
1934
-36.1 C (-33.0 F)
1935
-40.6 C (-41.1 F)
1936
-42.2 C (-44.0 F)
1937
-37.2 C (-35.0 F)
1938
-36.1 C (-33.0 F)
1939
-38.3 C (-36.9 F)
1940
-33.9 C (-29.0 F)
1941
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1942
-35.0 C (-31.0 F)
1943
-40.6 C (-41.1 F)
1944
-35.0 C (-31.0 F)
1945
-33.3 C (-27.9 F)
1946
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
1947
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
1948
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
1949
-36.7 C (-34.1 F)
1950
-39.4 C (-38.9 F)
1951
-36.1 C (-33.0 F)
1952
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
1953
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1954
-37.8 C (-36.0 F)
1955
-33.3 C (-27.9 F)
1956
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1957
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1958
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1959
-38.9 C (-38.0 F)
1960
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1961
-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
1962
-38.3 C (-36.9 F)
1963
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
1964
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1965
-35.6 C (-32.1 F)
1966
-36.1 C (-33.0 F)
1967
-36.7 C (-34.1 F)
1968
-36.7 C (-34.1 F)
1969
-36.7 C (-34.1 F)
1970
-37.8 C (-36.0 F)
1971
-33.9 C (-29.0 F)
1972
-37.8 C (-36.0 F)
1973
-35.0 C (-31.0 F)
1974
-35.0 C (-31.0 F)
1975
-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
1976
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
1977
-38.3 C (-36.9 F)
1991
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1992
-33.3 C (-27.9 F)
1993
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1994
-35.0 C (-31.0 F)
1995
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1996
-39.4 C (-38.9 F)
1997
-35.6 C (-32.1 F)
1998
-33.9 C (-29.0 F)
1999
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
2000
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
2001
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
2002
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
2003
-33.3 C (-27.9 F)
2004
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
2005
-35.6 C (-32.1 F)
2006
-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
2007
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
2008
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
2009
-36.1 C (-33.0 F)
2010
-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
2011
-33.3 C (-27.9 F)
2012
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
2013
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
2014
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
2015
-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
2016
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
2017
-33.9 C (-29.0 F)
2018
-36.1 C (-33.0 F)
2019
-42.2 C (-44.0 F)
2020
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
2021
-36.1 C (-33.0 F)
2022
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Watford City, 1912 to 2022. The record is 85.1 mm (3.4 in) in 1965, marked on the chart; the median year is 37.6 mm (1.5 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Watford City by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1912
54.1 mm (2.1 in)
1917
21.6 mm (0.9 in)
1919
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1920
24.9 mm (1.0 in)
1921
38.1 mm (1.5 in)
1922
44.7 mm (1.8 in)
1923
33.0 mm (1.3 in)
1924
31.2 mm (1.2 in)
1925
51.8 mm (2.0 in)
1926
28.2 mm (1.1 in)
1927
28.7 mm (1.1 in)
1928
43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1929
77.5 mm (3.1 in)
1930
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1931
30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1932
30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1933
47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1934
26.7 mm (1.1 in)
1935
29.2 mm (1.1 in)
1936
18.3 mm (0.7 in)
1937
37.6 mm (1.5 in)
1938
24.1 mm (0.9 in)
1939
47.8 mm (1.9 in)
1940
39.6 mm (1.6 in)
1941
44.2 mm (1.7 in)
1942
27.2 mm (1.1 in)
1943
68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1944
61.5 mm (2.4 in)
1945
21.8 mm (0.9 in)
1946
47.8 mm (1.9 in)
1947
41.7 mm (1.6 in)
1948
46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1949
19.3 mm (0.8 in)
1950
38.6 mm (1.5 in)
1951
26.7 mm (1.1 in)
1952
83.8 mm (3.3 in)
1953
54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1954
41.4 mm (1.6 in)
