Upper Mississippi River Valley Climate Summary for the Meteorological Winter of 2021-22

Temperatures...Slightly Colder-than-Normal

• After an unusually warm December across the Upper Mississippi River Valley, temperatures averaged colder than normal during January and February. During the meteorological winter of 2021-22 (December-February), average temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley ranged near normal to 4°F colder than normal. The average temperatures ranged from 13.1°F at Medford, WI (COOP observer) to 21.9°F Boscobel, WI (ASOS). The average winter temperatures typically range from 15°F to 25°F. 
• On December 15, 51 climate sites in our area set all-time December temperature records. The warmest temperature was 72°F at Boscobel Airport (ASOS) on December 15. This was the 2nd warmest temperature ever recorded in winter in our area. The warmest winter temperature ever recorded was 73°F at Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10 on February 22, 2017. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was -36°F at Preston, MN on January 26. Almost every reporting climate site in our area saw their coldest on either January 26th or January 27th. 

Precipitation...Mainly Drier than Normal

• After a wetter-than-normal December, the rest of the winter was mainly drier than normal across the area. Precipitation departures for the winter were near normal north of Interstate 90 and ranged from 1 to 3" drier than normal across the remainder of the area. Precipitation totals ranged from 1.01" near Oelwein, IA (COOP observer) to 4.21" near Warrens, WI (CoCoRaHS observer). Winter precipitation typically ranges from 3 to 5". 
• The greatest 1-day precipitation total was 1.2" near Rochester, MN (CoCoRaHS observer) from December 10 into December 11.

Precipitation...Mainly Below Normal

• Overall during the winter, much of the area saw below-normal snowfall. The December through February snowfall ranged from 12.2" near Oelwein, IA (COOP observer) to 46.7" at Medford, WI (COOP observer). Snowfall during these months typically ranges from 20 to 40".
• The greatest 1-day snowfall was 11" at Medford, WI (COOP observer), Lake City, MN (COOP observer), and just north of Rochester, MN (CoCoRaHS observer). This snow fell from December 10 into December 11.

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

La Crosse WI

During meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28), La Crosse Regional Airport was colder and drier than normal. The information below provides more details on these statistics.

Temperatures -  Coldest Since the Winter of 2013-14 

• From December 1 through February 28, the average temperature at La Crosse Regional Airport was 19.9°F. This was 2.6°F colder than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 22.5°F. This was the coldest winter since 2013-14 (11.6°F - 5th coldest winter).
• The average maximum temperature was 29.9°F. This was 1°F colder than 1991-2020 normal of 30.9°F.  
• The average minimum temperature was 9.9°F. This was 4.2°F colder than 1991-2020 normal of 14.1°F.

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2021-22.

       Winter 2021-22 Temperatures
             in La Crosse WI

                Average     Departure
   Month      Temperature  from Normal
   -----      -----------  -----------
 December       28.7°F       + 3.6°F 
 January        12.8°F       - 6.1°F  
 February       18.3°F       - 5.0°F 
 
 Winter         19.9°F       - 2.6°F 

• The warmest high temperature was 69°F on December 15. Warmest ever in winter. The previous record was 67°F on December 5, 1998.
• The coldest high temperature was 1°F on January 25.
• The warmest low temperature was 41°F on December 15.
• The coldest low temperature was -18°F on January 26.
• The daily average temperatures were below normal on 45 days (50 percent), above normal on 43 days (47.8 percent), and normal on 2 days (2.2 percent).
• The temperature fell below zero on 19 days. Normally, there are 17 sub-zero temperatures in winter. 

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

• From December 1 through February 28, La Crosse Regional Airport received 2.67 inches of precipitation. This was 1.26 inches drier than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 3.93 inches.  

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2021-22.

     Winter 2021-22 Precipitation 
           in La Crosse WI

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
 December  1.72 inches   +0.23 inches 
 January   0.61 inches   -0.64 inches 
 February  0.34 inches   -0.85 inches - Tied for
                                        19th driest

 Winter    2.67 inches   -1.26 inches 

• The wettest day was on December 28 when 0.44 inches of precipitation fell.  
• Precipitation fell on 43 days (47.8 percent). Measurable precipitation fell on 25 days (27.8 percent) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on 18 days (20 percent).

Snowfall - Below Normal

• From December 1 through February 28, the snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport received 28.4 inches of snow.  This was 4.0 inches below 1991-2020 normal of 32.4 inches.  

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2021-22.

           Winter 2021-22 Snowfall
               in La Crosse WI

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   ------------   -----------
 December   15.0 inches   +4.1 inches 
 January     9.5 inches   -2.3 inches
 February    3.9 inches   -5.8 inches
 
 Winter     28.4 inches   -4.0 inches

• The snowiest day was 5.3 inches on December 28.
• Snow fell on 38 days (42.2 percent). Measurable snow fell on 17 days (18.9 percent) and a trace of snow fell on another 21 days (23.3 percent). 

