2021-22 Astronomical Winter Climate Summary

Upper Mississippi River Valley

Temperatures - Generally Below Normal

During the astronomical winter of 2021-22 (December 21-March 19), average temperatures ranged from 13.1°F at Medford, WI (COOP observer) to 21.9°F Boscobel, WI (ASOS) in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. These temperatures were anywhere from near normal to 5°F colder than normal. The warmest temperature was 70°F at the Boscobel and La Crosse airports on March 16. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was -36°F on January 26. This is a 106°F difference.

Precipitation - Drier than Average

Precipitation totals ranged from 1.16" near Osage, IA to 5.94" near Elkader, IA. This precipitation ranged from near normal to 3" below normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 1.92" near Elkader from March 5-6.

Snowfall - Below Average

Seasonal snowfall totals ranged from 13.4" at Trempealeau Dam 6 to 29.5" near Medford, WI. This snowfall ranged from near normal to 10" below normal. The highest one-day snowfall was 8" near Nora Springs, IA from January 14-15.

During the 2021-22 astronomical winter (December 21-March 19), both La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN saw near-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation. Below are more details on each of these sites...

La Crosse WI...
 

Temperatures - Near Average

During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 20.2°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 0.7°F colder than the long-term (1872-2022) average of 20.9°F. Coldest astronomical winter since 2018-2019 (19.2°F).    The average high temperature was 30.4°F. This was 0.7°F warmer than the long-term average of 29.7°F.   The average low temperature was 10°F. This was 2.1°F colder than the long-term average of 12.1°F.

• The warmest high temperature was 70°F on March 16.
• The coldest high temperature was 2°F on January 25.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 37°F on March 18.
• The coldest low temperature was -18°F on January 26. 

Precipitation - Drier than Average

• During astronomical winter, a total of 2.49" of precipitation fell at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 1.23 inches drier than the long-term (1872-2022) average of 3.72".
• Driest astronomical winter since 2014-2015 (1.83" - 12th driest).
• The wettest day occurred on March 5 when 0.56" of precipitation fell.
• Measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation fell on 22 days (24.7%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 15 days (16.9%).

Snowfall - Below Average

• During astronomical winter, a total of 22.7" of snow was measured by the official NWS snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 6.5" below the long-term (1896-2022) average of 29.2".
• Least snow in an astronomical winter since 2014-2015 (20.5").
• The snowiest day occurred on December 28 when 5.3" of snow fell.
• Measurable (0.1" or greater) snow fell on 18 days (20.2%) and trace amounts of snow fell on another 16 days (18%).

Snow Depth - Slightly Below Average

• During astronomical winter, the average snow depth measured by the official NWS snow observer was 4.1". This was 0.3" inches below the long-term (1893-2022) average of 4.4".
• Lowest average snow depth in an astronomical winter since 2019-2020 (3.7").
• Measurable snow was on the ground on 69 days or 77.5% of the season.
• There was no snow on the ground for 20 days or 22.5% of the season.
• The greatest snow depth was 9" from January 24 through January 30.

Rochester... 

Temperatures - Slightly Colder than Average

During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 16.6°F at Rochester International Airport. This was 1.2°F colder than the long-term (1886-2022) average of 17.8°F. Coldest astronomical winter since 2018-2019 (14.8°F).   The average high temperature was 26°F. This was 0.5°F colder than the long-term average of 26.5°F.   The average low temperature was 7.1°F. This was 1.9°F colder than the long-term average of 9°F.

• The warmest high temperature was 64°F on March 16.
• The coldest high temperature was -2°F on January 25.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 37°F on March 16.
• The coldest low temperature was -21°F on January 26. 

Precipitation - Slightly Below Average

• During astronomical winter, a total of 2.36" of precipitation fell at Rochester International Airport. This was 0.71" drier than the long-term (1886-2022) average of 3.07". This was the driest astronomical winter since 2014-2015 (2.20").
• The wettest day occurred on March 5 when 0.80" of precipitation fell.
• Measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation fell on 21 days (23.6%) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 20 days (22.5%).

Snowfall - 18th Least 

• During astronomical winter, a total of 18.2" of snow was measured by the official NWS snow observer near Rochester International Airport. This was 10.3" below the long-term (1909-2022) average of 28.5". This was the least amount of snow in an astronomical winter since 2011-12 (13.7" - 10th least) and the 18th least for an astronomical winter. In contrast, the greatest total in an astronomical winter was 65.1" in 2018-19. Below are the 20 astronomical winters with the least amount of snow.

   Least Amount of Snow
 in an Astronomical Winter
        1909-2022

Rank    Snowfall     Winter
----    --------     ------
  1    7.3 inches  1930-1931
  2    7.7 inches  1967-1968
  3    8.7 inches  1957-1958
  4    9.4 inches  1913-1914
  5    9.7 inches  1933-1934
  6   13.3 inches  1986-1987
  7   13.5 inches  1953-1954
  8   13.6 inches  1963-1964
      13.6 inches  1943-1944
 10   13.7 inches  2011-2012
 11   14.9 inches  1956-1957
 12   15.3 inches  1994-1995
 13   15.4 inches  1975-1976
 14   15.5 inches  1910-1911
 15   15.9 inches  1954-1955
 16   17.2 inches  1937-1938
 17   18.0 inches  2002-2003
 18   18.2 inches  2021-2022
 19   18.9 inches  1965-1966
 20   19.5 inches  1932-1933 

• The snowiest day occurred on January 14 when 4.1" of snow fell.
• Measurable (0.1" or greater) snow fell on 18 days (20.2%) and trace amounts of snow fell on another 16 days (18%).

Snow Depth - 17th Least

• During astronomical winter, the average snow depth measured by the official NWS snow observer near Rochester International Airport was 2.5". This was 3" lower than the long-term (1938-2022) average of 5.6".
• This was the lowest seasonal average snow depth in an astronomical winter since 2011-12 (0.8" - tied for the least with 1956-57, 1967-68, and 2011-12) and the 17th least for an astronomical winter. In contrast, the greatest average snow depth in an astronomical winter was 15.6" in 1978-79. Below are the 20 astronomical winters with the least amount of snow.

 Lowest Average Snow Depth
 in an Astronomical Winter
        1938-2022

         Average
Rank   Snow Depth    Winter
----   ----------    ------
  1    0.8 inches  2011-2012
       0.8 inches  1967-1968
       0.8 inches  1956-1957
  4    0.9 inches  1963-1964
  5    1.0 inches  1957-1958
  6    1.2 inches  1986-1987
       1.2 inches  1953-1954
  8    1.4 inches  2002-2003
  9    1.6 inches  2005-2006
       1.6 inches  2001-2002
       1.6 inches  1994-1995
 12    1.9 inches  1954-1955
 13    2.1 inches  1980-1981
 14    2.2 inches  1991-1992
       2.2 inches  1975-1976
 16    2.3 inches  1989-1990
 17    2.5 inches  2021-2022
 18    2.6 inches  1959-1960
 19    2.8 inches  2004-2005
       2.8 inches  1988-1989  

• Measurable snow was on the ground for 60 days or 67.4% 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 on 24 days or 27% of the season.
   
• The greatest snow depth was 6" from January 23 through January 28.