An Unusual Record

We set an unusual record in Sioux Falls on Monday night. At 9:35 pm, Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls recorded the lowest pressure ever for the month of February. The pressure was 28.97 inches of mercury or 981 mb. To put things into perspective, standard pressure is considered to be 29.91 inches of mercury or 1013 mb.

This is a picture of the records that the automated weather station at Sioux Falls records. It says 28.96 but these readings are taken automatically through a weather station and can sometimes round numbers in a weird way. That is the probable reason for the discrepancy. Meteorologists at the station probably saw the rounding error and fixed the official record to read 28.97.

Now, many of you may be thinking that this record doesn't sound all that amazing, but let me give you a quick fact that will be a bit humbling. The central pressure of a typical category 1 hurricane is anywhere between 975 and 985 mb. That means that if the storm that just effected South Dakota were over warm ocean water, it would probably be a hurricane. Seen below is a picture of hurricane Kyle from 2008.Case and point, Hurricane Kyle in 2008 was comparable to this storm with pressure that dropped down to 984 mb and saw maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. So, I guess we could call this storm the Midwest's version of a hurricane.

~KDLT Meteorologist Cody Matz