In a note....warmer and wetter.
During meteorological winter (December 1st through February 28th), temperatures across the Upper Mississippi River Valley ranged from 17.3°F near Owen, WI to 26.8°F at Boscobel, WI. These temperature were anywhere from 3 to 7 degrees above normal. It was the 7th warmest at La Crosse, WI and 16th warmest at Rochester, MN. In the images below are the average temperatures and their departures from the 1981-2010 normal.
Average Meteorological Winter Temperatures and Departures from the 1981-2010 normals.
The meteorological winter precipitation across the Upper Mississippi River Valley ranged from 4.68 inches near Spring Grove, MN to 7.84 inches at Osage, IA. These precipitation totals were anywhere 1 to 5 inches wetter than the 1981-2010 precipitation normals. It was the wettest winter (5.85 inches) at Rochester, MN. The previous wettest winter occurred back in 1887-88 when 5.47 inches of precipitation fell. Meanwhile La Crosse, WI had their 6th wettest winter (6.05 inches).
2016-17 Meteorological Winter Precipitation and Departures from Normal
The meteorological winter snowfall across the Upper Mississippi River Valley ranged from just 15.8 inches at Guttenberg Lock & Dam to 47.2 inches at the National Weather Service office on top of La Crosse ridge. These snowfall totals were anywhere from 20 inches below normal to 20 inches above normal. It was the 10th snowiest meteorological winter at Rochester, MN (43.3 inches).
Meteorological Winter Snowfall & Departures from Normal
Here are more details on the winter for La Crosse WI and Rochester MN...
La Crosse WI...
During meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28), La Crosse Regional Airport whad their 7th warmest and 6th wettest winter. The information below provides more details on these statistics.
Temperatures - 7th Warmest Winter
From December 1st through February 28th...the average temperature at La Crosse Regional Airport was 26.7 degrees. This was 6.2 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 winter normal of 20.5 degrees. This was the 7th warmest winter in La Crosse WI. It is interesting to note that 5 of the ten warmest winter have occurred since the winter of 1997-98, and three of them have occurred in this decade. Here are the ten warmest winters in La Crosse WI.
Warmest Winters
in La Crosse WI
Average
Rank Temperature Winter
---- ----------- ------
1 34.2 degrees 1877-78
2 29.8 degrees 1881-82
3 29.2 degrees 2001-02
4 29.0 degrees 1997-98
5 27.8 degrees 1930-31
6 27.0 degrees 2011-12
7 26.7 degrees 2016-17
8 26.4 degrees 2015-16
26.4 degrees 1931-32
10 26.1 degrees 1943-44
The average maximum temperature was 33.7 degrees. This was 5.0 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 28.7 degrees. This was the 11th warmest and the warmest since the winter of 2011-12 (34.9 degrees - 7th warmest).
The average minimum temperature was 19.7 degrees. This was 7.5 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 12.2 degrees. This was the 6th warmest and the warmest since the winter of 2001-02 (21.2 degrees - 4th warmest).
The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2016-17.
Winter 2016-17 Temperatures
in La Crosse WI
Average Departure
Month Temperature from Normal
----- ----------- -----------
December 23.5 degrees + 1.9 degrees
January 24.0 degrees + 6.6 degrees - 17th Warmest
February 33.3 degrees +10.8 degrees - 5th Warmest
Winter 26.7 degrees +6.2 degrees - 7th warmest
The warmest high temperature was 65 degrees on February 19th. The only winter which had a warmer temperature was the winter of 1998-99 (67 degrees).
The coldest high temperature was 1 degree on December 18th.
The warmest low temperature was 45 degrees on February 20th.
The coldest low temperature was -16 degrees on December 18th.
The daily average temperatures were above normal on 71 days (78.9 percent), below normal on 18 days (20.0 percent), and normal on 1 day (0.01 percent).
The temperature fell below zero 10 times. Normally...there are 21 sub-zero temperatures in a winter.
Precipitation - 6th Wettest
From December 1st through February 28th, La Crosse Regional Airport received 6.05 inches of precipitation. This was 2.52 inches wetter than the 1981-2010 winter normal of 3.53 inches. This made it the 6th wettest winter in La Crosse.
Wettest Winters
in La Crosse WI
Precipitation
Rank Total Winter
---- ------------- ------
1 7.47 inches 1875-76
2 6.58 inches 2015-16
3 6.37 inches 1921-22
4 6.24 inches 1931-32
5 6.22 inches 1885-86
6 6.05 inches 2016-17
7 5.94 inches 1891-92
8 5.76 inches 1914-15
9 5.70 inches 1928-29
10 5.64 inches 1936-37
The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2015-16.
Winter 2016-17 Precipitation
in La Crosse WI
Precipitation Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------ -----------
December 2.19 inches +0.83 inches
January 2.69 inches +1.57 inches - 6th Wettest
February 1.17 inches +0.12 inches
Winter 6.05 inches +2.52 inches - 6th Wettest
The wettest day was on January 10th when 0.81 inches of precipitation fell.
Precipitation fell on 53 days (58.9 percent). Measurable precipitation fell on 28 days (31.1 percent). Trace amounts of precipitation fell on 25 days (27.8 percent).
Snowfall - Snowier-than-Normal
From December 1st through February 28th, the snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport received 34.2 inches of snow. This was 4.0 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 2016-17.