1955
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1956
37.6 mm (1.5 in)
1957
33.3 mm (1.3 in)
1958
26.7 mm (1.1 in)
1959
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
1960
62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1961
31.8 mm (1.3 in)
1962
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
1963
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
1964
40.1 mm (1.6 in)
1965
85.1 mm (3.4 in)
1966
40.9 mm (1.6 in)
1967
14.0 mm (0.6 in)
1968
57.4 mm (2.3 in)
1969
31.2 mm (1.2 in)
1970
39.6 mm (1.6 in)
1971
66.8 mm (2.6 in)
1972
49.3 mm (1.9 in)
1973
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1974
28.2 mm (1.1 in)
1975
77.5 mm (3.1 in)
1976
69.9 mm (2.8 in)
1977
12.7 mm (0.5 in)
1991
5.3 mm (0.21 in)
1992
39.9 mm (1.6 in)
1993
42.2 mm (1.7 in)
1994
31.2 mm (1.2 in)
1995
50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1996
23.4 mm (0.9 in)
1997
65.8 mm (2.6 in)
1998
38.9 mm (1.5 in)
1999
40.4 mm (1.6 in)
2000
46.2 mm (1.8 in)
2001
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
2002
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
2003
32.5 mm (1.3 in)
2004
27.7 mm (1.1 in)
2005
39.4 mm (1.6 in)
2006
28.4 mm (1.1 in)
2007
33.0 mm (1.3 in)
2008
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
2009
40.6 mm (1.6 in)
2010
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
2011
46.2 mm (1.8 in)
2012
27.7 mm (1.1 in)
2013
43.9 mm (1.7 in)
2014
23.9 mm (0.9 in)
2015
22.9 mm (0.9 in)
2016
35.3 mm (1.4 in)
2017
24.4 mm (1.0 in)
2018
31.5 mm (1.2 in)
2019
43.2 mm (1.7 in)
2020
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
2021
29.5 mm (1.2 in)
2022
60.5 mm (2.4 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Watford City, 1912 to 2022. The record is 139.0 mm (5.5 in) in 1929, marked on the chart; the median year is 57.9 mm (2.3 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Watford City by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1912
103.4 mm (4.1 in)
1917
26.9 mm (1.1 in)
1919
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1920
31.6 mm (1.2 in)
1921
83.0 mm (3.3 in)
1922
77.2 mm (3.0 in)
1923
77.2 mm (3.0 in)
1924
55.6 mm (2.2 in)
1925
56.9 mm (2.2 in)
1926
39.7 mm (1.6 in)
1927
47.2 mm (1.9 in)
1928
65.6 mm (2.6 in)
1929
139.0 mm (5.5 in)
1930
54.1 mm (2.1 in)
1931
31.8 mm (1.3 in)
1932
57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1933
65.3 mm (2.6 in)
1934
44.2 mm (1.7 in)
1935
43.1 mm (1.7 in)
1936
23.3 mm (0.9 in)
1937
54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1938
69.8 mm (2.7 in)
1939
62.5 mm (2.5 in)
1940
57.9 mm (2.3 in)
1941
76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1942
37.6 mm (1.5 in)
1943
87.5 mm (3.4 in)
1944
75.5 mm (3.0 in)
1945
46.6 mm (1.8 in)
1946
71.9 mm (2.8 in)
1947
105.0 mm (4.1 in)
1948
60.2 mm (2.4 in)
1949
30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1950
53.5 mm (2.1 in)
1951
34.6 mm (1.4 in)
1952
131.3 mm (5.2 in)
1953
89.9 mm (3.5 in)
1954
64.8 mm (2.6 in)
1955
95.0 mm (3.7 in)
1956
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1957
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1958
53.1 mm (2.1 in)
1959
70.1 mm (2.8 in)
1960
67.8 mm (2.7 in)
1961
63.8 mm (2.5 in)
1962
44.7 mm (1.8 in)
1963
55.7 mm (2.2 in)
1964
43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1965
138.5 mm (5.5 in)
1966
41.4 mm (1.6 in)
1967
35.5 mm (1.4 in)
1968
68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1969
92.5 mm (3.6 in)
1970
63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1971
78.2 mm (3.1 in)
1972
79.5 mm (3.1 in)
1973
67.0 mm (2.6 in)
1974
42.9 mm (1.7 in)
1975
95.0 mm (3.7 in)
1976
71.2 mm (2.8 in)
1977
15.5 mm (0.6 in)
1991
9.1 mm (0.36 in)
1992
64.8 mm (2.6 in)
1993
102.2 mm (4.0 in)
1994
77.5 mm (3.1 in)
1995
66.2 mm (2.6 in)
1996
45.3 mm (1.8 in)
1997
73.4 mm (2.9 in)
1998
65.1 mm (2.6 in)
1999
50.5 mm (2.0 in)
2000
84.3 mm (3.3 in)
2001
68.0 mm (2.7 in)
2002
51.0 mm (2.0 in)
2003
38.9 mm (1.5 in)
2004
38.6 mm (1.5 in)
2005
89.2 mm (3.5 in)
2006
48.8 mm (1.9 in)
2007
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
2008
36.3 mm (1.4 in)
2009
68.8 mm (2.7 in)
2010
51.0 mm (2.0 in)
2011
66.6 mm (2.6 in)
2012
35.5 mm (1.4 in)
2013
62.6 mm (2.5 in)
2014
27.2 mm (1.1 in)
2015
42.5 mm (1.7 in)
2016
56.6 mm (2.2 in)
2017
30.7 mm (1.2 in)
2018
72.1 mm (2.8 in)
2019
71.6 mm (2.8 in)
2020
50.3 mm (2.0 in)
2021
