Regional Precipitation Summary for February 2018

Minor flooding to due to heavy rains occurred across parts of far southwest Wisconsin on the 20th. February 2018 in the La Crosse HSA saw near to much above normal precipitation, slightly below to much above normal snowfall and below normal temperatures.

Moderate to locally heavy rains across the southeast third of the HSA on the 19th and 20th fell on frozen ground. Runoff from these rains, produced moderate to strong within-bank rises on the Turkey and Kickapoo Rivers, with minor flooding occurring on the Grant and Platte Rivers in Grant Co. WI on the 20th into 21st.

Precipitation totals for February 2018 ranged from near to above normal across much of the northwest two-thirds of the HSA, to much above normal across the southeast third and far north end of the HSA. The first 10 days of the month were dominated by weaker systems bringing periodic light snows to much of the HSA, with some moderate snows across different portions of the HSA on the 3rd, 5th, 8th and 9th. Light snow fell across much of the HSA on the 15th to the 17th. A stronger system brought light to locally heavy rains to much of the HSA late on the 19th into the 21st, with the heavier totals across the southeast end. Another system brought a moderate wintry mix to the entire area on the 23rd into the 24th, with mainly rain south of I-90 and mainly snow into north-central WI.

Normal precipitation for February ranges from 0.75 inch over the northwest end of the HSA to 1.25 inches across the southeast end. Totals this month ranged from 90 to 130 percent of across much of the northwest two-thirds of the HSA, to 150 to 200 percent of normal across the southwest third and far north end of the HSA. Most February totals ranged from 125 to 175 percent of normal. Extreme totals recorded for the month ranged from 0.47 inch at Grand Meadow in Mower Co. MN and 0.78 inch near Willard in Clark Co. WI, to 2.06 inches near Elkader in Clayton Co. Iowa and 2.71 inches at Cuba City in Grant Co. WI.

February 2018 snowfall varied 6 to 8 inches across much of the central WI part of the HSA, to mostly 8 to 14 inches elsewhere across the HSA. This was slightly below normal across the east-central part of the HSA to much above normal across the far north end of the HSA. Normal February snowfall ranges from 7.5 inches across the southwest end of the HSA to 9.5 inches over the east end. Snow totals this month ranged from 75 to 90 percent of normal in the east-central section, to 150 to 200 percent of normal across the far north end.

Temperatures for February 2018 averaged 14 to 21 degrees. This was 2 to 5 degrees below the normals. Temperatures were below to much below normal from the 1st to the 13th, except for some above normal readings on the 4th. Temperatures were above to much above normal on the 14th and 15th, then slightly above to slightly below normal from the 16th to the 25th, except for much above normal values on the 19th and much below normal values on the 21st. The month ended with above to much above normal readings on the 26th to 28th. Extremes for the month ranged from lows of -5 to -20 on the mornings of the 5th and 6th, to highs of 45 to around 60 on the 27th.

Flows in the rivers and streams of the HSA were normal to much above normal during February. Ice on most rivers, streams was below normal while ice cover on lakes of the HSA was near normal. With below normal temperatures and mainly below normal snow depths during the month, ground frost depths were generally greater than normal at the end of February.