Astronomical Winter 2025-26 Climate Summary

Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary for Astronomical Winter 2025-26:

Temperatures - Above Normal

During the astronomical winter of 2025-26 (December  21 through March 19), temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley ranged from 18.9°F at Medford Taylor County Airport (AWOS) to 26.2°F at Decorah, IA (COOP). Temperature anomalies ranged from near-normal to 5°F warmer than normal. There was a 104°F difference between the warmest and coldest temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The warmest temperature was 72°F at Friendship, WI (COOP) and Sparta Fort McCoy Airport, WI (AWOS) on March 9. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was -32°F at near Owen, WI (COOP) on January 25.

Precipitation - Near to Wetter than Normal

Precipitation totals ranged from 2.13" near Austin, MN (CoCoRaHS) to 8.91" near Muscoda, WI (CoCoRaHS). Precipitation anomalies ranged from near normal to 6" wetter than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 3.20" near Muscoda, WI (CoCoRaHS) from March 6 through March 7.  Abnormally dry (D0) to moderate (D1) drought conditions improved across the NWS La Crosse Hydrologic Service Area (HSA) during the astronomical winter. At the start of the winter, 82.23% of the area was either abnormally dry (D0) to moderate (D1) drought. By the end of the winter, this had been reduced to just 16.46%.

Snowfall - Below Normal

Snowfall totals were highly variable. They ranged from 11.1" near Osage, IA (COOP) to 49.2" near Westby, WI (CoCoRaHS). Snowfall anomalies ranged from 21" below normal to 21" above normal. The highest one-day snowfall was 18" near Colby, WI and Wabasha, MN from March 14 through March 15.

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

La Crosse WI...

During the astronomical winter (December 21 through March 19), La Crosse Regional Airport was warmer and wetter than average. The information below provides more details on these statistics.

Temperatures - Warmer than Average 

• During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 24.5°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 3.4°F warmer than the long-term (1872-2026) average of 21.1°F. 
• 10 out the last 12 astronomical winters have warmer than the long-term average. This includes the 2nd warmest (2023-24), 5th warmest (2016-17), 11th warmest (2019-20), 15th warmest (2015-16), 25th (2024-25), and 29th warmest (2022-23). This was the 35th warmest.
• The average high temperature was 33.1°F. This was 3.3°F warmer than the long-term average of 29.8°F. This was the 30th warmest. 
• The average low temperature was 15.9°F. This was 3.6°F warmer than the long-term average of 12.3°F. This was the 34th warmest. 
• The warmest high temperature was 69°F on March 9. 
• The coldest high temperature was -9°F on January 23.
• The warmest low temperature was 43°F on March 6.
• The coldest low temperature was -20°F on January 23. 
• The low temperature was 0°F or colder on 11 days. The long-term average is 20 days.

Precipitation - Wetter than Average

• During astronomical winter, a total of 4.65 inches of precipitation fell at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 0.92" wetter than the long-term (1872-2026) average of 3.73". 
• The wettest day occurred on January 8 when 0.96" of precipitation fell.
• Measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation fell on 31 days (34.8%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 16 days (18%).

Snowfall - Slightly Below Average

• During astronomical winter, a total of 27.5" of snow was measured by the official NWS snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 1.5" below the long-term (1896-2026) average of 29.0". 
• The snowiest day occurred on March 15 when 7.2" of snow fell.
• Measurable (0.1" or greater) snow fell on 18 days (20.2%) and trace amounts of snow fell on another 18 days (20.2%).

Snow Depth - Below Average

• During astronomical winter, the average snow depth measured by the official NWS snow observer was 2.2 inches. This was 2.2" below the long-term (1893-2026) average of 4.4". 
• Measurable snow was on the ground on 55 days or 61.8% of the season.
• A trace of snow was on the ground on 11 days or 12.4% of the season.
• There was no snow on the ground for 23 days or 25.8% of the season.
• The greatest snow depth was 9" on March 16-18.

Rochester MN...
 

During the astronomical winter (December 21 through March 19), Rochester International Airport warmer and wetter than average. The information below provides more details on these statistics.

Temperatures -  14th Warmest

• During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 22.9°F at Rochester International Airport. This was 5°F warmer than the long-term (1886-2025) average of 17.9°F. This was the 14th warmest astronomical winter. Below are the 20 warmest astronomical winters for Rochester, MN.

   20 Warmest Winters
   for Rochester, MN
       1886-2026

Rank  Avg. Temp   Winter
----  ---------   ------
 1     30.0°F    2023-24
 2     29.5°F    2011-12
 3     27.6°F    1930-31
 4     26.5°F    1986-87
 5     26.1°F    2005-06
 6     25.8°F    1991-92
 7     24.9°F    1989-90
 8     24.2°F    1981-82
 9     24.1°F    2016-17
10     23.6°F    1999-2000
11     23.5°F    1997-98
12     23.3°F    2015-16
13     23.1°F    2001-02
14     22.9°F    2025-26
15     22.8°F    1932-33
16     22.6°F    1972-73
       22.6°F    1963-64
18     22.5°F    1980-81
       22.5°F    1953-54
20     22.4°F    2019-20

• 6 out of the last 7 astronomical winters have been warmer than the long-term average. 
• The average high temperature was 30.8°F. This was 4.1°F warmer than the long-term average of 26.6°F. This was the 20th warmest.
• The average low temperature was 15.1°F. This was 5.8°F warmer than the long-term average of 9.3°F. This was the 13th warmest.
• The warmest high temperature was 60°F on March 9. 
• The coldest high temperature was -11°F on January 23.
• The warmest low temperature was 42°F on March 6. 
• The coldest low temperature was -22°F on January 23. 

Precipitation - Wetter than Average

• During astronomical winter, a total of 3.95" of precipitation fell at Rochester International Airport. This was 0.85" wetter than the long-term (1886-2026) average of 3.10". 
• The wettest day occurred on March 6 when 1.16" of precipitation fell.
• Measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation fell on 22 days (24.7%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 21 days (23.6%).

Snowfall - Below Average

• During astronomical winter, a total of 26.9" of snow was measured by the official NWS snow observer near Rochester International Airport. This was 1.3" below the long-term (1909-2026) average of 28.2". 
• The snowiest day occurred on March 15 when 12.4" of snow fell.
• Measurable (0.1" or greater) snow fell on 15 days (16.9%) and trace amounts of snow fell on another 21 days (23.6%).

Snow Depth - Below Average

• During astronomical winter, the average snow depth measured by the official NWS snow observer near Rochester International Airport was 1.8". This was 3.6" lower than the long-term (1938-2026) average of 5.4" season.
• A trace of snow was on the ground on 11 days or 12.4% of the season.
• There was no snow on the ground on 29 days or 32.6% of the season.
• The greatest snow depth was 12" on  March 16.