4. Comprehensive Plan - Laserfiche WebLink

reliably. Regional trade centers grew as a result, providing more products and services within relatively short distance to the rural residents (Commission of Cass County and the Cass County Planning Department 1988). As of late, the increased mobility has also allowed the residents of metro area the ability to live in the county's hinterlands and commute to the metro area for work, school, shopping, and recreation. Climate Cass County's continental climate contributes to an extreme oftemperatures experienced over four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature for Fargo is 41.5° F with an average yearly precipitation of 21.19 inches. The typical average winter temperature is 11.10 F with an average yearly snowfall of 40.0 inches; the actual precipitation is 1.92 inches, accounting for only 9% of the annual precipitation. The typical summer averages 68.5° F and one can expect on average 12 days with a high temperature above 900 F. Summer is also the wettest season, with normal precipitation of8.91 inches and 23 days ofthunderstorms (United States 2002, 7-9). North Dakota has a relatively short growing season compared to southern states, however long and sunny summer days make up for this briefness. The high latitude contributing to the cold winters also creates daylight lasting as long as 16 hours per day during the summer months. On average, the state experiences more cloudy than clear days, however July and August will generally experience twice as many sunny days. The combination of extended daylight hours and the clear and sunny days during the summer months makes successful agriculture operation possible despite a short growing season (Jenson no date). Topography The major geomorphologic feature making up the eastern three-fourths ofCass County is the Red River Valley of North. This valley is a lake plain formed by glacier melt waters of a massive glacial ice lobe which occupied the area some 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. The sediment in the glacier melt formed a flat valley ranging from 15 to 70 miles wide 3