2017-18 Astronomical Winter Summary

The 2017-18 astronomical (December 21st through March 19th) winter was near-normal for temperatures and precipitation at La Crosse, WI and Rochester, MN.  More details can be found below.

La Crosse, WI

...A Slightly Warmer and Drier Astronomical Winter in La Crosse, WI...

The 2017-18 astronomical winter (which ran from December 21st through March 19th) was slightly warmer and drier-than-average at La Crosse, WI.  More details can be found below.

Temperatures - Slightly Warmer-than-Average

During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 21.3°F at La Crosse Regional Airport.  This was 0.6°F warmer than the long-term (1872-2018) average of 20.7°F.  It was the coldest winter since 2013-14 when the average was 12.9°F.

• The average high temperature was 30.8°F.  This was 1.3°F warmer than the long-term average of 29.5°F.
• The average low temperature was 11.9°F.  This was 0.1°F colder than the long-term average of 12.0°F
  ​. 
• The warmest high temperature was 59°F on February 27th.
• The coldest high temperature was  0°F on December 31st.
   
• The warmest low temperature was  37°F on March 4th.
• The coldest low temperature was -14°F on January 5th. 

Precipitation - Slightly Drier-than-Average

During astronomical winter, a total of 3.27" of precipitation fell at La Crosse Regional Airport.  This was 0.43" drier than the long-term (1872-2018) average of 3.70".  It was the driest winter since 2014-15 when 1.83" of precipitation fell.

The wettest day occurred on January 22nd when 0.85" of precipitation fell.

Measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation fell on 28 days (31.5%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 19 days (21.3%).

Days with no precipitation               - 42 days - 47.2%
Days with a Trace of precipitation       - 19 days - 21.3%
Days with 0.01" or more of precipitation - 28 days - 31.5%
Days with 0.10" or more of precipitation -  8 days -  9.0%
Days with 0.50" or more of precipitation -  2 days -  2.2%
Days with 1.00" or more of precipitation -  0 days -  0.0%

Snowfall - Slightly Lower-than-Average

During astronomical winter, a total of 27.8" of snow fell was reported by the NWS official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport.  This was 1.4" below the long-term (1896-2018) average of 29.2".  This was the highest total since the winter of 2015-17 when 30.9" of snow fell.

The snowiest day occurred on March 5th when 6.0" of snow fell.

Measurable (0.1" or greater) snow fell on 26 days (29.2%) and trace amounts of snow fell on another 17 days (19.1%).

Days with no snow               - 46 days - 51.7%
Days with a trace of snow       - 17 days - 19.1%
Days with a 0.1" to 1" of snow  - 17 days - 19.1%
Days with 1.0" to  2.9" of snow -  7 days -  7.9%
Days with 3.0" to  5.9" of snow -  1 days -  1.1%
Days with 6.0" to  8.9" of snow -  1 days -  1.1%
Days with 9.0" or more of snow  -  0 days -  0.0%

Snow Depth - Lower-than-Average

During astronomical winter, the average snow depth at La Crosse Regional Airport was 2.1".  This was 2.3" below the long-term (1893-2018) average of 4.4".  This was the lowest snow depth average since the winter of 2011-12 (1.9").

The greatest snow depth was 6" from March 6th to March 8th.

Measurable snow was on the ground on 50 days or 56.2% of the season and there was no snow on the ground on 16 days or 18.0% of the season.

Days with no snow depth          - 16 days - 18.0%
Days with a trace of snow depth  - 23 days - 25.8%
Days with 1" to 2" of snow depth - 28 days - 31.5%
Days with 3" to 5" of snow depth - 19 days - 21.3%
Days with 6" to 8" of snow depth -  3 days -  3.4%
Days with 9" or more             -  0 days -  0.0%

Rochester, MN

...A Slightly Colder and Wetter Astronomical Winter in Rochester MN...

The 2017-18 astronomical winter (which ran from December 21st through March 19th) was slightly colder and wetter-than-average at Rochester MN.  More details can be found below.

