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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
521 PM CST Mon Feb 2 2026

...January 2026 was Colder and Drier than Normal in Rochester, MN...

...January 2026 Highlights...

Temperatures - Colder than Normal

During January 2026, the average temperature at Rochester
International Airport was 13F. This was 1.7F colder than the 1991-
2020 normal of 14.7F. This was the coldest January since 2022 when
the average temperature was 9.4F.

The average high temperature was 20F. This was 2.5F colder than
the 1991-2020 normal of 22.5F. This was the coldest January average
high temperature since 2022 when the average temperature was 18.8F.

The average low temperature was 5.9F. This was 1.1F colder than
the 1991-2020 normal of 7F. This was the coldest January average
low temperature since 2025 when the average temperature was 5.6F.

During the first half of January (January 1-16), the average
temperature was 24.4F. This was 9.3F warmer than the 1991-2020
normal of 15.1F. This was tied with 2019 for the 9th warmest start
to a January and the warmest since 2021 when the average temperature
was 25.8F (4th warmest start to a January). The warmest first half
of a January occurred in 2006 when the average temperature was
29.1F.

During the second half (January 16-31) of January, the average
temperature was 2F. This was 12.3F colder than the 1991-2020
normal of 14.3F. This was the 12th coldest end to a January and the
coldest since 2019 when the average temperature was 0.1F. The
coldest last half of a January occurred in 1936 when the average
temperature was -6.5F.

The warmest temperature during the month was 42F on January 13 and
the coldest temperature was -22F on January 23.

The temperature fell below zero on 14 days. The long-term average is
13 days.

Precipitation - Slightly Drier than Normal

A total of 0.81 inches of precipitation fell during January. This
was 0.18 inches drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 0.99 inches.

The wettest day was 0.53 inches on January 8.

Measurable precipitation has fallen 8 days and trace amounts have
fallen on another 10 days.

Snowfall - Tied for the 6th Least

A total of 2.1 inches of snow was measured by the official snow
observer near Rochester International Airport. This was 10.1 inches
below the 1991-2020 normal of 12.2 inches. This was tied for the 6th
least with 1958 and 1974. The least amount of snow in January was
0.4 inches in 2025. The table below lists the 10 snowless Januarys
in Rochester, MN.

  Top Ten Januarys with
the Least Amount of Snow
    in Rochester MN
      1893-2026

Rank   Snowfall     Year
----   --------     ----
 1    0.4 inches    2025
 2    0.8 inches    2006
 3    1.7 inches    1961
 4    1.9 inches    2013
 5    2.0 inches    1957
 6    2.1 inches    2026
      2.1 inches    1974
      2.1 inches    1958
 9    2.2 inches    1944
10    2.3 inches    1948

The snowiest day was 0.5 inches on January 21.

Measurable snow has fallen 6 days and trace amounts have fallen on
another 10 days.

Snow Depth - Below Average

The average snow depth was 1.7 inches. This was 3.7 inches below the
1909-2026 average of 5.4 inches.

The highest snow depth was 5 inches from January 1 to January 3.

The lowest snow depth was 0 inches on January 14 and January 15.

...Records...

None.

...Looking ahead to February...

The normal high temperature in Rochester rises from 23F on February
1st and warms to 32F by the end of the month. The normal low
temperature rises from 7F on the 1st and to 16F by the end of the
month. The warmest February temperature on record was 63F on
February 17, 1981, and the coldest was -35F on February 2, 1996.

The normal mean temperature for February is 18.7F (2nd coldest
month). Rochesters warmest February occurred in 1931 with an
average temperature of 32F, and its coldest February occurred in
1936 with an average temperature of 0.5F.

The normal February precipitation is 1.02 inches (2nd driest month).
The wettest February occurred in 2019 with 2.97 inches of
precipitation and the driest February occurred in 1964 with just
0.04 inches. The wettest February day occurred on February 20, 2014,
when 1.12 inches of precipitation fell.

The normal February snowfall is 10.7 inches (3rd snowiest month).
The snowiest February occurred in 2019 with 40 inches of snow and
the least snow was 0.2 inches in 1930 and 1954. The snowiest
February day occurred on February 27, 1893, when 13.5 inches of snow
fell.

$$

Boyne