Meteorological Winter Summary for La Crosse WI and Rochester MN

Here are the meteorological winter summaries for La Crosse WI and Rochester MN...

La Crosse WI...

During meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28), La Crosse Regional Airport was slightly warmer-than-normal (+0.1°F) and slightly drier-than-normal (-0.40 inches).  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 20.6°F.  This was 0.1°F warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 20.5°F.

• The average maximum temperature was 29.2°F.  This was 0.5°F warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 28.7°F.
• The average minimum temperature was 11.9°F.  This was 0.3°F colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 12.2°F.

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2017-18.

          Winter 2017-18 Temperatures
               in La Crosse WI

                  Average            Departure
   Month        Temperature         from Normal
   -----        -----------         -----------
 December       21.9 degrees       + 0.3 degrees 
 January        18.8 degrees       + 1.4 degrees
 February       21.0 degrees       - 1.5 degrees 
 
 Winter         20.6 degrees       + 0.1 degrees

• The warmest high temperature was 62°F on December 4th. 
• The coldest high temperature was 0°F on December 31st.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 35°F on December 4th.
• The coldest low temperature was -14°F on January 5th.

The daily average temperatures were above normal on 50 days (55.6%), below normal on 38 days (42.2%), and normal on 2 days (2.2%).

The temperature fell below zero on 23 days. On average, there are 21 days with sub-zero temperatures in a winter. 

Precipitation - Slightly Drier-than-Normal

From December 1st through February 28th, La Crosse Regional Airport received 3.13 inches of precipitation.  This was 0.40 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 2017-18.

          Winter 2017-18 Precipitation 
               in La Crosse WI

                Precipitation         Departure
   Month            Total            from Normal
   -----        ------------         -----------
 December        0.53 inches        -0.83 inches 
 January         1.38 inches        +0.26 inches 
 February        1.22 inches        +0.17 inches
 
 Winter          3.13 inches        -0.40 inches 

The wettest day was on January 22nd when 0.85 inches of precipitation fell.  This was the wettest winter day since December 14 2015 when 1.45 inches of precipitation fell.

Precipitation fell on 56 days (62.2%). Measurable precipitation fell on 31 days (34.4%).  Trace amounts of precipitation fell on 25 days (27.8%).

Snowfall - Lower-than-Normal

From December 1st through February 28th, the snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport received 24.7 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 2017-18.

           Winter 2017-18 Snowfall
               in La Crosse WI

                  Snowfall            Departure
   Month            Total            from Normal
   -----        ------------         -----------
 December         4.4 inches         -6.9 inches 
 January         10.8 inches         +0.1 inches
 February         9.5 inches         +1.3 inches
 
 Winter          24.7 inches         -5.5 inches

The snowiest day was 5.0 inches on January 14th.

Snow fell on 51 days (56.7%).  Measurable snow fell on 29 days (32.2%).  A trace of snow fell on another 22 days (24.4%). 

Snow Depth - Below Average

From December 1st through February 28th, the official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport had an average snow depth of 1.9 inches. This was 2.5 inches lower than the average of 4.4 inches.  

The greatest snow depth was 5 inches on 10 different days.  This was the first winter since 2001-02 that no day had more than 5" of snow on the ground.

There was snow on the ground on 77 days (85.6%) this winter.  Measurable snow was on the ground on 54 days (60%) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 23 days (25.6%).  

Rochester MN...
 

During meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28), it was colder (-2.5°F) and slightly wetter-than-normal (+0.09 inches) for Rochester, MN. The information below provides more details on these statistics.

Temperatures - Colder-than-Normal 

From December 1st through February 28th, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 16.0°F.  This was 2.5°F colder than the 1981-2010 winter normal of 18.5°F.  

The average maximum temperature was 24.2°F.  This was 2.0°F colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 26.2°F. 

The average minimum temperature was 7.8°F.  This was 3°F colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 10.8°F.  

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2017-18.

          Winter 2017-18 Temperatures
               in Rochester MN

                  Average            Departure
   Month        Temperature         from Normal
   -----        -----------         -----------
 December       17.9 degrees       -1.8 degrees 
 January        14.6 degrees       -1.1 degrees 
 February       15.3 degrees       -5.0 degrees 
 
 Winter         15.9 degrees       -2.6 degrees 

• The warmest high temperature was 64°F on December 4th.
• The coldest high temperature was -8°F on December 31st.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 30°F on January 10th.
• The coldest low temperature was -18°F on January 6th.

The daily average temperatures were below normal on 48 days (53.3%), above-normal on 41 days (45.6%), normal on 1 day (1.1%).

The temperature fell below zero on 31 days.  On average, there are 27 days with sub-zero temperatures in a winter. 

Precipitation - Slightly Wetter-than-Normal

From December 1st through February 28th, Rochester International Airport received 3.01 inches of precipitation.  This was 0.09 inches wetter 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 2017-18.

          Winter 2017-18 Precipitation 
               in Rochester MN

                Precipitation         Departure
   Month            Total            from Normal
   -----        ------------         -----------
 December        0.51 inches        -0.72 inches 
 January         1.42 inches        +0.56 inches 
 February        1.08 inches        +0.25 inches 
 
 Winter          3.01 inches        +0.09 inches 

The wettest day was on January 22nd when 0.91 inches of precipitation fell.  

Precipitation fell on 48 days (53.3%). Measurable precipitation fell on 28 days (31.1%).  Trace amounts of precipitation fell on 20 days (22.2%).

Snowfall - Near-Normal

From December 1st through February 28th, the snow observer near Rochester International Airport received 32.9 inches of snow.  This was 0.1 inches below 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 2017-18.

           Winter 2017-18 Snowfall
               in Rochester MN

                  Snowfall            Departure
   Month            Total            from Normal
   -----        ------------         -----------
 December         7.2 inches         -5.3 inches  
 January         16.2 inches         +4.2 inches
 February         9.5 inches         +1.0 inches 
 
 Winter          32.9 inches         -0.1 inches 

The snowiest day was 8.1 inches on January 22.

Snow fell on 45 days (50%).  Measurable snow fell on 32 days (35.6%).  A trace of snow fell on another 13 days (14.4%).

Snow Depth - Below Average

From December 1st through February 28th, the official snow observer near Rochester International Airport had an average snow depth of 3.1 inches.  This was 2.1 inches below average. 

The greatest snow depth for the winter was 8 inches from January 23 and January 26th.

There was snow on the ground on 76 days (84.4%) this winter.  Measurable snow was on the ground on 67 days (74.4%) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 9 days (10%).