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Regional Outbreaks of Severe Weather Through Early Next Week; Early Season Heat Wave across the South

Active spring pattern across the center of our nation with several episodes of severe weather and heavy rainfall expected into next week. The potential for very large hail, long track tornadoes, severe wind gusts, frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes and flash flooding are in the outlook. Furthermore, dangerous early season heat wave continues for the Gulf Coast states into early next week. Read More >

Temperatures: Highly Variable, but the Overall Seasonal Temperatures were Near-Normal

  • During the meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28) of 2024-25, average temperatures ranged from 15.9°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 22.9°F at Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport (AWOS).
  • These temperatures ranged from 2°F colder than normal to 2°F warmer than normal. While temperature for the season averaged near normal, they were highly variable.
  • The warmest temperature was 62°F at Decorah, IA on January 30. The coldest temperature was -28°F at Black River Falls, WI (RAWS) on February 18.
2024-25 Meteorological Winter Temperatures

Precipitation: Below Normal

  • Precipitation ranged from 1.31" near Osage, IA (CoCoRaHS) to 3.73" near Westby, WI (CoCoRaHS).
  • These precipitation values ranged from near-normal to 3" drier-than-normal.
  • The greatest 1-day precipitation total was 1.15" at Lynxville, Dam 9, WI (COOP) and Minnesota City Dam, MN (COOP) from 7 am on December 27 to 7 am on December 28.
2024-25 Meteorological Winter Precipitation

Snowfall: Near to Well-Below Normal

  • Snowfall ranged from 7.1" near Lanesboro, WI (CoCoRaHS) to 34.3" near Medford, WI (CoCoRaHS).
  • These snowfall values ranged from near normal to 35" below normal.
  • Rochester, MN (12.5" - 22.8" below normal)  had its 12th least snowiest meteorological winter.
  • La Crosse, WI (15.8" - 16.6" below normal) had its 18th least snowiest meteorological winter.
  • The greatest 1-day snowfall total was 9" near Owen, WI (COOP) from 7 am on February 8 to 7 am on February 9.
2024-25 Meteorological Winter Snowfall

 

Below are climate summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI

 

Meteorological Winter 2024-25 was Drier and Slightly Colder than Normal in La Crosse, WI

 

Temperatures - Slightly Colder than Normal

  • From December 1 through February 28, the average temperature at La Crosse Regional Airport was 21.6°F. This was 0.9°F colder than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 22.5°F. 
  • The average maximum temperature was 30°F. This was 0.9°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 30.9°F.  
  • The average minimum temperature was 13.2F. This was 0.9°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 14.1°F.
2024-25 Meteorological Winter La Crosse, WI

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2024-25.

       Winter 2024-25 Temperatures
             in La Crosse WI

                Average     Departure
   Month      Temperature  from Normal
   -----      -----------  -----------
 December       26.6°F       + 1.5°F 
 January        18.5°F       - 0.4°F  
 February       19.6°F       - 3.7°F 
 
 Winter         21.6°F       - 0.9°F 

  • The warmest high temperature was 58°F on January 30. This was the warmest January temperature. The previous record was 57°F on January 3, 1874; January 1, 1897; and January 25, 1981.
  • The coldest high temperature was -1°F on January 20.
  • The warmest low temperature was 40°F on February 24.
  • The coldest low temperature was -18°F on February 18.
  • The daily average temperatures were above normal on 45 days (50%), below normal on 42 days (46.7%), and normal on 3 days (3.3%).
  • The temperature fell to zero or below zero on 16 days. Normally, there are 21 sub-zero temperatures in a winter. 

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

  • La Crosse Regional Airport received 2.08" of precipitation.
  • This was 1.85" drier than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 3.93".  

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2024-25.

     Winter 2024-25 Precipitation 
           in La Crosse WI

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
 December  1.36 inches   -0.13 inches 
 January   0.03 inches   -1.22 inches - driest
 February  0.69 inches   -0.37 inches
 
 Winter    2.08 inches   -1.85 inches 

  • The wettest day was on December 27 when 0.62" of precipitation fell.  

Precipitation was greater than or equal to...

  • 0.01 inches - 21 days
  • 0.10 inches -  8 days
  • 0.50 inches -  1 days
  • 1.00 inch   -  0 days

Precipitation fell on 45 days (50%). Measurable precipitation fell on 21 days (23.3%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on 24 days (26.7%).​

Snowfall - 18th Least

  • The snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport received 15.8" of snow.  
  • This was 16.6" below the 1991-2020 normal of 32.4".
  • This was the 18th least during a meteorological winter.
  • This was the least since the 2023-24 meteorological winter (15.6" - 17th least).

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2024-25.

