Last Updated on January 29, 2022 7:55 pm
The old saying goes if you don’t like the weather in the High Country wait 5 minutes and it will change. Though that’s not always the case weather data from 2012 proves how fast change can and does happen.
Information and graphics used for this recap was provided by permission of http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Per their website disclaimer “This data is NOT considered official and is intended for educational use only” Weather data was collected from the Watauga Medical Center reporting station.
The highest temperature of the year was 91.4 on June 30, the lowest occurred on February 10 of 10 degrees, and the highest wind gust was 75mph on December 27 at 3:35am.
The two greatest high temperature swings in a 24 hour period occurred on February 24-25: 66.2 to 33.8 for a 32.4 degree difference, and January 1-2: 59 to 32 for an 18 degree difference.
The two greatest low temperature swings in a 24 hour period occurred on June 28-29:51.8 to 73.4 for a 21.6 degree difference and March 26-27: 50 to 32 for an 18 degree difference.
The greatest high temperature swing in a week occurred the first week of January 2012: 59 to 17.6 between Jan 1-3 for a difference of 41.4.
The greatest low temperature swings: 12.2 on Jan 3 to 42.8 on Jan 7 for a difference of 30.6, 10.4 on Feb 12 to 41 on Feb 16 a 30.6 degree difference and 42.8 on June 27 to 73.4 on June 29 for a 30.6 degree difference.
The greatest high temperature swing in a month happen during both January and March, with a difference of 41.4 degrees: 59 Jan 1 to 17.6 on Jan 3 & 33.8 March 5 to 75.2 on March 20.
The greatest low temperature swing in a month happen in February with a low of 10 on Feb 12 to 46.4 on Feb 29 for a difference of 36.4 degrees.
Below is the breakdown for each month:
January
High Temp: 59 – Jan 1 & Jan 31
Low Temp: 12 – Jan 3
Peak Wind Gust: 54mph – Jan 14 3:15am
February
High Temp: 66.2 Feb 24
Low Temp: 10 – Feb 12
Peak Wind Gust: 56mph – Feb 11 6:35 pm
March
High Temp: 75.2 March 20
Low Temp: 19.4 March 6
Peak Wind Gust: 48mph – March 5 7:55 am
April
High: 77 – April 16
Low: 28.4 April 13 & 7th
49mph – April 9 4:35 pm
May
High: 80.6 May 3 & 26
Low: 37.4 – May 11
32mph – May 10 10:55 am
June
High: 91.4 – June 30
Low: 41 – June 3
32mph – June 4 6:35 pm
Side note: on June 27 the low was 42, the 28th 51, on June 29 the low was 73
July
High: 89.6 – July 1
Low: 55.4 – July 29
30mph – July 26 – 9:55 am
Sidenote: a low of 59 was recorded 6 times during the month.
August
High: 82.4 – Aug 2, 30, 31
Low: 48.2 – Aug 21
24mph – Aug 15 2:35 pm
September
High: 78.8 – Sept 1, 2, 7
Low: 37.4 – Sept 24 and 25
33mph – Sept 8 3:55 pm & Sept 18 6:15 am
October
High: 71.6 – Oct 23
Low: 30.2 – Oct 30
60mph – Oct 30 5:35 am
November
High: 64.4 – Nov 10
Low: 21.2 – Nov 14
43mph – Nov 2 11:55 am
December
High: 63.86 – Dec 3, 63.14 – Dec 8
Low: 19.4 – Dec 14, 19.94 – Dec 22
75mph – Dec 27 3:35 am
Greatest High Temp Swing in 24 Hour Period
59-32 January 1-2 (18 degree difference)
66.2 – 33.8 February 24-25 (32.4 degree difference)
Greatest Low Temp Swing in 24 Hour Period
50-32 March 26-27 (18 degree difference)
51.8-73.4 – June 28-29 (21.6 degree difference)
Greatest High Temp Swing in A Week
59-17.6 Jan 1-3 (41.4 degree difference)
Greatest Low Temp Swing in A Week
12.2 Jan 3 – 42.8 Jan 7 (30.6 degree difference)
10.4 Feb 12 – 41 Feb 16 (30.6 degree difference)
42.8 Jun 27 – 73.4 Jun 29 (30.6 degree difference)
Greatest High Temp Swing in A Month
59 Jan 1 to 17.6 on Jan 3 (41.4 degree difference)
26.6 Feb 12 to 66.2 on Feb 24 (39.6 degree difference)
33.8 March 5 to 75.2 on March 20 (41.4 degree difference)
44.6 April 11 to 77 on April 16 (32.4 degree difference)
57.2 May 13 to 80.6 on May 3rd & 26 (23.4 degree difference)
60.8 June 2 & 6 to 91.4 on June 30 (30.6 degree difference)
89.6 July 1 to 62.6 on July 12 (27 degree difference)
69.8 Aug 15, 17, 19 to 82.4 on Aug 2, 30, 31 (12.6 degree difference)
78.8 on Sept 1, 2, 7 to 60.8 on Sept 29 (18 degree difference)
71.6 on Oct 23 to 32 on Oct 30 (39.6 degree difference)
33.8 Nov 6 to 64.4 on Nov 10 (30.6 degree difference)
63.86 Dec 3 to 26.96 on Dec 27 (36.9 degree difference) *Side note there was also a high of 63.14 on Dec 8.
Greatest Low Temp Swing in A Month
12 Jan 3 to 42.8 on Jan 7 (30.8 degree difference)
10 Feb 12 to 46.4 on Feb 29 (36.4 degree difference)
19.4 March 6 to 50 on March 16, 22, 26, 31 (30.6 degree difference)
28.4 April 13 & 7th to 55.4 on April 16 (27 degree difference)
37.4 May 11 to 60.8 on May 5 & 29 (23.4 degree difference)
41 June 3 to 73.4 on June 29 (32.4 degree difference)
55.4 July 29 to 68 on July 26 (12.6 degree difference)
48.2 Aug 21 to 64.4 on Aug 5 (16.2 degree difference)
37.4 Sept 24 and 25 to 64.4 on Sept 3, 4, 5 (27 degree difference)
30.2 Oct 30th to 57.2 on Oct 3 (27 degree difference)
21.2 Nov 14 to 42.8 on Nov 12 (21.6 degree difference)
19.4 Dec 14 to 44.6 on Dec 10 (25.2 degree difference) *side not there was also a low of 19.94 on Dec 22*
Highest Temp of the year: 91.4 June 30
Lowest Temp of the year 10 – Feb 12
Highest Wind gust 75mph – Dec 27 3:35 am