Snow Depth - Below the Long-Term Average

• From December 1 through February 28, the official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport had an average snow depth of 4.2 inches. This was 0.2 inches lower than the long-term average (1893-2022) of 4.4 inches.  
• The greatest snow depth was 9 inches on January 24-30.
• There was snow on the ground on 70 days (77.8 percent) this winter.  Measurable snow was on the ground on 69 days (76.7 percent) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 1 day (1.1 percent).  

Sky Cover - Much more sunshine than normal

• There were far more days with sunshine than cloudy days this winter.  We typically see 48 cloudy days during winter. There were only 16 days this winter. More details on these statistics can be found below.
   
• Clear Days - 35 days (Normal 22 days)
• Partly Cloudy Days - 39 days (Normal 20 days)
• Cloudy Days - 16 days (Normal 48 days)

Winds -

• Highest sustained wind was 46 mph from the southwest on December 16.
• Highest wind gust was 68 mph from the southwest on December 16.

Barometric Pressure -

• Highest sea level pressure was 30.80 inches on January 20.
• Lowest sea level pressure was 29.12 inches on December 15.

Rochester MN

During meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28), Rochester International Airport was colder and drier than normal. The information below provides
more details on these statistics.

Temperatures - Coldest Since the Winter of 2018-19  

• From December 1 through February 28, the average temperature at Rochester International Airport was 16.1°F. This was 2°F colder than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 18.1°F. This was the coldest winter since the winter of 2018-19 (15.7°F).
• The average maximum temperature was 25.3°F. This was 0.5°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 25.8°F.  
• The average minimum temperature was 6.8°F. This was 3.6°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 10.4°F.

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2021-22.

       Winter 2021-22 Temperatures
             in Rochester MN

                Average     Departure
   Month      Temperature  from Normal
   -----      -----------  -----------
 December       24.9°F       + 4.1°F - Tied for
                                       18th Warmest
 January         9.4°F       - 5.3°F  
 February       13.9°F       - 4.8°F 
 
 Winter         16.1°F       - 2.0°F 

• The warmest high temperature was 64°F on December 15. Tied with December 4, 2017, for the warmest ever in winter. 
• The coldest high temperature was -2°F on January 25.
• The warmest low temperature was 37°F on December 15.
• The coldest low temperature was -21°F on January 26.
• The daily average temperatures were below normal on 44 days (48.9 percent), above normal on 30 days (33.3 percent), and normal on 6 days (6.7 percent).
• The temperature fell below zero on 26 days. Normally, there are 22 sub-zero temperatures in winter. 

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

• From December 1 through February 28, Rochester International Airport received 2.65 inches of precipitation. This was 0.64 inches drier than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 3.29 inches.  

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2021-22.

     Winter 2021-22 Precipitation 
           in Rochester MN

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
 December  1.41 inches   +0.13 inches 
 January   0.83 inches   -0.16 inches 
 February  0.41 inches   -0.61 inches
 
 Winter    2.65 inches   -0.64 inches 

• The wettest day was on December 10 when 0.55 inches of precipitation fell.  
• Precipitation fell on 43 days (47.8 percent). Measurable precipitation fell on 26 days (28.9 percent) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on 17 days (18.9 percent).

Snowfall - Below Normal

• From December 1 through February 28, the snow observer near Rochester International Airport received 28.2 inches of snow.  This was 7.1 inches below 1991-2020 normal of 35.3 inches.  

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2021-22.

           Winter 2021-22 Snowfall
               in Rochester MN

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   ------------   -----------
 December   13.1 inches   +0.7 inches 
 January     8.7 inches   -3.5 inches
 February    6.4 inches   -4.3 inches
 
 Winter     28.1 inches   -7.2 inches

• The snowiest day was 6.5 inches on December 10.
• Snow fell on 36 days (40 percent). Measurable snow fell on 21 days (23.3 percent) and a trace of snow fell on another 15 days (16.7 percent). 

Snow Depth - Below the Long-Term Average

• From December 1 through February 28, the official snow observer near Rochester International Airport had an average snow depth of 2.8 inches. This was 2.4 inches lower than the long-term average (1938-2022) of 5.2 inches.  
• The greatest snow depth was 7 inches on December 11-12.
• There was snow on the ground on 70 days (77.8 percent) this winter.  Measurable snow was on the ground on 66 days (73.3 percent) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 4 days (4.4 percent).  

Sky Cover - Much more sunshine than normal

• There were far more days with sunshine than cloudy days this winter.  We typically see 50 cloudy days during winter. There were only 15 days this winter. More details on these statistics can be found below.
   
• Clear Days - 35 days (Normal 20 days)
• Partly Cloudy Days - 40 days (Normal 20 days)
• Cloudy Days - 15 days (Normal 50 days)

Winds -

Highest sustained wind was 59 mph from the southwest on December 15.
Highest wind gust was 77 mph from the south on December 15.

Barometric Pressure -

Highest sea level pressure was 30.76 inches on January 20.
Lowest sea level pressure was 29.06 inches on December 15.