December 2025 Climate Summary

Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary for December 2025:

Temperatures - Below Normal

During December 2025, average temperatures ranged from 14.9°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 22.5°F at Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10 (COOP). Temperature anomalies ranged from 2°F to 5°F colder than normal. The warmest temperature was 46°F at Black River Falls, WI on December 16, and Boscobel Airport, WI (AWOS) and Genoa Dam 8, WI (COOP) on December 23. The coldest temperature was -17°F at Dodge Center, MN (AWOS) on December 4.

Precipitation -​ Highly Variable

Precipitation ranged from 0.88" at Boscobel, WI (ASOS) to 2.60" at Winona Dam 5A, MN (COOP). Precipitation anomalies ranged from 0.7" drier than normal to 0.3" wetter than normal. The wettest day from December 28 to December 29 when 1.30" of precipitation fell near Elkader, IA (COOP).
Snowfall - Highly Variable
Snowfall ranged from 2.6" at Austin, MN (COOP) to 15.7" near Medford, WI (CoCoRaHS). Snowfall anomalies ranged from 3" below normal to 7" above normal. The snowiest day from December 28 to December 29 when 7" of snow fell at Grand Meadow, MN. (COOP).

Below are the December 2025 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI

December 2025 was Drier & Much Colder than Normal for La Crosse, WI

...December 2025 Highlights...

Temperatures - Much Colder than Normal

• During December 2025, the average temperature was 20.1°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. The 1991-2020 normal is 25.1°F. This was 5°F colder than normal. This was the coldest December since 2013 (15.6°F - Tied for the 19th coldest December with 1972).
• The average high temperature was 28.4°F. The 1991-2020 normal is 32.6°F. This was 4.2°F colder than normal.
• The average low temperature was 11.8°F. The 1991-2020 normal is 17.6°F. This was 5.8°F colder than normal.
• The average temperature during the first half (first 16 days) of December was 15.1°F. This was 12.4°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 27.5°F. This was the 16th coldest first half of a December and the coldest start since 2008 (14.9°F - 15th coldest first half of a December). The coldest first half of a December occurred in 1919 when the average temperature was 4.2°F.
• The warmest high temperature was 41°F on December 18 and December 23.
• The coldest high temperature was 3°F on December 13.
• The warmest low temperature was 34°F on December 27.
• The coldest low temperature was -11°F on December 14.
• The low temperature was below 0°F on 4 days. The long-term average is 5 days.

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

• A total of 0.92" of precipitation fell. This was 0.57" below the 1991-2020 normal of 1.49".
• The wettest day was 0.25" on December 28.
• Measurable precipitation fell on 16 days and trace amounts fell on another 4 days.

Snowfall - Less than Normal

• A total of 7.1" of snow was measured by the official NWS snowfall observer near La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 3.8" below the 1991-2020 normal of 10.9".
• The snowiest day was 2"on December 9.
• Measurable snow fell on 10 days and trace amounts fell on another 7 days.

Snow Depth - 25th Highest Average

• The average snow depth was 5" was near La Crosse Regional Airport.
• This was 2.1" greater than the long-term (1893-2025) of 2.9".

Mississippi River - Below Average

• Average 7 AM stage was 5.09 feet. This was the lowest December average since 2013 (5.09 feet).
• This was 0.15 feet below the long-term average (1937-2025) of 5.24 feet.
• The highest 7 AM stage was 5.52 feet on December 30. The highest 7 AM December stage was 9.19 feet on December 19-20, 2015.
• The lowest 7 AM stage was 4.81 feet on December 9.  The lowest 7 AM December stage was 3.73 feet on December 6, 1942.

...December 2025 Records...

• None.

...Looking ahead to January...

The normal high temperatures in La Crosse range from 27 to 28°F. The coldest normal high temperatures occur from January 8 through January 27. The normal low temperatures range from 10 to 13°F.  The coldest low temperatures occur from January 13 through the end of the month. The warmest January temperature on record is 58°F on January 30, 2025, and the coldest temperature is -43°F on January 18, 1873.  

