Christmas Climate and Weather History

The odds of having precipitation on Christmas is 53.9% (82 out of 152).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 44 Christmases (28.9%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 38 Christmases (25%).  

Since 1896, it has snowed on 50.8% (65 out of 128) Christmases.  Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 32 Christmases (25%) and trace amounts on 33 Christmases (25.8%).  

Since 1893, residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 89 times (67.9%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 16 times (12.2%), and no snow on the ground 26 times (19.8%). 

Looking back at the 2023 Christmas, the high temperature was 54°F (second warmest - only 1936 was warmer with a high temperature of 55°F) and the low temperature was 50°F (warmest ever on Christmas - the previous record was 46°F in 1936). The average temperature was 52°F (the warmest ever on Christmas - the previous record was 50.5°F in 1936).  0.36" of rain (6th wettest) and no snow fell. There was 0" of snow on the ground. 

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 111 years of data. From 1886 through 1931, the data came from several cooperative observers in the Rochester area. Since 1932, the data has been gathered at Rochester International Airport. No data was taken on Christmas Day from 1889 to 1891, 1901, 1908, 1921 to 1927, and 1933.

The odds of having any precipitation on Christmas is 58.6% (65 out of 111).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 35 Christmases (31.5%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 30 Christmases (27%).  

It has snowed on 53.3% (57 out of 107) of Christmases.  Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 28 Christmases (26.2%) and trace amounts on 29 Christmases (27.1%). 

Residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 69 times (76.7%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 13 times (14.4%), and no snow 8 times (8.9%). 

Looking back at the 2023 Christmas, the high temperature was 53°F (warmest ever on Christmas - the previous record was 50°F in 1936) and the low temperature was 44°F (warmest ever on Christmas - the previous record was 38°F in 1936). The average temperature was 48.5°F (the warmest ever on Christmas - the previous record was 44°F in 1936).  0.65" of rain (tied for 2nd wettest with 1945 - only 1893 was wetter with 0.75") and no snow fell. There was 0" of snow on the ground. 

The following weather has occurred on Christmas in southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and western Wisconsin:

• In 1879, the temperature plunged to -26 at La Crosse, WI. This stood as their coldest Christmas until 2000 when it was tied.
• In 1895, a snowstorm that began on the afternoon of Christmas Eve in La Crosse, WI ended early Christmas morning. Residents awoke to find 11.5" of snow on the ground. What looked to be a brown Christmas was now a rather White Christmas.
• In 1933, Medford, WI had a low temperature of -31°F.  This was their coldest December temperature.
• In 1936, La Crosse, WI (55°F) and Rochester, MN (50°F) had their warmest Christmas Day.
• In 1945, snow began falling during the morning of the 24th and continued into the early morning hours of the 26th. Some glaze damage to the wire service in southern Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. Some totals included 9" at Grand Meadow, MN, 7.9" at La Crosse, WI, and 6" at New Hampton, IA.
• In 1950, a low pressure system produced 6" in Harmony, MN; 6" in West Salem, WI; and 5.3" in La Crosse, WI (5.3") of snow.
• In 1953,  Rochester, MN  received 10.3" of snow.  This was their snowiest December day.
• In 1962,  heavy snow fell across northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin.  The following snow totals were reported 7" in Cresco, IA; 7" in Decorah, IA; 6.2" in Dorchester, IA; and 6" in Lancaster, WI (6").
• In 1969, 7" of snow fell in Lancaster, WI.
• In 1977, 6" of snow fell in Dodge, WI.
• In 1996, Lancaster and Platteville in southwest Wisconsin received 6" of snow while areas further north near the Wisconsin River picked up 2-3". The snow fell from 2 PM on the 25th to 10 AM on the 26th.
• In 2000, La Crosse, WI (-26°F - tied with 1879) and Rochester, MN (-25°F) had their coldest low temperature on Christmas Day.  High temperatures were mainly in the 5 to 15°F range.  This made it cold viewing for the partial solar eclipse.
• In 2021, with the exception of Taylor County in north-central Wisconsin, it was a green Christmas (no snow or trace of snow) across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Since 2016, areas south of Interstate 90 have seen mainly green Christmases (less than 1" of snow on the ground). On that Christmas, snow depths ranged from 3 to 11 inches. Meanwhile, north of this Interstate, this was the first green Christmas since 2014 for most areas.
  
  This was the first green Christmas in Rochester since 2011. Since 2000, this was the 4th green Christmas. Other ones include 2002 (trace), 2007 (no snow), and 2011 (no snow). Climatologically green Christmases occur 19 percent of the time. Records go back to 1933.
  
  Meanwhile, this was the first green Christmas at La Crosse since 2019. Since 2000, there have been 7 green Christmases. They include no snow in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014, and trace amounts in 2017 and 2018. Climatologically green Christmases occur 31 percent of the time. Records go back to 1893.
• In 2022, La Crosse, WI had a high temperature of 11°F. This was their coldest high on Christmas since 2000  (8°F). Rochester, MN had a high temperature of 8°F. This was their coldest high on Christmas Day since 1996 (-6°F - the coldest ever recorded on Christmas). They also had 12" of snow on the ground. This tied 1996 for the 8th most on Christmas Day. There was a Wind Chill Advisory in effect during the morning. Wind chills were as low as -21°F at La Crosse Regional Airport and -30°F at Rochester International Airport.
• In 2023, a series of low pressure systems moved north along a stationary front located near Interstate 35. Southerly winds ahead of these systems brought near-to-record warmth into the region a couple days prior to Christmas Eve and this warmth continued into Christmas Day. Temperatures were in the 40s and 50s. Rochester International Airport had its warmest Christmas. It set a record for its high temperature (53°F - the previous record was 50°F in 1936), low temperature (44°F - the previous record was 38°F in 1936), and daily average temperature (48.5°F - the previous record was 44°F in 1936). La Crosse Regional Airport had its second warmest high temperature (54°F - only 1936 was warmer with a high temperature of 55°F) and set new daily records for low temperature (50°F - the previous record was 46°F in 1936) and daily average temperature (52°F - the previous record was 50.5°F in 1936). Elsewhere, coop climate sites tied or broke 17 record highs and 35 warm low temperature records. Besides record warmth, there were several daily precipitation records were set at the following coop sites (December 25-26):
  • Iowa: Charles City (0.85" - previous record 0.74" in 1911), Elkader 6 SSW (0.77" - previous record 0.70" in 2016), Osage (0.72" - previous record 0.70" in 1911), and St. Ansgar (0.70" - previous record 0.70" in 2016)
  • Minnesota: Austin Waste Water Treatment Facility (0.49" - previous record 0.41" in 1941), Hokah 4 NW (0.94" - previous record 0.20" in 2016), Minnesota City (0.97" - previous record 0.60" in 2016), Rochester AP 2NE (0.58" - previous record 0.12" in 2009), and Winona Dam 5A (0.46" - previous record 0.41" in 2016)
  • Wisconsin: Alma Dam 4 (0.56" - previous record 0.56" in 2016), La Farge (0.65" - previous record 0.62" in 2016), Mather 3 NW (0.83" - previous record 0.76" in 2016), Neillsville 3ESE (0.85" - previous record 0.42" in 2009), Necedah 5 WNW (0.61" - previous record 0.26" in 2021), and Trempealeau Dam 6 (1" - previous record 0.66" in 2016)