December 2022 Climate Summary

Temperatures:

During December 2022, monthly temperatures ranged from 14.8°F at Grand Meadow, MN (COOP) to 23.2°F at Boscobel Airport, WI (ASOS). These temperatures were up to 6°F colder than normal. The warmest temperature was 54°F at Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10, IA (COOP) & Lancaster 4 WSW, WI (COOP) on December 30, and the coldest temperature was -17°F near Mather, WI (COOP) on December 24.

Precipitation:

December 2022 precipitation anomalies ranged from near-normal to 2.5” wetter-than-normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Precipitation totals ranged from 1.01” at Grand Meadow, MN (COOP) to 4.01” at Black River Falls, WI (COOP). The greatest 1-day precipitation was 2.31" at Black River Falls, WI (COOP). This precipitation fell from 7 AM on December 14 to 7 AM on December 15.

Snowfall:

Snowfall was up to 10” above-normal for the month. Snowfall ranged from 7.3” near Oelwein, IA (COOP) to 21.1” at La Farge, WI (COOP). The greatest 1-day snowfall was 6" near Decorah, IA (COOP). This snow fell from 7 AM on December 8 to 7 AM on December 9.

Below are December 2022 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI

December 2022 was Colder, Wetter, & Snowier-than-Normal in La Crosse, WI

Temperatures - Colder-than-Normal

The average temperature was 21.5°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 3.6°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 25.1°F. This was the coldest December 2013 (15.6°F). Having a cold December has been unusual over the past 12 years, because there have only been 4 of them (2013, 2016, 2017, and 2022). The average high temperature was 28.8°F. This was 3.8°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 32.6°F. This was the coldest average since 2013 (23.9°F). The average low temperature was 14.1°F. This was 3.5°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 17.6°F. This was the coldest average since 2013 (7.3°F).

• The warmest temperature was 47°F on December 2 and the coldest temperature was -11°F on December 22 and 23.
• Temperatures were exceptionally cold from December 18 through December 26. Temperatures averaged 4.1°F which was 18.9°F below the normal of 23°F. This was the coldest stretch of 9 days in 2022 and the coldest 9-day stretch in December since December 20-28, 2000 (-1.4°F).

Precipitation - 14th Wettest

• A total of 2.37" of precipitation fell. Which was 0.88 inches wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.49 inches.
• This was the second month in a row to be wetter than normal. This has not occurred in La Crosse since July and August 2021. During 2022, 9 out of the 12 months were drier than normal. The 3 wet months included June (+0.07 inches), November (+0.21 inches), and December (+0.89 inches).
• 12 out of the last 17 Decembers have been wetter than normal.
• This was the 14th wettest December and wettest December since 2015 (4.93" - wettest December).
• The table below lists the top 20 wettest Decembers in La Crosse, WI.

   Twenty Wettest Decembers
       in La Crosse WI
          1872-2022

Rank    Precipitation    Year
----    -------------    ----
  1      4.93 inches     2015
  2      3.43 inches     1875
  3      3.36 inches     2009
  4      3.27 inches     1891
  5      3.02 inches     1911
  6      2.91 inches     1990
  7      2.78 inches     1927
  8      2.67 inches     1879
  9      2.64 inches     2007
 10      2.55 inches     1971
 11      2.46 inches     1972
 12      2.42 inches     1984
 13      2.39 inches     2010
 14      2.37 inches     2022
 15      2.36 inches     1895
 16      2.32 inches     2008
 17      2.25 inches     1884
 18      2.24 inches     1968
 19      2.23 inches     1925
 20      2.20 inches     1931

• The wettest day was December 14 when 0.62" of precipitation fell. 

Snowfall - 18th Snowiest December

• A total of 17 inches of snow fell. Which was 6.1" snowier than the 1991-2020 normal of 10.9".
• This was the most snow in December since 2016 (20.8" - 11th most). The snowiest December is 32.7" in 2008.
• 8 out of the 20 snowiest Decembers have occurred since 2000.
• The table below lists the top 20 snowiest Decembers in La Crosse WI.

  Twenty Snowiest Decembers
       in La Crosse WI
          1896-2022

Rank      Snowfall       Year
----      --------       ----
  1      32.7 inches     2008
  2      32.3 inches     2010
  3      30.4 inches     1990
  4      26.6 inches     1985
         26.6 inches     1968
  6      25.5 inches     2000
         25.5 inches     1927
  8      24.9 inches     2009
  9      24.2 inches     2007
 10      21.9 inches     1911
 11      20.8 inches     2016
 12      19.8 inches     1969
 13      19.5 inches     1950
 14      18.8 inches     1977
 15      18.6 inches     1972
 16      18.3 inches     2012
 17      18.0 inches     1904
 18      17.0 inches     2022
 19      16.8 inches     1941
 20      16.7 inches     1899

• The snowiest day was December 9 when 5" of snow fell. 

Snow Depth -  Greater than the Long-Term Average

• The average snow depth was 4.3 inches. Which was 1.4 inches greater than the long-term average (1872-2022) of 2.9 inches.
• The greatest snow depth was 9 inches on December 22-24.

...Records...

• None

...Looking ahead to January...

