And speaking of the unusual winter we’ve had so far, let’s take a look back at 2005 according to the folks at Weather Underground…can’t find the link from a few weeks ago, but I cut-n-pasted the following information:

Public Information Statement: Statement as of 1:25 PM MST on January 2, 2006:
2005 weather summary for north central and southwest Montana

Average temperature / departure from normal
Great Falls… .45.0 / +1.3

Highest / lowest temperatures
Great Falls… . 98 on 07/31… 08/06 / -31 on 01/14

Precipitation / departure from normal / most in 24 hours
Great Falls… .15.65 / +0.76 / 2.42 on 06/02

Snowfall / departure from normal / most in 24 hours / Max snow on grd
Great Falls… 71.6 /+19.8 / 12.3 on 11/26-27 / 12 inches on 11/28-30… 12/02

Average wind / departure from normal / peak wind /mph/
Great Falls… .10.9 mph / -2.0 / 52 mph on 01/19

Last Spring frost / first fall frost
Great Falls… .05/27 / 09/11 2005

Days of maximum temperature 90f or higher / 32f or lower
Great Falls… . 23 / 42

Days with minimum temperature 32f or lower / 0f or lower
Great Falls… . 144 / 22

Great Falls milestones reached during 2005…
Peak gust of 52 mph was lowest annual peak gust since 1944.
Record March snowfall… 27.8 inches.
Record November snowfall… 24.9 inches.
Record 3-day snowfall of 18.1 inches occurred in November.
Warmest minimum temperature recorded in January… 50 degrees.
Driest February of record; 3rd wettest June of record; 5th driest July of record; 4th wettest November of record;6th calmest year.

Possibly Related...

• Tuesday, September 9, 2008 -- “First Snow” Contest (14)
• Wednesday, June 11, 2008 -- June Snow! (12)
• Monday, May 12, 2008 -- Rain vs Snow (2)
• Monday, April 21, 2008 -- Brrrr! (4)
• Sunday, April 20, 2008 -- Record Snow! (0)