Freezing rain builds into north central Wisconsin this evening and continues through the overnight. Impacts to elevated surfaces possible. Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening with the main threat of hail. Heavy rain today with totals of 0.5 to 1.5" expected with locally higher amounts possible... Read More >
| Temperatures | Precipitation | ||||||
| Month | High | Low | Average | Departure | Total | Departure | Snow |
| January | 17.1 | -4.0 | 6.5 | -9.2 | 1.00 | +0.14 | 14.8 |
| February | 15.7 | -2.4 | 6.7 | -13.6 | 1.76 | +0.93 | 18.6 |
| March | 32.5 | 16.0 | 24.2 | -8.2 | 1.15 | -0.73 | 6.2 |
| April | 50.8 | 33.5 | 42.2 | -4.5 | 5.64 | +2.40 | 6.5 |
| May | 68.6 | 47.1 | 57.9 | -0.2 | 1.78 | -1.85 | 0.0 |
| June | 78.1 | 59.5 | 68.6 | +1.2 | 7.27 | +2.59 | ... |
| July | 76.9 | 58.2 | 67.6 | -3.8 | 2.23 | -2.32 | ... |
| August | 79.7 | 61.2 | 70.5 | +1.4 | 5.36 | +0.84 | ... |
| September | 70.0 | 49.5 | 59.8 | -1.1 | 3.54 | +0.09 | ... |
| October | 57.3 | 37.5 | 47.4 | -1.0 | 2.37 | +0.13 | T |
| November | 32.7 | 16.8 | 24.7 | -9.1 | 0.91 | -1.00 | 9.2 |
| December | 28.9 | 18.4 | 23.6 | +3.9 | 1.02 | -0.21 | 8.2 |
| TOTALS: | 50.1 | 32.6 | 41.7 | -3.7 | 34.03 | +1.01 | *** |
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January got the year off to an ominous start as the first 9 days averaged nearly 20 degrees below normal. Low temperatures were 10 degrees below zero or colder on 7 of those days, with a high of only -13 on the 6th. Temperatures would rebound for about a week after that, but then settle back into the cold for the rest of the month. Overall, there were 4 days when temperatures never warmed above zero, with 20 days of below zero lows – the most in a January since 1979 and 11th highest total on record. The -23 F low on the 6th was the coldest temperature for 2014. January got off to a dry start, not recording its first measurable snow until the 10th. After that, measurable snow fell on over 50% of the remaining days. Much of it came in 1 inch or less increments, although 4.1” did fall on the 14th. It was uncommonly windy for January in Rochester as 6 days averaged over 20 mph – with a peak wind for 2014 of 58 mph on the 26th. With the fallen snow mostly light, it was easily moved, and blowing snow was reported at Rochester on 15 days. The strongest winds on the 26th resulted in blizzard conditions.
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The deep-freeze continued for February as temperatures averaged over 13 degrees below normal – making it the 4th coldest February on record. Sub-zero lows were recorded on 17 days, tied for 3rd most on record for Rochester. There were only 4 days during the month where average temperatures were above normal. Snowfall was 10 inches above normal, with the 18.6” total tying for 4th snowiest on record. The 20th accounted for the bulk of the snowfall, with 8.8” on that day. While not quite as windy as January, February provided 3 days with over a 20 mph average. In particular, the snowstorm of the 20th had wind gusts up to 50 mph at Rochester, resulting in blizzard conditions into the morning of the 21st.
The winter months of December through February were some of the coldest on record, collectively averaging only 8.8 degrees – making it the 5th coldest on record at Rochester. Low temperatures were below zero 48 times, 7th most on record. High temperatures were in the singles digits above zero or colder 28 times, tying it for 4th. Certainly, a significantly cold winter by any standard for Rochester.
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| No end to the cold as the calendar flipped to March with below zero lows the first three days of the month - the last below zero days for the 2013-14 winter season. It would stay cold the rest of the month, finishing 8 degrees below normal. There was a glimpse of spring at month’s end with a 60 degree days on the 31st. Snowfall was a bit below normal for March, but there 8 days with measurable snow. Like much of the winter, amounts were generally on the smaller side, with 6 of those days ½ inch or less. |  |
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Temperatures varied greatly during April, typical for this spring month. Still, it was cold more often than not, and averaged 4 ½ degrees below normal. Highs would peak at 69 on the 19th, but only warmed to 60 or greater 7 times. Temperatures couldn’t crack 50 degrees 15 times. It was a very wet month with measurable rain on 2/3rds of the days – with 10 of those recording ¼ inch or more. Measurable rain was recorded on 9 of the last 11 days of the month. The 5.64” total made it the 5th wettest April on record for Rochester. Snowfall wasn’t done quite yet either as measurable snow fell on 4 days – including the 29th and 30th.
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May broke the string of abnormally cold months, but not by much, finishing right around the normal. It also started out cold with 15 of the first 22 days below normal. Warmth settled in for the later third of May as highs climbed into the upper 70s to mid 80s for the last week. After a soggy April, it dried out in May. While there were 9 days with measurable rainfall (average is 12), 7 of those days recorded less than ¼ of an inch. Only one day topped ½ inch, and that was 0.64” on the 11th.
