967
NOUS43 KARX 021944
PNSARX
IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-032>034-
041>044-053>055-061-060707-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
144 PM CST Thu Jan 2 2025

...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
24.1F. This was 3.3F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 20.8F.
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 (10F or warmer
than normal) and 7 days with well below normal temperatures (10F or
colder than normal). The largest departure from normal was
23 degrees colder than normal on December 12.

The average high temperature was 30.8F. This was 2.8F warmer than
the 1991-2020 normal of 28F.

The average low temperature was 17.4F. This was 3.8F warmer than
the 1991-2020 normal of 13.6F. This was tied for the 16th warmest
in a December with 1957, 1994, and 2003.

The warmest temperature was 54F on December 7 and the coldest
temperature was -7F on December 21.

On December 28, the low temperature was 33F. This tied the previous
warm low temperature record for this day set in 2006.

Precipitation - Near Normal

A total of 1.27 inches of precipitation fell. This was 0.01 inches
drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.28 inches. 11 out of the last
19 Decembers have been wetter than normal. The average precipitation
during these Decembers were 1.61 inches.

Precipitation fell on 14 days (8 days with measurable precipitation
and 6 days with trace amounts).

The wettest day was 0.71 inches on December 27. This was the wettest
December day since December 27, 2018 (0.82 inches).

Snowfall - Below Normal

A total of 6.8 inches of snow fell. This was 5.6 inches below than
the 1991-2020 normal of 12.4 inches. 7 out of the last 11 Decembers
have had below-normal snowfall. The average snowfall during these
Decembers were 9.8 inches.

Snow fell on 11 days (5 days with measurable precipitation and
6 days with trace amounts).

The snowiest day was 5.9 inches on December 19. This was the most
snow on a December calendar day since December 10, 2021
(6.5 inches).

Snow Depth - Below Normal

The average snow depth was 1.1 inches. This was 2.3 inches below the
1940-2024 long-term average of 3.4 inches.

11 out of the last 14 Decembers have had below normal snow depths.
The average was 2.3 inches.

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 inches on December 20-22.


...Daily Records...

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

...Looking ahead to January...

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

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

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

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

$$

Boyne