Bismarck temperatures plunge after beating record

Summary: Despite a drastic change in temperature from the morning to the evening, February 26th, 2024 became the warmest recorded February 26th in Bismarck history.

The snowy scene outside the Gary Tharaldson School of Business at the University of Mary, Feb. 26, 2024 in Bismarck, North Dakota.

It almost felt like spring came early on Monday, Feb. 26 as temperatures reached a high of 64 degrees Fahrenheit in Bismarck, North Dakota, but they later dropped to a low of 19 degrees according to data from the National Weather Service.

This 64 degree weather day became the hottest Feb. 26 ever, narrowly breaking the previous record of 62 degrees on Feb. 26, 2016, according to the Bismarck Tribune.

“Mother nature just be throwing out temperatures like Power Ball numbers…66, 40, 29, 58, 24 and 13,” said Sara Bade Deschene, a University of Mary education graduate, who shared a meme on Facebook.

Bismarck temperatures have averaged about 29 degrees in February since 1954 based upon National Weather Service data.

Feb. 26’s temperature spike came close to the highest recorded February temperature in North Dakota: 73 degrees in Bismarck on Feb. 27, 2016, according to the Weather Channel.

Danielle Aberle, a communication sciences and disorders major, jokingly argued that a 60 degree temperature swing within one day should be outlawed. “You shouldn’t have to wear a winter coat,” said Aberle, “and then it’s spring the next day.”

Other times temperatures in Bismarck rose above 60 degrees include Feb. 29, 1992, with a high of 69 degrees; Feb. 25, 1958, with a 68 degree high; and Feb. 8, 2000, with a high of 61 degrees according to NWS data.

According to KFYR-TV’s Jacob Morse, the weather phenomenon called El Niño, with a hotter Pacific Ocean, caused warmer temperatures in most of North Dakota. Morse also noted that the chance of higher temperatures will likely decrease once spring approaches.