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June was the first above normal month of 2014 temperature-wise for Rochester, but just barely (1.2 degrees warmer than normal). There were no significant warm-ups to give that first real taste of summer. Highs only reached 85 degrees once, a rare occurrence as only 8 other years had June’s with 1 day or less of 85 degree or warmer temperatures. The average is 7. Conversely, lows only dropped below 60 degrees 14 times – well under the 20 day average. So, nights were warmer, days close to normal. It was a wet month as measurable rain fell on 15 of the 30 days – 8th most days on record for June. 7 of those days recorded ½ inch or more (2nd most for ½” or greater daily totals). The monthly total of 7.27” made it the 10th wettest June on record.
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Usually the warmest month of the year, cooler air returned in July, averaging nearly 4 degrees below normal. High temperatures only warmed to 85 degrees or greater on 2 occasions - in an average July this occurs on 11 days. Such cool readings for July highs have only occurred 10 other times. Much like June, there were no drastic swings or prolonged cold or warm periods. Rainfall for July was over 2 inches below normal. Measurable rain fell on 10 days, which is right around average, but half of those day recorded less than 1/10”. The 7th accounted for over 40% of the monthly total with 0.97” that day.
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Temperatures rebounded in August, which would be the warmest month of the summer and year for Rochester. Again though, like the early part of the summer, there were not any significant warm-ups. Most days temperatures were at or a few degrees above the daily normal. Rochester failed to reach 90, and would not approach it through the rest of the year. It marks only the 5th time on record that Rochester has not warmed to 90 degrees or better in a year. Rainfall was nearly an inch above the August normal, but the 1st half did provide an opportunity to dry out. There were only 3 days with measurable rainfall through the 16th, the bulk coming on the 4th (0.24”). After the 16th, measurable rain fell on 10 days, half of those recording ½ inch or greater.
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September finished around a degree below normal for temperature, but there was a warm and cold stretch of note. First, a cold front swept into the region on the 10th, bringing a 3 day shot of unseasonably cold air. Highs on the 10th reached 65, but the 11th and 13th only made it into the upper 50s. Rochester was lucky to escape the 40s with a 51 degree high on the 12th. Lows dropped to 34 on the 13th. Summer’s last gasp came toward the end of September with 3 consecutive days of around 80 degree temperatures on the 26th-28th. Rainfall was nearly right on the September normal, but most fell during the front-end of the month. 98% of September’s total fell through the 20th, with only 1 day of measurable rain after that.
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It was a cold start to October with highs in the 50s on 9 out of the first 13 days. Lows even dipped below freezing on the 10th and 11th, the first sub-freezing temperatures of the fall season. The cold would give way to somewhat milder air for the rest of the month with temperatures mostly at or a few degrees above the normal. Cold air did show up for Halloween, however. Rainfall was right around the October normal, most falling in the first 2 weeks (88% of the total). After the 14th, measurable rain fell on only 3 days, with the bulk on the 23rd (0.27”).
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November started out on a promising note with temperatures at or above the seasonable normal 5 out of the first 10 days. It was considerably colder after that as the next 11 days were at least 10 degrees below normal - or colder. Highs failed to crack 30 from the 11th through the 20th with a high of only 11 on the 17th. The stretch from the 11th through the 30th was the coldest on record for November, only averaging 18 degrees through that period (tied with 1985). For the month, there were 15 days when highs did not warm into the 30s, second most for a November, with 5 of those days failing to climb into the 20s. Overall, the average temperature of 24.7 made it the 6th coldest November on record (tied with 1959). In addition to the cold came some snow. There were 10 days with measurable snowfall, with over 2 inches falling on the 15th and 26th. In an average November, there are only 4 days of measurable snowfall. While there were quite a few days with snow, the total amount of liquid precipitation for the month was actually an inch below normal.
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| December ended the year on a mild note with 68% of the days at or above the seasonable normal. Much of the warmth came from warm night-time temperatures with lows generally warmer than the normal highs. Temperatures only dipped below zero 4 times - in an average December this occurs 7 times. Measurable precipitation fell on 8 days, right on its average, but 80% of the December total came during the last 11 days. There were only 4 days with measurable snow (average is 7) but three of those recorded 2 inches or more. |  |
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2014 will be remembered for its cold temperatures – especially for the start of the year. January through April averaged 19.9 degrees, the 6th coldest on record for Rochester. High temperatures never warmed to 90 degrees, well below the average of 11. Conversely, there were 46 days with below zero temperatures – considerably more than the 29 day average and 9th most on record for Rochester. High temperatures never warmed to freezing on 93 days – the equivalent of 3 months. That was 2 ½ weeks more than an average year. 2014 was close to normal for precipitation in Rochester.
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| Highest temperature for 2014 | 87 on August 24th |
| Lowest temperature for 2014 | -23 on January 6th |
| Highest one-day precipitation | 1.34 inches on June 16th |
| Highest one-day snowfall | 8.8 inches on February 20th |
| Number of days with highs at or above 90 degrees | 0 |
| Number of days with highs at or below 32 degrees | 97 |
| Number of days with zero or below temperatures | 48 |
| Peak wind gust | 59 mph from the NW on June 16th |
| Number of days with measurable precipitation | 134 |
| Percentage of days with measurable precipitation | 37% |
| Number of days with above normal temperatures | 135 |
| Percentage of days with above normal temperatures | 37% |
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