The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, South Dakota reported today that “January 2006 was a record warm month over much of southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota and northeast Nebraska”. January 2006 will be one for climate books setting records for average monthly temperature, average minimum temperature and average maximum temperature. Not only that, but “most locations did not fall below zero in January and had a record number of days above freezing”. A variety of statistics and charts are being provided by the weather office specifically for Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Sioux City, Iowa.

Originally from Kansas, I personally do not mind the warmer temperatures, but there are quite a few people born and raised in the Northern Plains that have not been happy to see the “lack of winter” in this part of the country. Having sub-freezing temperatures in January is normal for this part of the country and the unusual warmth does affect the area’s culture. People from this area feel somewhat lost with what to do with their time without the snow and lack of ice on the area lakes. People who routinely go ice fishing, ride snow mobiles, cross-county skiing, or snow-show walking for their recreation currently do not have the outlet. Also, let’s not forget all those winter businesses that depend on the cold season for their revenue.

There is some irony that only a few weeks ago we discussed here at Like that Idea how much excitement about ice fishing there was at a local bait shop’s Internet forum. The joke now is that we will have to wait until spring before we see our cold temperatures and winter snow storms!