Astronomical Winter Summary for La Crosse, WI and Rochester, MN

The 2018-19 astronomical winter (which ran from December 21st through March 19th) was very wet and snowy  at both La Crosse, WI and Rochester, MN.  In addition, temperatures were colder than the long-term average at both locations.

Below are more details on each of these sites...

La Crosse, WI...
 

Temperatures - 

During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 19.2° at the La Crosse Regional Airport.  This was 1.5° colder than the long-term (1872-2019) average of 20.7°.  It was the coldest winter since the 2013-14 astronomical winter (average temperature of 12.9° - 8th coldest).  That winter was also the last time that the temperature averaged colder than the long-term average during a winter.

• The average high temperature was 27.9°.  This was 1.6° colder than the long-term average of 29.5°.  
• The average low temperature was 10.6°.  This was 1.4° colder than the long-term average of 12.0°.
   
• The warmest high temperature was 54° on January 5.  Coldest in a winter since 2013-14 (54°).
• The coldest high temperature was -12° on January 30.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 38° on February 3.
• The coldest low temperature was -33° on January 31. Coldest temperature in a winter since 1995-96 (-35°). 

Precipitation - 2nd Wettest

During astronomical winter, a total of 7.21 inches of precipitation fell at the La Crosse Regional Airport.  This was 3.51 inches wetter than the long-term (1872-2019) average of 3.70 inches.  This was the 2nd wettest astronomical winter.  The only winter wetter was 1875-76 (9.75 inches).  The table below lists the 5 wettest astronomical winters.
  
     Wettest Astronomical Winters
           in La Crosse WI
              1872-2019

            Precipitation
   Rank        Total         Winter
   ----    -------------     ------
     1      9.75 inches      1875-76
     2      7.21 inches      2018-19
     3      7.07 inches      1972-73
     4      6.85 inches      1921-22
     5      6.58 inches      1874-75

The wettest day occurred on December 27 when 0.78 inches of precipitation fell.

Measurable (0.01 inches or greater) precipitation fell on 36 days (40.4 percent) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 23 days (25.8 percent).

Snowfall - 3rd Snowiest

During astronomical winter, a total of 53.3 inches of snow fell at the La Crosse Regional Airport.  This was 24.1 inches snowier than the long-term average (1896-2019) of 29.2 inches.  This was the 3rd snowiest winter and the snowiest since 1970-71 (54.8 inches).  The snowiest winter was 1958-59 when 67.8 inches of snow fell.  The table below lists the 5 snowiest astronomical winters.
  
     Snowiest Astronomical Winters
           in La Crosse WI
              1872-2019

             Snowfall
   Rank        Total         Winter
   ----    -------------     ------
     1      67.8 inches      1958-59
     2      54.8 inches      1970-71
     3      53.3 inches      2018-19
     4      52.1 inches      1928-29
     5      50.7 inches      1916-17

The snowiest day occurred on February 12 when 9.0 inches of snow fell.

Measurable (0.1 inches or greater) snow fell on 30 days (33.7 percent) and trace amounts of snow fell on another 21 days (23.6 percent).

Snow Depth - 19th greatest

During astronomical winter, the average snow depth at the La Crosse Regional Airport was 8.2 inches.  This was 3.8 inches above the long-term (1893-2019) average of 4.4 inches.  This was the 19th greatest average.

Measurable snow (a half inch or greater) was on the ground on 62 days or 69.7 percent of the season.

The greatest snow depth was 19 inches on February 21.

There was no snow on the ground on 16 days or 18 percent of the season.

Rochester, MN... 

Temperatures - 

During astronomical winter, temperatures averaged 14.8° at the Rochester International Airport.  This was 2.8° below the long-term (1886-2019) average of 17.6°. It was the coldest winter since the 2013-14 astronomical winter (average temperature of 10.1° - 8th coldest).

• The average high temperature was 22.6°.  This was 3.8° colder than the long-term average of 26.4°. 
• The average low temperature was 7.0°.  This was 1.8° colder than the long-term average of 8.8°.
   
• The warmest high temperature was 44° on January 5.
• The coldest high temperature was -19° on January 30.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 35° on February 3.
• The coldest low temperature was -30° on January 31. Coldest temperature in a winter since 1995-96 (-35°). 

Precipitation - Wettest 

During astronomical winter, a total of 6.70 inches of precipitation fell at the Rochester International Airport.  This was 3.70 inches wetter the long-term (1886-2019) average of 3.00 inches.  This was the wettest winter on record.  The previous record was 6.36 inches during the winter of 1887-88.  The table below lists the 5 wettest astronomical winters.
  
     Wettest Astronomical Winters
           in Rochester MN
              1886-2019

            Precipitation
   Rank        Total         Winter
   ----    -------------     ------
     1      6.70 inches      2018-19
     2      6.36 inches      1887-88
     3      6.01 inches      2016-17
     4      5.51 inches      1950-51
     5      5.32 inches      1982-83

The wettest day occurred on February 23 when 0.89 inches of precipitation fell.

Measurable (0.01 inches or greater) precipitation fell on 35 days (39.3 percent) and trace amounts of precipitation fell on another 15 days (16.9 percent).

Snowfall - Snowiest 

During astronomical winter, a total of 65.1 inches of snow fell at the Rochester International Airport.  This was 37.2 inches above the long-term (1908-2019) average of 27.9 inches.  This was the snowiest winter on record.  The previous record was 52.8 inches during the winter of 1996-97.  The table below lists the 5 snowiest astronomical winters.
  
     Snowiest Astronomical Winters
           in Rochester MN
              1908-2019

             Snowfall
   Rank        Total         Winter
   ----    -------------     ------
     1      65.1 inches      2018-19
     2      52.8 inches      1996-97
     3      48.6 inches      1950-51
     4      48.3 inches      1916-17
     5      47.0 inches      2013-14

The snowiest day occurred on February 23 when 10.1 inches of snow fell.

Measurable (0.1 inches or greater) snow fell on 28 days (31.5 percent) and trace amounts of snow fell on another 14 days (15.7 percent).

Snow Depth - 12th Greatest

During astronomical winter, the average snow depth at the Rochester International Airport was 9.9 inches.  This was 4.3 inches above the long-term (1939-2019) average of 5.6 inches.  The greatest average was 15.6 inches in 1978-79.

Measurable snow was on the ground on 71 days or 79.8 percent of the season.

The greatest snow depth was 28 inches on February 24.

There was no snow on the ground on 12 days or 13.5 percent of the season.