Temperatures: Highly Variable

During the meteorological winter (December 1 through February 28) of 2025-26, average temperatures ranged from 15.2°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 22.5°F at Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10, IA (COOP) 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. There was a 98°F temperature difference between the warmest and coldest temperature. The warmest temperature was 66°F at Prairie du Chien, WI on February 17. The coldest temperature was -32°F at near Owen, WI (COOP) on January 25.

Precipitation: Below Normal

Precipitation ranged from 1.31" near Osage, IA (CoCoRaHS) to 3.73" near Westby, WI (CoCoRaHS). These precipitation values ranged from 2" below normal to 3" above normal. The greatest 1-day precipitation total was 2.38" near Wilton, WI (CoCoRaHS) from 7 am on January 8 through 7 am on January 9.

Snowfall: Near to Well-Below Normal

Snowfall ranged from 11.3" near Wykoff, MN (CoCoRaHS) to 35.5" near Mather, WI (COOP). These snowfall values ranged from 24" below normal to 6" above normal. The greatest 1-day snowfall total was 13.5" near New Hampton, IA (CoCoRaHS) from 7 am on February 19 to 7 am on February 20.

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

La Crosse, WI

Meteorological Winter 2025-26 was Drier and Colder than Normal in La Crosse, WI

Temperatures - Colder than Normal

• From December 1 through February 28, the average temperature at La Crosse Regional Airport was 20.7°F. This was 1.8°F colder than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 22.5°F. 
• The average maximum temperature was 29.1°F. This was 1.8°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 30.9°F.  
• The average minimum temperature was 12.3°F. This was 1.8°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 14.1°F.

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the winter of 2025-26.

       Winter 2025-26 Temperatures
             in La Crosse WI

                Average     Departure
   Month      Temperature  from Normal
   -----      -----------  -----------
 December       20.1°F       - 5.0°F 
 January        13.5°F       - 5.4°F  
 February       27.3°F       + 4.0°F 
 
 Winter         20.7°F       - 1.8°F 

• The warmest high temperature was 58°F on February 16. 
• The coldest high temperature was -9°F on January 23.
• The warmest low temperature was 36°F on January 13.
• The coldest low temperature was -20°F on January 23.
• The daily average temperatures were below normal on 50 days (55.6 percent), above normal on 38 days (42.2 percent), and normal on 2 days (2.2%).
• The temperature fell to zero or below zero on 15 days. Normally, there are 22 sub-zero temperatures in a winter. 

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

• La Crosse Regional Airport received 3.12" of precipitation.
• This was 0.81" 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 2025-26.

     Winter 2025-26 Precipitation 
           in La Crosse WI

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
 December  0.92 inches   -0.57 inches 
 January   1.64 inches   +0.39 inches 
 February  0.56 inches   -0.63 inches
 
 Winter    3.12 inches   -0.81 inches 

The wettest day was on January 8 when 0.96" of precipitation fell.  

Precipitation was greater than or equal to...

• 0.01 inches - 30 days
• 0.10 inches -  7 days
• 0.50 inches -  1 days
• 1.00 inch   -  0 days

Precipitation fell on 48 days (53.3%). Measurable precipitation fell on 30 days (33.3%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on 18 days (20%).

Snowfall - Below Normal

• The snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport received 19.7" of snow.
• This was 12.7" below the 1991-2020 normal of 32.4". 

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2025-26.

           Winter 2025-26 Snowfall
               in La Crosse WI

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   ------------   -----------
 December    7.1 inches   -3.8 inches 
 January     4.7 inches   -7.1 inches 
 February    7.9 inches   -1.8 inches 
 
 Winter     19.7 inches  -12.7 inches 

• The snowiest day was 7" on February 20.
• Snow fell on 40 days (44.4%). Measurable snow fell on 18 days (20%) and a trace of snow fell on another 22 days (24.4%).

Snow Depth - Below Average

• The official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport had an average snow depth of 3.3".
• This was 1.1" lower than the long-term average (1893-2026) of 4.4".  
• The greatest snow depth was 8" on December 1, December 10, and December 11.
• There was snow on the ground on 76 days (84.4%) this winter.  Measurable snow was on the ground on 67 days (74.4%) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 9 days (10%).  

