Here are the February climate summaries for Rochester, MN and La Crosse, WI...
The average temperature in Rochester was 16.6 degrees. This was 3.7 degrees colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 20.3 degrees. The average high temperature was 25.8 degrees (2.3 degrees colder-than-normal) while the average low temperature was 7.3 degrees (5.1 degrees colder-than-normal). The warmest temperature was 42 degrees on the 2nd. The coldest temperature was -24 degrees on the 14th. This was not only a record for Valentines Day (previous record low was -23 degrees in 1951), but it was the coldest February temperature since February 3, 1996 (-30 degrees).
A total of 1.20 inches of liquid precipitation was measured during the month of February. This amount was 0.37 inches above the 1981-2010 normal of 0.83 inches. The greatest 24-hour precipitation total was 0.74 inches which occurred on the 9th (a daily record).
There was a total of 14.7 inches of snow during the month of February. This was 6.2 inches snowier than the 1981-2010 normal of 8.5 inches. The greatest one-day snowfall total was 9.6 inches which occurred on the 9th.
The average snow depth was 10.1 inches. This was 4.2 inches above the long-term average of 5.9 inches. The least snow depth was 5 inches from the 3rd through 8th. The greatest snow depth was 15 inches from 18th through 20th.
...Records...
...Discussion...
Temperatures this February averaged 16.6 degrees which 3.7 degrees colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 20.3 degrees. While it was colder-than-normal, it was the warmest February since 2017 (average of 27.6 degrees). The coldest stretch was February 13 and 14 when the average temperature was just -7.3 degrees.
This was 26.9 degrees below normal. The coldest temperature was -24 degrees on the Valentines morning. This was not only a record low temperature for the day (previous record low was -23 degrees in 1951), but it was the coldest February temperature since February 3, 1996 (-30 degrees). The record lows on February 13 and 14 were the first records lows in a February since February 18, 2006. There have only been 3 record lows in a February since 1996.
Another brief cold snap occurred on February 19 and 20. The high temperature only reached 9 degrees on both days. The low temperatures were -9 on the 19th and -15 on the 20th.
While precipitation above normal (0.37 inches) for the month, measurable precipitation only fell on 4 days. There was 0.74 inches on the 9th (a daily record), 0.05 inches on the 12th, 0.40 inches on the 17th, and 0.01 inches on the 28th. This was the least amount of days with measurable precipitation in a February since 1999 (4 days). The least amount was 1 day in 1910, 1912, 1920, and 1934.
A snowstorm occurred on February 9. Hourly snowfall rates were in the 1 to 3 inch range that morning. It produced 9.6 inches of snow which was a daily snowfall record. The previous record was 6.5 inches in 1909.
The average temperature in La Crosse was 22.2 degrees. This was 0.3 degrees colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 22.5 degrees. The average high temperature was 33.1 degrees (1.7 degrees warmer-than-normal) while the average low temperature was 11.3 degrees (2.3 degrees colder-than-normal). The warmest temperature was 50 degrees on the 2nd. The coldest temperature was -16 on the 14th.
A total of 1.05 inches of precipitation was measured during the month of February. This amount was normal. The greatest 24-hour precipitation total was 0.74 inches which fell on the 9th.
There was a total of 11.9 inches of snow during the month of February. This was 3.7 inches snowier than the 1981-2010 normal of 8.2 inches. The greatest one-day snowfall total was 8.5 inches which occurred on the 9th.
The average snow depth was 6.1 inches. This was 1 inch above the long-term average of 5.1 inches. The least snow depth was 2 inches from the 6th through 8th. The greatest snow depth was 11 inches on the 9th and 10th.
...Records...
...Discussion...
While monthly average was near-normal (0.3 degrees colder than normal), a majority of the days (16) were warmer-than-normal. The greatest warm anomaly was during the first 8 days of the month. Temperatures averaged 8.5 degrees above normal.
There were 2 brief cold snaps. The first one was on February 13 and 14. High temperatures were in teens and low temperatures were -11 on the 13th and -16 on the 14th. The average temperature was just 0.8 degrees which was 21.1 degrees colder-than-normal. The second cold snap was on the 19th and 20th. Despite abundant sunshine, high temperatures were only in the teens. Low temperatures were -7 on the 19th and -14 on the 20th. The average temperature was 3.3 degrees which was 18.8 degrees colder-than-normal.
While precipitation was normal for the month, measurable precipitation only fell on 4 days. There was 0.74 inches on the 9th, 0.12 inches on the 12th, 0.18 inches on the 17th, and 0.01 inches on the 18th. This was the least amount of days with measurable precipitation in a February since 1987 (2 days). February 1958 and 1987 are tied for the least number of days with measurable precipitation in a February with 2 days. The greatest number of days with measurable precipitation in a February is 18 days in 1884.
A snow storm occurred on February 9. Hourly snowfall rates were in the 1 to 2 inch range that morning. It produced 8.5 inches of snow which was a daily snowfall record. The previous record was 4.4 inches in 1909.
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