Meteorological 2020-21 Winter Climate Summary

During the 2020-21 meteorological winter (December 1-February 28), temperatures averaged near-normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Seasonal average temperatures ranged from 15.3F at Medford, WI to 24.5F at Mondovi, WI. While the seasonal temperatures averaged near-normal, much of the winter actually saw above-normal temperatures (4 to 8F warmer-than-normal). The temperature seasonal average was dramatically lowered by the February 5-21 Arctic outbreak. Temperatures during this time period were 19 to 24F colder-than-normal. Precipitation totals were generally 1 to 2 inches drier-than-normal. Precipitation totals ranged from 0.82” near Osage, IA to 4.36” near Cassville, WI. Normally, 3 to 4 inches of precipitation falls during meteorological winter. Snowfall was quite variable across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Snow totals ranged from 13.0” at Austin, MN to 45.2" at Strawberry Point. Normally, anywhere from 25 to 35 inches of snow falls during meteorological winter.

Below are the temperature, precipitation, and snowfall anomalies for the 2020-21 meteorological winter.

Temperature Anomalies	Precipitation Anomalies	Snowfall Anomalies

Here are more details on the winter for La Crosse WI and Rochester MN...

La Crosse WI...

Meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28) was slightly warmer- and drier-than-normal at La Crosse Regional Airport.  The information below provides more details on these statistics.

Temperatures - Slightly Warmer-than-Normal  

From December 1st through February 28th, the average temperature at La Crosse Regional Airport was 21.2 degrees.  This was 0.7 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 winter normal of 20.5 degrees.  

• The average maximum temperature was 29.5 degrees.  This was 0.8 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 28.7 degrees.  
• The average minimum temperature was 13.0 degrees.  This was 0.8 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 12.2 degrees. 

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2020-21.

      Winter 2020-21 Temperatures
            in La Crosse WI

              Average      Departure
   Month    Temperature   from Normal
   -----    -----------   -----------
 December  27.6 degrees   + 6.0 degrees 
 January   23.4 degrees   + 6.0 degrees - Tied for 
                                          17th Warmest
 February  12.8 degrees   - 9.7 degrees - Tied for 
                                          18th Coldest
 Winter    21.2 degrees   + 0.7 degrees 

• The warmest high temperature was 54 degrees on December 10. 
• The coldest high temperature was -2 degrees on February 14.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 34 degrees on January 15.
• The coldest low temperature was -21 degrees on February 15.

The daily average temperatures were above normal on 59 days (65.6 percent), below normal on 30 days (33.3 percent), and normal on 1 day (1.1 percent).

The temperature fell below zero 14 times. Normally, there are 18 sub-zero temperatures in a winter. 

Precipitation - Drier-than-Normal

From December 1st through February 28th, La Crosse Regional Airport received 1.98 inches of precipitation.  This was 1.55 inches drier than the 1981-2010 winter normal of 3.53 inches.  

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2020-21.

     Winter 2020-21 Precipitation 
           in La Crosse WI

           Precipitation      Departure
   Month       Total         from Normal
   -----   --------------    -----------
 December    0.36 inches     -1.00 inch - Tied for 
                                          11th Driest
 January     0.89 inches     -0.23 inches  
 February    0.73 inches     -0.32 inches
 
 Winter      1.98 inches     -1.55 inches  

• The wettest day was on February 4 when 0.35 inches of precipitation fell.  
• Precipitation fell on 36 days (40 percent). Measurable precipitation fell on 18 days (20 percent).  Trace amounts of precipitation fell on 18 days (20 percent).

Snowfall - Less-than-Normal

From December 1st through February 28th, the snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport received 25.7 inches of snow.  This was 5.5 inches below the 1981-2010 normal of 30.2 inches.  The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2020-21.

     Winter 2020-21 Snowfall
         in La Crosse WI

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----     --------     -----------
 December   4.6 inches    -6.7 inches  
 January    9.0 inches    -1.7 inches
 February  12.1 inches    +3.9 inches
 
 Winter    25.7 inches    -5.5 inches

• The snowiest day was 5.8 inches on February 4.
• Snow fell on 31 days (34.4 percent).  Measurable snow fell on 17 days (18.9 percent).  A trace of snow fell on another 14 days (15.6 percent). 