• The normal high temperatures in La Crosse range from 27 to 28°F. The coldest normal high temperatures occur from January 8 through January 27. The normal low temperatures range from 10 to 13°F.  The coldest low temperatures occur from January 13 through the end of the month. The warmest January temperature on record is 57°F on January 3, 1874, January 1, 1897, and January 25, 1981, and the coldest temperature is -43°F on January 18, 1873. 

• The normal mean temperature for the month is 18.9°F. La Crosse’s warmest January occurred in 1880 with an average temperature of 32°F, and their coldest January occurred in 1912 with an average temperature of -1.1°F (coldest month ever recorded). 

• The normal January precipitation is 1.25". The wettest January occurred in 1886 with 3.44" of precipitation and the driest January occurred in 1948 and 1981 with just 0.14". The wettest January day occurred on January 5, 1946, when 1.67" of precipitation fell. 

• The normal January snowfall is 11.8" (the snowiest month on average). The snowiest January occurred in 1929 with 39.6" of snow (the snowiest month ever recorded) and the least snow was 1.6" in 1903 and 2006. The snowiest January day occurred on January 26, 1996, when 12" of snow fell.

Rochester, MN

December 2022 was Colder, Wetter, & Snowier-than-Normal in Rochester, MN

Temperatures - Colder-than-Normal

The average temperature was 17.2°F. This was 3.6°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 20.8°F. This was the coldest December since 2013 (13.1F). Having a cold December has been unusual over the past 12 years, because there have only been 4 of them (2013, 2016, 2017, and 2022).  The average high temperature was 24.1°F. This was 3.9°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 28°F. This was the coldest average since 2013 (20.9°F). The average low temperature was 10.2°F. This was 3.4°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 13.6°F. This was the coldest average since 2013 (5.4°F).

• The warmest temperature was 41°F on December 2 and the coldest temperature was -14°F on December 22.
• Temperatures were exceptionally cold from December 18 through December 26. Temperatures averaged -0.9°F which was 17.8°F below the normal of 18.7°F. This was the coldest stretch of 9 days in 2022 and the coldest 9-day stretch in December since December 17-25, 2000 (-3°F).

Precipitation - 24th Wettest

• A total of 1.62" of precipitation fell. Which was 0.34" wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.28". This was the 24th wettest and the wettest since 2018 (2.10" - 10th wettest).

• 10 out of the last 17 Decembers have been wetter than normal.

• The wettest day was December 9 when 0.44 inches of precipitation fell. 

Snowfall - Tied for 12th Snowiest

• A total of 18.3" of snow fell. Which was 5.9" snowier than the 1991-2020 normal of 12.4".

• This was tied for the 12th snowiest with 1940 and 1961 and it was the snowiest December since 2016 (19.7" - 9th snowiest December).

• 6 out of the 14 snowiest Decembers have occurred since 2000.

• The table below lists the top 20 snowiest Decembers in Rochester MN.

  Twenty Snowiest Decembers
       in Rochester MN
          1908-2022

Rank      Snowfall       Year
----      --------       ----
  1      41.3 inches     2010
  2      35.3 inches     2000
  3      30.6 inches     1969
  4      28.6 inches     2008
  5      26.3 inches     2009
  6      21.4 inches     1950
  7      20.8 inches     1990
  8      20.7 inches     1968
  9      19.7 inches     2016
 10      19.6 inches     1996
 11      18.8 inches     1977
 12      18.3 inches     2022
         18.3 inches     1961
         18.3 inches     1940
 15      17.4 inches     1955
 16      17.2 inches     1972
 17      16.3 inches     1973
 18      16.2 inches     1983
 19      16.0 inches     1987
         16.0 inches     1985

• The snowiest day was December 9 when 5.2" of snow fell. 

Snow Depth - Greater than the Long-Term Average

• The average snow depth was 6.3": Which was 2.8" greater than the long-term average (1886-2022) of 3.5".
• The greatest snow depth was on December 22-28.

...Records...

Daily...

• December 9 - Precipitation - 0.44" - Previous Record 0.35" in 2012
• December 9 - Snowfall - 5.2" - Previous Record 4.5" in 2009
• December 15 - Snowfall - 4.8" - Previous Record 4.2" in 1940

...Looking ahead to December...

• The normal high temperatures in Rochester range from 22 to 24°F. The coldest normal high temperatures occur from January 10 through January 26. The normal low temperatures range from 6 to 9°F.  The coldest low temperatures occur from January 18 through January 30. The warmest January temperature on record is 58°F on January 25, 1944, and the coldest temperature is -42°F on January 7, 1887.  

• The normal mean temperature for the month is 14.7°F. Rochester’s warmest January occurred in 2006 with an average temperature of 28.1°F, and their coldest January occurred in 1912 with an average temperature of -3.8°F (coldest month ever recorded). 

• The normal January precipitation is 0.99" (driest month on average). The wettest January occurred in 1888 with 2.92" of precipitation and the driest January occurred in 1961 with just 0.07". The wettest January day occurred on January 6, 1888, when 1.50" of precipitation fell. 

  The normal January snowfall is 12.2" (2nd snowiest month by average). The snowiest January occurred in 1996 with 30.2" of snow and the least snow was 0.8" in 2006. The snowiest January day occurred on January 22, 1982, when 15.4" of snow fell.