Annual North Dakota rainfall, severe weather and climate data

City	Avg Annual Precip	Avg Annual Snow	Avg # days of Precip	Avg # thunderstorm days	Avg # hail days	Avg # severe thunderstorm watches per year	Avg # tornado watches per year	# of tornadoes reported in county, 1960-2010
Bismarck	16.84	43.8	96	34	1	3	15	37
Fargo	21.19	40.8	99	31	2	5	15	74
Williston	14.16	42.3	93	28	1	2	11	19
North Dakota Annual Precipitation Average - 17.82", 43rd wettest state in the U.S. North Dakota Tornado Average - 18.1 per year - 19th most in the U.S. Largest reported Tornado in North Dakota from 1950-2011, 6/26/1986 - 2,000 yards / 1.1 miles wide Date with highest number of reported Tornadoes in North Dakota from 1950-2011, June 11th - 45 tornadoes Average time of occurrence of reported Tornadoes in North Dakota from 1950-2011 - 4:55 pm North Dakota Annual Lightning Density - 4.3 flashes per square mile - 34th highest in U.S. Record Driest year in North Dakota from 1895-2012 - 1936, avg precipitation 8.67 inches Record Wettest year in North Dakota from 1895-2012 - 2010, avg precipitation 24.25 inches

Driest location ranked by lowest annual average precipitation: Sherwood, northern North Dakota, 13.13"

Wettest location ranked by highest annual average precipitation: Wahpeton, southeastern North Dakota, 21.87"

Snowiest location ranked by highest annual average snowfall: Bowman, southwestern North Dakota, 56.5"

State precipitation record for 24 hours - Litchville, southeastern North Dakota, 6/29/1975, 8.10"

State precipitation record for 1 year - Milnor, southeastern North Dakota, 1944, 37.98"

State snowfall record for 24 hours - Berthold Agency, northwestern North Dakota, 2/25/1930, 24.0"

State snow record for 1 season - Fargo, southeastern North Dakota, 1996-1997, 117.0"

From November through February, North Dakota averages only 0.50 inches of precipitation per month, mainly as snow

Contrary to popular belief, blizzards are not frequent events in North Dakota. On average, there are only two or three blizzards per year in the State

On July 21, 1987, thunderstorms produced severe weather in North Dakota, spawning a dozen tornadoes. Thunderstorms also produced baseball-size hail at Clifford which caused four million dollars damage and high winds toppled two of eighty-foot towers, cutting off power to the town of Blanchard.

North Dakota temperature averages and extremes, precipitation and temperature data for all U.S. states and interesting Top 10 U.S. climate extremes

Data sources: National Climatic Data Center, Severe thunderstorm / tornado watch data period is 1999 - 2008, NOAA Storm Prediction Center, Tornado climate data - NOAA Storm Prediction Center, State lightning flash density average - 1997-2011, Vaisala