Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS La Crosse, WI

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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
725 AM CDT Wed Mar 20 2024

...2023-24 Astronomical Winter Summary for La Crosse WI and
Rochester MN...

During the 2023-24 astronomical winter (December 21-March 18), both
La Crosse WI and Rochester MN saw well above-average temperatures
and below-average precipitation. Rochester, MN had its warmest
winter and La Crosse, WI had its 2nd warmest winter. Below are more
details on each of these sites...

La Crosse WI...

Temperatures - 2nd Warmest

During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 33.3°F at La
Crosse Regional Airport. This was 12.3°F warmer than the long-term
(1872-2023) average of 21°F. This was the 2nd warmest astronomical
winter. Only the winter of 1877-78 was warmer with an average
temperature of 36.5°F. The table below lists the 10 warmest
astronomical winters in La Crosse, WI.

  Warmest Astronomical Winters
       in La Crosse, WI
          1872-2024

Rank  Avg Temperature    Winter
----  ---------------    ------
  1        36.5°F       1877-78
  2        33.3°F       2023-24
  3        30.7°F       2011-12
  4        29.4°F       2016-17
           29.4°F       1881-82
  6        28.9°F       1986-87
           28.9°F       1930-31
  8        28.6°F       2005-06
  9        28.5°F       1991-92
 10        28.0°F       1997-98

This was only the 2nd winter to see an average temperature above
freezing. 8 out of the last 10 astronomical winters have been warmer
than the long-term average. This included the 2nd (2023-24), 4th
(2016-17 - tied with 1881-82) and the 11th (2019-20) warmest
astronomical winters.

The average high temperature was 41.9°F. This was 12.1°F warmer than
the long-term average of 29.8°F. This was the 2nd warmest. Only 1877-
78 was warmer with an average temperature of 43.4°F.

The average low temperature was 24.7°F. This was 12.6°F warmer than
the long-term average of 12.3°F.  This was the 2nd warmest. Only
1877-78 was warmer with an average temperature of 29.7°F.

The warmest high temperature was 74°F on March 3. This was tied for
the 6th warmest during an astronomical winter with the winters of
1986-87 (March 7) and 1989-90 (March 12). The warmest temperature in
astronomical winter was 83°F during the astronomical winter of 2011-
12 (March 17).

The coldest high temperature was 2°F on January 14.

The warmest low temperature was 50°F on December 25.

The coldest low temperature was -8°F on January 14, January 15, and
January 20.

Precipitation - Below Average

During astronomical winter, a total of 2.66 inches of precipitation
fell at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 1.07 inches drier than
the long-term (1872-2024) average of 3.73 inches.

The wettest day occurred on January 12 when 0.59 inches of
precipitation fell.

Measurable (0.01 inches or greater) precipitation fell on 18 days
(20.2%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 13 days
(14.6%).

Snowfall - Below Average

During astronomical winter, a total of 14.6 inches of snow was
measured by the official NWS snow observer near La Crosse Regional
Airport. This was 14.5 inches below the long-term (1896-2024)
average of 29.1 inches. This was the 10th least and the least amount
of snow in astronomical winter since 1983-84 (13.3 inches - 5th
least). Below are the ten astronomical winters with the least amount
of snow for La Crosse, WI.

   10 Least Amount of Snow
  in an Astronomical Winter
    for La Crosse, WI
        1896-2024

Rank    Snowfall      Winters
----     --------     -------
  1     5.6 inches    1967-68
  2    11.7 inches    1957-58
  3    11.8 inches    1933-34
  4    13.0 inches    1953-54
  5    13.3 inches    1983-84
  6    13.4 inches    1902-03
  7    13.7 inches    1954-55
       13.7 inches    1947-48
  9    14.5 inches    1963-64
 10    14.6 inches    2023-24

The snowiest day occurred on January 12 when 6.6 inches of snow fell.

Measurable (0.1 inches or greater) snow fell on 9 days (10.1%) and
trace amounts of snow fell on another 10 days (11.2%).

Snow Depth - Below Average

During astronomical winter, the average snow depth measured by the
official NWS snow observer was 1.8 inches. This was 2.6 inches below
the long-term (1893-2024) average of 4.4 inches.

Measurable snow was on the ground on 24 days or 27% of the season.
A trace of snow was on the ground on 5 days or 5.6% of the season.
There was no snow on the ground for 60 days or 67.4% of the season.

The greatest snow depth was 12 inches between January 14.

Rochester...

Temperatures - Warmest

During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 30°F at Rochester
International Airport. This was 12.1°F warmer than the long-term
(1886-2023) average of 17.9°F. This was the warmest astronomical
winter. The previous record was 29.5°F in 2011-12. The table below
lists the 10 warmest astronomical winters in Rochester, MN.

