December 2024 Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary

Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary for December 2024:

Temperatures - Near to Above Normal

During December 2024, average temperatures ranged from 22°F at Grand Meadow, MN (COOP) to 27.7°F at Decorah, IA (COOP). Temperature anomalies ranged from near normal to 4°F warmer-than-normal. There was a 77°F difference between the warmest and coldest temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The warmest temperature was 59°F at Oelwein Municipal Airport, IA (AWOS) on December 7. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was -18°F at Theilman, MN (COOP) on December 21.

Precipitation - Highly Variable

Precipitation totals varied from 1.07" near Cashton, WI (CoCoRaHS) to 2.33" near Warrens, WI (CoCoRaHS). Precipitation anomalies ranged from a 0.75" drier than normal to 0.75" wetter than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 1.15" at Lynxville Dam 9 and Minnesota City Dam 5 from December 27 to December 28.
Snowfall - Less than Normal
Snowfall totals varied from 2.8" near Elkader, IA (COOP) to 14.2" near Warrens, WI (CoCoRaHS). Snowfall anomalies ranged from near-normal to 10" below normal. The highest one-day snowfall was 8.4" near Oxford, WI (CoCoRaHS) from December 19 to December 20.

Below are the December 2024 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI

December 2024 was Warmer than Normal with Near Normal Precipitation for La Crosse, WI

...December 2024 Highlights...

Temperatures - Warmer than Normal

The average temperature at La Crosse Regional Airport was 26.6°F. This was 1.5°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 25.1°F. When it comes to temperatures, it was a month of extremes. There were 13 days with well above normal temperatures (10°F or warmer than normal) and 6 days with well below normal temperatures (10°F or colder than normal). The largest departure from normal was 25 degrees colder than normal on December 12.

• The average low temperature was 19.9°F. This was 2.3°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 17.6°F.
• The warmest temperature was 56°F on December 7 and the coldest temperature was -12°F on December 21.
• On December 28, the low temperature was 37°F. This tied the previous warmest low temperature record for this day set back in 1877, 1881, 1885, and 1984.

Precipitation - Slightly Drier than Normal

• A total of 1.36" of precipitation fell. This was 0.13" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.49". 
• 12 out of the last 19 Decembers have been wetter than normal. The average precipitation during these Decembers were 1.93". 
• Precipitation fell on 15 days (9 days with measurable precipitation and 6 days with trace amounts).
• The wettest day was 0.62" on December 27. This was the wettest December day since December 14, 2022 (0.62").

Snowfall - Below Normal

• A total of 8.2" of snow fell. This was 2.7" below than the 1991-2020 normal of 10.9".
• 7 out of the last 11 Decembers have had below-normal snowfall. The average snowfall during these Decembers were 8.6".
• Snow fell on 11 days (4 days with measurable precipitation and 7 days with trace amounts).
• The snowiest day was 6.6" on December 19. This was the most snow on a December calendar day since December 28, 2015 (7.5"). 

Snow Depth - Below Normal

• The average snow depth was 1.3". This was 1.6" below the 1893-2024 long-term average of 2.9".
• 11 out of the last 14 Decembers have had below normal snow depths. The average was 1.7". 
• There was no snow on the ground on 15 days, trace amounts of snow on the ground on 8 days, and measurable snow on the ground 8 days.
• The greatest snow depth was 7" on December 20. 

...Daily Records...

• December 19 - New Daily Snowfall Record of 6.6" - The previous record for this date was 5.4" in 1952.
• December 28 - Tied Daily Warm Low Temperature Record of 37°F - The also occurred in 1877, 1881, 1885, and 1984.

...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 January 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" (snowiest month). The snowiest January occurred in 1929 with 39.6" of snow (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 2024 was Warmer than Normal with Near Normal Precipitation for Rochester MN

...December 2024 Highlights...

Temperatures - 22nd Warmest

The average temperature at Rochester International Airport was 24.1°F. This was 3.3°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 20.8°F. This was the 22nd warmest December. When it comes to temperatures, it was a month of extremes. There were 14 days with well above normal temperatures (10°F or warmer than normal) and 7 days with well below normal temperatures (10°F or colder than normal). The largest departure from normal was 23 degrees colder than normal on December 12.

• The average high temperature was 30.8°F. This was 2.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 28°F.
• The average low temperature was 17.4°F. This was 3.8F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 13.6°F. This was tied for the 16th warmest in a December with 1957, 1994, and 2003.
• The warmest temperature was 54°F on December 7 and the coldest temperature was -7°F on December 21.
• On December 28, the low temperature was 33°F. This tied the previous warm low temperature record for this day set in 2006. 

Precipitation - Near Normal

• A total of 1.27" of precipitation fell. This was 0.01" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.28".
• 11 out of the last 19 Decembers have been wetter than normal. The average precipitation during these Decembers were 1.61". 
• Precipitation fell on 14 days (8 days with measurable precipitation and 6 days with trace amounts).
• The wettest day was 0.71" on December 27. This was the wettest December day since December 27, 2018 (0.82").

Snowfall - Below Normal

• A total of 6.8" of snow fell. This was 5.6 inches below than the 1991-2020 normal of 12.4".
• 7 out of the last 11 Decembers have had below-normal snowfall. The average snowfall during these Decembers were 9.8".
• Snow fell on 11 days (5 days with measurable precipitation and 6 days with trace amounts).
• The snowiest day was 5.9" on December 19. This was the most snow on a December calendar day since December 10, 2021 (6.5"). 

Snow Depth - Below Normal

• The average snow depth was 1.1". This was 2.3" below the 1940-2024 long-term average of 3.4".
• 11 out of the last 14 Decembers have had below normal snow depths. The average was 2.3". 
• There was no snow on the ground on 20 days, measurable snow on the ground on 8 days, and a trace of snow on the ground 3 days.
• The greatest snow depth was 6" on December 20-22. 

​...Daily Records...

• December 19 - New Daily Snowfall Record of 5.9" - The previous record for this date was 5.4" in 2008.
• December 28 - Tied Daily Warm Low Temperature record of 33°F - This previous record occurred in 2006. 

...Looking ahead to January...

• 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 was 58°F on January 25, 1944, and the coldest temperature was -42°F on January 7, 1887.  
• The normal mean temperature for January is 14.7°F (coldest month). 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 on 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.