Snow Depth - Same as the Long-Term Average

From December 1st through February 28th, the official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport had an average snow depth of 4.4 inches. This was the same as the long-term average.

The greatest snow depth was 14 inches on February 22.

Measurable snow on the ground on 67 days (74.4 percent) this winter, no snow on the ground 23 days (25.6 percent), and trace amounts of snow on the ground 0 days (0 percent).  

Rochester MN...

Meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28) was slightly colder- and drier-than-normal at Rochester International Airport.  The information below provides more details on these statistics.

Temperatures...Slightly Colder-than-Normal

From December 1st through February 28th, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 17.9 degrees.  This was 0.6 degrees colder than the 1981-2010 winter normal of 18.5 degrees.  

• The average maximum temperature was 25.4 degrees.  This was 0.8 degrees colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 26.2 degrees.   
• The average minimum temperature was 10.4 degrees.  This was 0.4 degrees colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 10.8 degrees.    

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2020-21.

      Winter 2020-21 Temperatures
            in Rochester MN

              Average      Departure
   Month    Temperature   from Normal
   -----    -----------   -----------
 December  24.7 degrees   + 5.0 degrees - 20th Warmest
 January   20.7 degrees   + 5.0 degrees - 15th Warmest
 February   8.3 degrees   -12.0 degrees - Tied for  
                                          6th Coldest
 Winter    17.9 degrees   -0.6 degrees 

• The warmest high temperature was 52 degrees on December 9.
• The coldest high temperature was -8 degrees on February 14.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 31 degrees on January 15.
• The coldest low temperature was -23 degrees on February 15.

The daily average temperatures were above normal on 54 days (60 percent), below normal on 32 days (35.6 percent), and near normal on 5 days (5.5 percent).

The temperature fell below zero on 20 days.  Normally, there are 23 sub-zero temperatures in a winter. 

Precipitation - Drier-than-Normal

From December 1st through February 28th, Rochester International Airport received 1.99 inches of precipitation.  This was 0.93 inches drier than the 1981-2010 winter normal of 2.92 inches.  The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2020-21.

     Winter 2020-21 Precipitation 
           in Rochester MN

           Precipitation      Departure
   Month       Total         from Normal
   -----   --------------    -----------
 December    0.20 inches     -1.03 inch - 5th Driest
 January     1.14 inches     +0.28 inches  
 February    0.65 inches     -0.18 inches
 
 Winter      1.99 inches     -0.93 inches 

• The wettest day was on January 14 when 0.52 inches of precipitation fell.  
• Precipitation fell on 40 days (44.4 percent). Measurable precipitation fell on 19 days (21.1 percent).  Trace amounts of precipitation fell on 21 days (23.3 percent).

Snowfall - Below-Normal

From December 1st through February 28th, the snow observer near Rochester International Airport received 24.2 inches of snow.  This was 8.8 inches lower than the 1981-2010 normal of 33.0 inches.  The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2020-21.

     Winter 2020-21 Snowfall
         in Rochester MN

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----     --------     -----------
 December   3.9 inches    -8.6 inches  
 January   11.6 inches    -0.4 inches
 February   8.7 inches    +0.2 inches
 
 Winter    24.2 inches    -8.8 inches

• The snowiest day was 4.6 inches on February 21.
• Snow fell on 37 days (41.1 percent).  Measurable snow fell on 19 days (21.1 percent).  A trace of snow fell on another 18 days (20 percent).

Snow Depth - Less than the Long-Term Average

From December 1st through February 28th, the official snow observer near Rochester International Airport had an average snow depth of 3.6 inches.  This was 1.6 inches lower than the long-term average of 5.2 inches. 

The greatest snow depth for the winter was 11 inches on February 22.

There was snow on the ground on 66 days (73.3 percent) this winter.  Measurable snow was on the ground on 59 days (65.6 percent), no snow on the ground 24 days (26.7 percent), and trace amounts of snow on the ground 7 days (7.8 percent).