  Warmest Astronomical Winters
       in Rochester MN
          1886-2024

Rank  Avg Temperature    Winter
----  ---------------    ------
  1        30.0°F       2023-24
  2        29.5°F       2011-12
  3        27.6°F       1930-31
  4        26.5°F       1986-87
  5        26.1°F       2005-06
  6        25.8°F       1991-92
  7        24.9°F       1989-90
  8        24.2°F       1982-83
  9        24.1°F       2016-17
 10        23.6°F      1999-2000

4 out of the last 5 astronomical winters have been warmer than the
long-term average.

The average high temperature was 38.4°F. This was 11.8°F warmer than
the long-term average of 26.6°F. The previous record was 38.2 inches
in 2011-12.

The average low temperature was 21.6°F. This was 12.4°F warmer than
the long-term average of 9.2°F. The previous record was 20.9 inches
in 2011-12.

The warmest high temperature was 74°F on March 11. This was 3rd
warmest during an astronomical winter. Only the winters of 1999-2000
(75°F - March 7) and 2011-12 (81°F - March 17) had a warmer high
temperature for astronomical winter.

The coldest high temperature was -5°F on January 14.

The warmest low temperature was 44°F on December 24, December 25,
and March 12.

The coldest low temperature was -14°F on January 15.

Precipitation - 20th Driest

During astronomical winter, a total of 2.14 inches of precipitation
fell at Rochester International Airport. This was 0.96 inches drier
than the long-term (1886-2023) average of 3.10 inches. This was the
20th driest astronomical winter and the driest since 2008-2009 (1.96
inches - tied with 1990-91 for the 16th driest winter). Below are
the 20 driest winters.

   20 Driest Astronomical
  Winters for Rochester, MN
        1886-2024

Rank  Precipitation   Winters
----  -------------   -------
  1    0.72 inches    1957-58
  2    1.02 inches    1963-64
  3    1.26 inches    1967-68
  4    1.46 inches    1986-87
  5    1.52 inches    1956-57
  6    1.60 inches    2002-03
  7    1.61 inches    1913-14
  8    1.63 inches    1912-13
  9    1.65 inches    1911-12
 10    1.70 inches    2007-08
 11    1.73 inches    1971-72
       1.73 inches    1933-34
 13    1.74 inches    1930-31
 14    1.76 inches    1909-10
 15    1.85 inches    1994-95
 16    1.96 inches    2008-09
       1.96 inches    1990-91
 18    2.00 inches    1963-64
 19    2.05 inches    1977-78
 20    2.14 inches    2023-24

The wettest day occurred on December 25 when 0.65 inches of
precipitation fell.

Measurable (0.01 inches or greater) precipitation fell on 19 days
(21.3%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 9 days
(10.1%).

Snowfall - 4th Least

During astronomical winter, a total of 9.1 inches of snow was
measured by the official NWS snow observer near Rochester
International Airport. This was 19.3 inches below the long-term
(1909-2024) average of 28.4 inches. This was the 4th least in an
astronomical winter and the least since 7.7 inches in 1967-68. The
least was 7.3 inches in 1930-31. Below are the ten astronomical
winters with the least amount of snow for Rochester, MN.

   10 Least Amount of Snow
  in an Astronomical Winter
    for Rochester, MN
        1909-2024

Rank    Snowfall      Winters
----     --------     -------
  1     7.3 inches    1930-31
  2     7.7 inches    1967-68
  3     8.1 inches    1957-58
  4     9.1 inches    2023-24
  5     9.4 inches    1913-14
  6     9.7 inches    1933-34
  7    13.3 inches    1986-87
  8    13.5 inches    1963-64
  9    13.6 inches    1963-64
       13.6 inches    1943-44

The snowiest day occurred on January 12 when 2.1 inches of snow fell.

Measurable (0.1 inches or greater) snow fell on 10 days (11.2%) and
trace amounts of snow fell on another 11 days (12.4%).

Snow Depth - Tied for the 5th Least Average

During astronomical winter, the average snow depth measured by the
official NWS snow observer near Rochester International Airport was
1 inch. This was 4.5 inches lower than the long-term (1938-2024)
average of 5.5 inches. This was tied with 1957-58 for the 5th least.
The lowest average snow depth was 0.8 inches in 1967-68 and 2011-12.
Below are the ten astronomical winters with the lowest average snow
depth for Rochester, MN.

  10 Lowest Avg. Snow Depth  
  in an Astronomical Winter
    for Rochester, MN
        1909-2024
        
Rank    Snowfall      Winters
----     --------     -------
  1     0.8 inches    2011-12
        0.8 inches    1967-68
        0.8 inches    1956-57
  4     0.9 inches    1963-64
  5     1.0 inches    2023-24
        1.0 inches    1957-58
  7     1.2 inches    1986-87
        1.2 inches    1953-54
  9     1.4 inches    2002-03
 10     1.6 inches    2005-06
        1.6 inches    2001-02
        1.6 inches    1994-95 

Measurable snow was on the ground for 22 days or 24.7% of the season.
A trace of snow was on the ground on 2 days or 2.2% of the season.
There was no snow on the ground on 65 days or 73% of the season.

The greatest snow depth was 6 inches from January 14 through January
21.

$$

Boyne


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