Temperatures - Slightly Colder-than-Average

During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 16.4°F at Rochester International Airport.  This was 1.2°F colder than the long-term (1886-2018) average of 17.6°F.  It was the coldest winter since 2013-14 when the average was 12.9°F.

• The average high temperature was 24.5°F.  This was 1.9°F colder than the long-term average of 26.4°F. 
• The average low temperature was 8.2°F.  This was 0.6°F colder than the long-term average of 8.8°F.  
   
• The warmest high temperature was 47°F on March 17th and March 18th.
• The coldest high temperature was -8°F on December 31st.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 33°F on March 4th.
• The coldest low temperature was -18°F on January 6th. 

Precipitation - Slightly Wetter-than-Average

During astronomical winter, a total of 3.27" of precipitation fell at Rochester International Airport.  This was 0.27" wetter than the long-term (1886-2018) average of 3".

The wettest day occurred on January 22nd when 0.91" of precipitation fell.

Measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation fell on 27 days (30.3%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 18 days (20.2%).

Days with no precipitation               - 44 days - 49.4%
Days with a Trace of precipitation       - 18 days - 20.2%
Days with 0.01" or more of precipitation - 27 days - 30.3%
Days with 0.10" or more of precipitation -  9 days - 10.1%
Days with 0.50" or more of precipitation -  1 days -  1.1%
Days with 1.00" or more of precipitation -  0 days -  0.0%

Snowfall - Tied for 18th Snowiest Astronomical Winter

During astronomical winter, a total of 37.6" of snow was reported by the NWS official snow observer near Rochester International Airport.  This was 9.7" above the long-term (1908-2018) average of 27.9".  This was tied with the 2000-01 winter for the 18th snowiest astronomical winter.  Here are the 20 snowiest astronomical winters in Rochester MN.

      Snowiest Astronomical Winters
             in Rochester MN
               1908-2018

    Rank       Snowfall       Winter
    ----       --------       ------
      1      52.8 inches     1996-97
      2      48.6 inches     1950-51
      3      48.3 inches     1916-17
      4      47.0 inches     2013-14
      5      46.3 inches     2004-05
      6      44.1 inches     1998-99
             44.1 inches     1970-71
      8      43.6 inches     2012-13
             43.6 inches     2006-07
     10      41.1 inches     1993-94
     11      41.0 inches     1969-70
     12      40.7 inches     1949-50
     13      40.2 inches     1984-85
     14      39.9 inches     1966-67
     15      39.4 inches     1978-79
     16      38.5 inches     1988-89
     17      38.0 inches     1981-82
     18      37.6 inches     2017-18
             37.6 inches     2000-01
     20      37.5 inches     1955-56 

The snowiest day occurred on January 22 when 8.1" of snow fell.

Measurable (0.1" or greater) snow fell on 28 days (31.5%) and trace amounts of snow fell on another 12 days (13.5%).

Days with no snow               - 49 days - 55.1%
Days with a trace of snow       - 12 days - 13.5%
Days with a 0.1" to 1" of snow  - 17 days - 19.1%
Days with 1.0" to  2.9" of snow -  7 days -  7.9%
Days with 3.0" to  5.9" of snow -  2 days -  2.2%
Days with 6.0" to  8.9" of snow -  2 days -  2.2%
Days with 9.0" or more of snow  -  0 days -  0.0%

Snow Depth - Lower-than-Average

During astronomical winter, the average snow depth at Rochester International Airport was 3.4".  This was 2.2" below the long-term (1938-2018) average of 5.6".  

The greatest snow depth was 8" from January 23rd through January 26th.

Measurable snow was on the ground on 81 days or 91.0% of the season and there was no snow on the ground on 6 days or 6.7% of the season.

Days with no snow depth          -  6 days -  6.7%
Days with a trace of snow depth  -  2 days -  2.2%
Days with 1" to 2" of snow depth - 21 days - 23.6%
Days with 3" to 5" of snow depth - 48 days - 53.9%
Days with 6" to 8" of snow depth - 12 days - 13.5%
Days with 9" or more             -  0 days -  0.0%