46.7 mm (1.8 in)
2022
91.5 mm (3.6 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Watford City, 1912 to 2022. The record is 71 days in 1934, marked on the chart; the median year is 31 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Watford City by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1912
39 days
1917
28 days
1919
62 days
1920
28 days
1921
47 days
1922
29 days
1923
31 days
1924
23 days
1925
37 days
1926
37 days
1927
18 days
1928
44 days
1929
29 days
1930
38 days
1931
40 days
1932
23 days
1933
23 days
1934
71 days
1935
25 days
1936
29 days
1937
37 days
1938
31 days
1939
36 days
1940
31 days
1941
26 days
1942
34 days
1943
28 days
1944
32 days
1945
25 days
1946
25 days
1947
16 days
1948
41 days
1949
49 days
1950
27 days
1951
32 days
1952
45 days
1953
26 days
1954
32 days
1955
35 days
1956
24 days
1957
25 days
1958
27 days
1959
28 days
1960
27 days
1961
57 days
1962
33 days
1963
48 days
1964
31 days
1965
48 days
1966
41 days
1967
24 days
1968
24 days
1969
34 days
1970
35 days
1971
37 days
1972
33 days
1973
23 days
1974
49 days
1975
33 days
1976
29 days
1977
25 days
1991
29 days
1992
34 days
1993
38 days
1994
33 days
1995
41 days
1996
28 days
1997
39 days
1998
32 days
1999
49 days
2000
30 days
2001
53 days
2002
30 days
2003
31 days
2004
27 days
2005
43 days
2006
28 days
2007
41 days
2008
34 days
2009
38 days
2010
33 days
2011
18 days
2012
35 days
2013
18 days
2014
14 days
2015
18 days
2016
24 days
2017
30 days
2018
26 days
2019
23 days
2020
26 days
2021
14 days
2022
15 days
Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.
Frost Dates and Growing Season
67 years with a frost
Across 67 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Watford City falls on 21 May and the median first autumn frost on 18 September, which leaves a median of 120 days between them.
In 1959 to 2018 the median growing season was 120 days. That is 1 day more than in 1920 to 1950.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by +0.8 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Watford City
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period (1920 to 1950)
Recent period (1959 to 2018)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
21 May
23 May
21 May
2 days earlier
-0.4 days per decade
First autumn frost
18 September
17 September
18 September
1 day later
+0.4 days per decade
Growing days
120 days
119 days
120 days
1 day more
+0.8 days per decade
A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.
Rainfall Return Levels
74 years, 1912 to 2015
A day with at least 37.4 mm (1.5 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 93.7 mm (3.7 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Watford City: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
37.4 mm (1.5 in)
5 years
50.6 mm (2.0 in)
10 years
60.0 mm (2.4 in)
25 years
72.8 mm (2.9 in)
50 years
83.0 mm (3.3 in)
100 years
93.7 mm (3.7 in)
Longer than the 74 years of record
The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 74 years of values from 1912 to 2015.
A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.
The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 85.1 mm (3.4 in) in 1965; 83.8 mm (3.3 in) in 1952; 77.5 mm (3.1 in) in 1929.
Station Changes
2 suspected
2 changes were suspected in the annual mean temperature of Watford City, at 1969 and 2001. Each is measured against neighbouring stations.
Relative to 5 neighbouring stations, the station's annual mean temperature from 1969 ran 0.6 C (1.1 F) lower than in the years before (likely change).
Relative to 5 neighbouring stations, the station's annual mean temperature from 2001 ran 0.6 C (1.1 F) higher than in the years before (likely change).
Suspected changes in the annual mean temperature at Watford City, against neighbouring stations
Year
Shift (C)
Shift (F)
Strength
Neighbours
1969
-0.6
-1.1
likely
5
2001
+0.6
+1.1
likely
5
Possible change at the station (a move, a new instrument or a new site); the record is kept as measured. A "likely" change has a larger test statistic than a "possible" one. Neither says why the station differs from its neighbours. How changes are found, and the largest ones.
Download the Data
Data for Watford City standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Watford City threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-13 (13 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.