The normal mean temperature for January is 18.9°F. La Crosse’s warmest January occurred in 1880 with an average temperature of 32°F, and their coldest January occurred in 1912 with an average temperature of -1.1°F (coldest month ever recorded). 

The normal January precipitation is 1.25". The wettest January occurred in 1886 with 3.44" of precipitation and the driest January occurred in 1948 and 1981 with just 0.14". The wettest January day occurred on January 5, 1946, when 1.67" of precipitation fell. 

The normal January snowfall is 11.8" (snowiest month). The snowiest January occurred in 1929 with 39.6" of snow (its snowiest month ever recorded) and the least snow was 1.6" in 1903 and 2006. The snowiest January day occurred on January 26, 1996, when 12" of snow fell.

Rochester, MN

December 2025 was Colder and Drier than Normal at Rochester MN

...December 2025 Highlights...

Temperatures - Colder than Normal

• During December 2025, the average temperature was 18°F at Rochester International Airport. The 1991-2020 normal is 20.8°F. This was 2.8°F colder than normal. This was the coldest December since 2022 (17.2°F).
• The average high temperature was 26.8°F. The 1991-2020 normal is 28°F. This was 1.2°F colder than normal.
• The average low temperature was 9.2°F. The 1991-2020 normal is 13.6°F. This was 4.4°F colder than normal.
• The average temperature during the first half (first 16 days) of December was 13.4°F. This was 9.9°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 23.3°F. This was tied with 2008 for the 21st coldest first half of a December. The coldest first half of a December occurred in 1919 when the average temperature was -0.7°F.
• The warmest high temperature was 40°F on December 16.
• The coldest high temperature was 0°F on December 13.
• The warmest low temperature was 31°F on December 27.
• The coldest low temperature was -13°F on December 14.
• The low temperature was below 0°F on 7 days. The long-term average is 7 days.

Rainfall - Drier than Normal

A total of 0.94" of precipitation fell. This was 0.34" below the 1991-2020 normal of 1.28".

The wettest day was 0.43" on December 28.

Measurable precipitation fell on 12 days and trace amounts fell on another 6 days.

Snowfall - Less Snow than Normal

• A total of 9" of snow was measured by the official NWS snowfall observer near Rochester International Airport. This was 3.4" below the 1991-2020 normal of 12.4".
• The snowiest day was 5.2" on December 28.
• Measurable snow fell on 12 days and trace amounts fell on another 4 days.

Snow Depth - 20th Highest Average

• The average snow depth was 5" near Rochester International Airport.
• This was 1.5" greater than the long-term (1940-2025) average of 3.5".

...December 2025 Records...

• None.

...Looking ahead to January...

The normal high temperatures in Rochester range from 22 to 24°F. The coldest normal high temperatures occur from January 10 through January 26. The normal low temperatures range from 6 to 9°F.  The coldest low temperatures occur from January 18 through January 30. The warmest January temperature on record was 58°F on January 25, 1944, and the coldest temperature was -42°F on January 7, 1887.  

The normal mean temperature for January is 14.7°F (coldest month). Rochester’s warmest January occurred in 2006 with an average temperature of 28.1°F, and their coldest January occurred in 1912 with an average temperature of -3.8°F (coldest month ever recorded). 

The normal January precipitation is 0.99" (driest month on average). The wettest January occurred in 1888 with 2.92" of precipitation and the driest January occurred in 1961 with just 0.07". The wettest January day occurred on January 6, 1888, when 1.50" of precipitation fell. 

The normal January snowfall is 12.2" (2nd snowiest month on average). The snowiest January occurred in 1996 with 30.2" of snow and the least snow was 0.8" in 2006. The snowiest January day occurred on January 22, 1982, when 15.4" of snow fell.