Winter 2016-17 Snowfall
in La Crosse WI
Snowfall Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------ -----------
December 20.8 inches +9.5 inches - 11th Snowiest
January 9.5 inches -1.2 inches
February 3.9 inches -4.3 inches
Winter 34.2 inches +4.0 inches
The snowiest day was 5.8 inches on December 11th.
Snow fell on 38 days (42.2 percent). Measurable snow fell on 17 days (18.9 percent). A trace of snow fell on another 21 days (23.3 percent).
Snow Depth -
From December 1st through February 28th, the official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport had an average snow depth of 3.6 inches. This was 0.8 inches lower than the average of 4.4 inches.
The greatest snow depth was 9 inches on December 11th.
There was snow on the ground on 80 days (88.9 percent) this winter. Measurable snow was on the ground on 71 days (78.9 percent) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 9 days (10 percent).
Rochester MN...
During meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28), Rochester had their wettest and 16th warmest winter. The information below provides more details on these statistics.
Temperatures...16th Warmest
From December 1st through February 28th, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 21.3 degrees. This was 2.8 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 winter normal of 18.5 degrees. This was their 16th warmest winter.
The average maximum temperature was 28.2 degrees. This was 2.0 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 26.2 degrees. This was the 24th warmest.
The average minimum temperature was 14.4 degrees. This was 3.6 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 10.8 degrees. This was the 12th warmest.
The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2016-17.
Winter 2016-17 Temperatures
in Rochester MN
Average Departure
Month Temperature from Normal
----- ----------- -----------
December 18.4 degrees -1.3 degrees
January 18.6 degrees +2.9 degrees
February 27.6 degrees +7.3 degrees - 8th Warmest
Winter 21.3 degrees +2.8 degrees
The warmest high temperature was 57 degrees on February 19th.
The coldest high temperature was -2 degrees on December 18th.
The warmest low temperature was 41 degrees on February 20th.
The coldest low temperature was -25 degrees on December 18th.
The daily average temperatures were above normal on 58 days (64.4 percent) and below normal on 32 days (35.6 percent).
The temperature fell below zero on 17 days.
Precipitation - Wettest
From December 1st through February 28th, Rochester International Airport received 5.85 inches of precipitation. This was 2.93 inches wetter than the 1981-2010 winter normal of 2.92 inches. This made it the wettest winter. The previous wettest winter occurred back in 1887-88 when 5.47 inches of precipitation fell. The table below contains the 10 wettest winters in Rochester MN.
Wettest Winters
in Rochester MN
Precipitation
Rank Total Winter
---- ------------- ------
1 5.85 inches 2016-17
2 5.47 inches 1887-88
3 5.29 inches 2010-11
4 4.92 inches 1982-83
5 4.69 inches 1950-51
6 4.61 inches 2015-16
7 4.29 inches 1932-33
8 4.25 inches 1966-67
9 4.22 inches 2006-07
4.22 inches 1948-49
The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2016-17.
Winter 2016-17 Precipitation
in Rochester MN
Precipitation Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------ -----------
December 2.07 inches +1.23 inches - 10th Wettest
January 2.12 inches +1.26 inches - 4th Wettest
February 1.66 inches +0.83 inches
Winter 5.85 inches +2.93 inches - Wettest
The wettest day was on December 20th when 0.81 inches of precipitation fell.
Precipitation fell on 47 days (52.2 percent). Measurable precipitation fell on 28 days (31.1 percent). Trace amounts of precipitation fell on 19 days (21.1 percent).
Snowfall - 10th Snowiest
From December 1st through February 28th, the snow observer near Rochester International Airport received 43.3 inches of snow. This was 10.3 inches snowier than the 1981-2010 normal of 33.0 inches. This made it the tenth snowiest winter. 8 of the 10 snowiest winters have occurred since 1995-96. The table below contains the 10 snowiest winters in Rochester MN.
Snowiest Winters
in Rochester MN
Snowfall
Rank Total Winter
---- ------------- ------
1 60.4 inches 2010-11
2 50.0 inches 2000-01
3 48.1 inches 1969-70
4 46.5 inches 2013-14
5 46.4 inches 2008-09
6 45.8 inches 1996-97
7 44.4 inches 2009-10
8 43.9 inches 1995-96
9 43.6 inches 1978-79
10 43.3 inches 2016-17
The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2016-17.
Winter 2016-17 Snowfall
in Rochester MN
Snowfall Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------ -----------
December 19.7 inches +7.2 inches
January 13.2 inches +1.2 inches
February 10.4 inches +1.9 inches
Winter 43.3 inches +10.3 inches
The snowiest day was 6.4 inches on February 24th.
Snow fell on 39 days (43.3 percent). Measurable snow fell on 19 days (21.1 percent). A trace of snow fell on another 20 days (22.2 percent).
Snow Depth -
From December 1st through February 28th, the official snow observer near Rochester International Airport had an average snow depth of 5.2 inches. This was average.
The greatest snow depth for the winter was 11 inches from December 17th and December 18th.
There was snow on the ground on 80 days (88.9 percent) this winter. Measurable snow was on the ground on 78 days (86.7 percent) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 2 days (2.2 percen)
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Topic: Winter of 2016-2017 summation (Read 1936 times)