Sky Cover

• Clear - 32 days
• Partly Cloudy - 40 days
• Cloudy - 18 days

Winds

• Highest sustained winds - 35 mph from the northwest on January 27.
• Highest wind gust - 47 mph from the north on January 14.

Barometric Pressure

• Highest - 30.94 inches on January 23
• Lowest - 29.22 inches on February 18

Mississippi River at La Crosse, WI - Near Normal

• The average 7 am stage during meteorological winter was 5.16 feet.
• This was 0.03 feet baloe the 1937-2026 average of 5.19 feet.
• The minimum stage was 4.81 feet on December 9.
• The maximu stage stage was 5.82 feet on February 23.

Rochester, MN

Meteorological Winter 2025-26 was Drier & Slightly Warmer than Normal in Rochester, MN

Temperatures - Warmer than Normal

• From December 1 through February 28, the average temperature at Rochester International Airport was 19.3°F.
• This was 1.2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 winter normal of 18.1°F. 
• The average maximum temperature was 27.4°F. This was 1.6°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 25.8°F.  
• The average minimum temperature was 11.2°F. This was 0.8°F warmer 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 2025-26.

       Winter 2025-26 Temperatures
             in Rochester MN

                Average     Departure
   Month      Temperature  from Normal
   -----      -----------  -----------
 December       18.0°F       - 2.8°F 
 January        13.0°F       - 1.7°F  
 February       26.9°F       + 8.2°F - 10th Warmest 
 
 Winter         19.3°F       + 1.2°F 

• The warmest high temperature was 55°F on February 16. 
• The coldest high temperature was -11°F on January 23.
• The warmest low temperature was 36°F on February 16 and February 17.
• The coldest low temperature was -22°F on January 23.
• The daily average temperatures were above normal on 49 days (54.4%), below normal on 40 days (44.4%), and normal on 1 day (1.1%).
• The temperature fell to zero or below on 21 days. Normally, there are 29 days with sub-zero temperatures in a winter. 

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

• Rochester International Airport received 2.26" of precipitation.
• This was 1.03" 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 2025-26.

     Winter 2025-26 Precipitation 
           in Rochester MN

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
 December  0.94 inches   -0.34 inches 
 January   0.81 inches   -0.18 inches 
 February  0.51 inches   -0.51 inches
 
 Winter    2.26 inches   -1.03 inches 

• The wettest day was on January 8 when 0.53" of precipitation fell.  

Precipitation was greater than or equal to...

• 0.01 inches - 24 days
• 0.10 inches -  7 days
• 0.50 inches -  1 days
• 1.00 inch   -  0 days

• Precipitation fell on 44 days (48.9%). Measurable precipitation fell on 24 days (26.7%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on 20 days (22.2%).

Snowfall - Below Normal

• The snow observer near Rochester International Airport received 17.2" of snow.
• This was 18.1" below the 1991-2020 normal of 35.3". 

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the winter of 2025-26.

           Winter 2025-26 Snowfall
               in Rochester MN

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   ------------   -----------
 December    9.0 inches   -3.4 inches 
 January     2.1 inches  -10.1 inches 
 February    6.1 inches   -4.6 inches
 
 Winter     17.2 inches  -18.1 inches 

• The snowiest day was 5.2" on December 28.
• Snow fell on 38 days (42.2%). Measurable snow fell on 21 days (23.3%) and a trace of snow fell on another 17 days (18.9%). 

Snow Depth - Below Average

• The official snow observer near Rochester International Airport had an average snow depth of 2.6".
• This was 2.4" lower than the long-term average (1893-2026) of 5".  
• The greatest snow depth was 7" on December 1-3 and December 7-12.
• There was snow on the ground on 73 days (81.1%) this winter.  
• Measurable snow was on the ground on 62 days (68.9%) and trace amounts of snow on the ground on 11 days (12.2%). 

Winds

• Highest sustained winds -  39 mph from the west northwest on December 18
• Highest wind gust - 57 mph from the west on December 18

Sky Cover

• Clear - 36 day
• Partly Cloudy - 32 days
• Cloudy - 22 days

Barometric Pressure

• Highest - 30.74 inches on December 14
• Lowest - 29.18 inches on February 18