February 2017 Much Warmer Than Normal / Winter Of 2016-17 Was Much Warmer and Wetter Than Normal

February 2017 will go down in the record books as one the warmest February's on record at Green Bay, Rhinelander and Wausau. The average temperature for the month was seven to ten degrees above normal. The month of February brought an unprecedented stretch of high temperatures above 50 degrees from the 17th through the 22nd. On the 22nd, all-time record high temperatures for the month of February were established across east-central Wisconsin. Highs on the 22nd include: 69 degrees at Waupaca and Wautoma, 68 degrees at Appleton, 67 at New London, 66 degrees at Brillion and Oshkosh, and 65 at Denmark and Green Bay.  For the month, the total heating degree days were the 2nd lowest on record at Green Bay and Rhinelander, and the 6th lowest on record at Wausau. Precipitation for the month was near normal from the Fox Valley to the lake shore, and above normal north and west of the Fox Valley. Wausau reported the 22nd wettest February on record and Rhinelander tied for 25th wettest on record.

Meteorological winter is defined from December 1st to February 28th. Except for a few cold stretches this winter, above normal temperatures were noted through much of the winter. At Green Bay. there was another extraordinary stretch of mild weather from January 17th through January 28th. Green Bay stayed above freezing for an amazing nine straight days (January 17th to January 25th) and only fell to 32 on the 26th. Normal high temperatures for this period are in the middle 20s. Overall, the winter of 2016-17 ended up 3 to 7 degrees above normal across north-central and northeast Wisconsin. Since records began, the winter ended up tied for 5th warmest at Green Bay, 8th warmest at Rhinelander and 15th warmest at Wausau (see table below). Heating degree day totals were the 6th lowest on record at Green Bay and Rhinelander, and 14th lowest on record at Wausau. Wetter than normal conditions prevailed across the region, as Wausau tied the wettest winter on record with 6.60 inches of precipitation which was first set during the winter of 1936-37. It was the 8th wettest winter on record at Rhinelander and 11th wettest winter on record at Green Bay. Snowfall ended up near normal across east-central Wisconsin and above normal north and west of the Fox Valley. Wausau experienced their 14th snowiest winter on record while Rhinelander their 21st snowiest.