           Winter 2024-25 Snowfall
               in La Crosse WI

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   ------------   -----------
 December    8.2 inches   -2.7 inches 
 January     0.6 inches  -11.2 inches - Least
 February    7.0 inches   -3.7 inches 

 
 Winter     15.8 inches  -16.6 inches - 18th Least

  • The snowiest day was 6.6" on December 19.
  • Snow fell on 36 days (40%). Measurable snow fell on 13 days (14.4%) and a trace of snow fell on another 23 days (25.6%).

Snow Depth - Below Average

  • The official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport had an average snow depth of 1.3".
  • This was 3.1" lower than the long-term average (1893-2025) of 4.4".  
  • The greatest snow depth was 7" on December 20.
  • There was snow on the ground on 43 days (47.8%) this winter.  
  • Measurable snow was on the ground on 25 days (27.8%) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 18 days (20%).  

Sky Cover

  • Clear - 35 days
  • Partly Cloudy - 29 days
  • Cloudy - 26 days

Winds

  • Highest sustained winds - 39 mph from the west northwest on February 28
  • Highest wind gust - 52 mph from the west northwest on February 28

Barometric Pressure

  • Highest - 30.78 inches on February 18
  • Lowest - 29.41 inches on January 28 

Rochester, MN

 

Meteorological Winter 2024-25 was Drier & Slightly Warmer than Normal in Rochester, MN

 

Temperatures - Slightly Warmer than Normal

  • From December 1 through February 28, the average temperature at Rochester International Airport was 18.4°F. This was 0.3°F warmer than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 18.1°F. 
  • The average maximum temperature was 26.7°F. This was 0.9°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 25.8°F.  
  • The average minimum temperature was 10.1°F. This was 0.3°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 10.4°F.
2024-25 Meteorological Winter Rochester, MN
  • The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2024-25.

       Winter 2024-25 Temperatures
             in Rochester MN

                Average     Departure
   Month      Temperature  from Normal
   -----      -----------  -----------
 December       24.1°F       + 3.3°F 
 January        15.0°F       + 0.3°F  
 February       16.0°F       - 2.7°F 
 
 Winter         18.4°F       + 0.3°F 

  • The warmest high temperature was 56°F on January 30. 
  • The coldest high temperature was -5°F on January 20.
  • The warmest low temperature was 36°F on February 24.
  • The coldest low temperature was -20°F on January 21.
  • The daily average temperatures were above normal on 46 days (51.1%), below normal on 43 days (47.8%), and normal on 1 day (1.1%).
  • The temperature fell to zero or below on 24 days. Normally, there are 27 sub-zero temperatures in a winter. 

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

  • Rochester International Airport received 1.77" of precipitation.
  • This was 1.52" drier than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 3.29".  

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2024-25.

     Winter 2024-25 Precipitation 
           in Rochester MN

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
 December  1.27 inches   -0.01 inches 
 January   0.02 inches   -0.97 inches - Driest
 February  0.48 inches   -0.80 inches
 
 Winter    1.77 inches   -1.52 inches 

  • The wettest day was on December 27 when 0.71" of precipitation fell.  
  • Precipitation fell on 43 days (47.8%). Measurable precipitation fell on 17 days (18.9%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on 26 days (28.9%).

Snowfall - 12th Least

The snow observer near Rochester International Airport received 12.5" of snow. This was 22.8" below the 1991-2020 normal of 35.3". This was the 12th least during a meteorological winter. This was the least since last winter (6th least - 9.6").

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2024-25.

           Winter 2024-25 Snowfall
               in Rochester MN

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   ------------   -----------
 December    6.8 inches   -5.6 inches 
 January     0.4 inches  -11.8 inches Least
 February    5.3 inches   -5.4 inches

 
 Winter     12.5 inches  -22.8 inches 12th Least

The snowiest day was 5.9" on December 19.

Snow fell on 33 days (36.7%). Measurable snow fell on 13 days (14.4%) and a trace of snow fell on another 20 days (22.2%). 

Snow Depth - Below Average

  • The official snow observer near Rochester International Airport had an average snow depth of 0.8". This was 4.3" lower than the long-term average (1893-2025) of 5.1".  
  • The greatest snow depth was 6" on December 20-22.
  • There was snow on the ground on 34 days (37.8%) this winter.  Measurable snow was on the ground on 23 days (25.6%) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 11 days (12.2%). 

Winds

  • Highest sustained winds - 46 mph from the northwest on December 4 and west northwest on February 28
  • Highest wind gust - 63 mph from the north northwest on December 4  and west northwest on February 28

Sky Cover

  • Clear - 32 days
  • Partly Cloudy - 31 days
  • Cloudy - 27 days

Barometric Pressure

  • Highest - 30.74 inches on February 18
  • Lowest - 29.44 inches on  December 8