February 2023 Climate Summary

Temperatures:

precipitation:

Like December 2022 and January 2023, February 2023 was wetter than normal across much of the upper Mississippi River Valley. Precipitation anomalies ranged from near normal to 2 inches wetter than normal. Rainfall totals ranged from 1.39 inches near Linksville Dam 9, Wisconsin (COOP) to 3.07 inches near Nashua, Iowa (COOP). The heaviest rainfall in a single day was 1.54 inches near Nashua, Iowa (COOP). This precipitation decreased from 7 a.m. on February 26 to 7 a.m. on February 27. February was the second wettest month in Rochester. Only February 2019 was wetter with 2.97 inches of rain. .

Snowfall:

Snowfall was highly variable across the upper Mississippi River Valley during February 2023. Snowfall ranged from a trace near Nashua, Iowa (COOP) to 22.3 inches near Thielman, Minnesota. The heaviest snowfall in a single day was 13.2 inches in Theilman, MN (COOP). This snow fell from 7 a.m. on February 22nd to 7 a.m. on February 23rd. It was the snowiest February there. The previous record was 12.2 inches on February 24. , 2019.

Below are climate summaries for February 2023 for La Crosse, WisconsinAnd Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, Wisconsin

February 2023 was warmer and wetter than normal in La Crosse, Wisconsin

Temperatures – February 24th warmest

The average temperature was 26.1 degrees Fahrenheit at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 2.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 23.3°F. It was the 24th warmest February and the warmest since 2017 (33.3°F – 5th warmest). The warmest February occurred in 1878 when the average temperature was 36.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The average high temperature was 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This was 3.1°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 32.5°F. It was the 22nd warmest and warmest since 2017 (42.6°F – second warmest). The warmest year occurred in 1878 when the average high temperature was 44.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The average low temperature was 16.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This was 2.4°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 14.2°F. This was tied for 32nd warmest in 1940. This was the warmest since 2017 (23.9°F – 7th warmest). The warmest year occurred in 1878 when the average low temperature was 29.1 degrees Fahrenheit.

• The warmest high temperature was 48°F on February 8 and 11.
• The coldest high temperature was 8 degrees Fahrenheit on February 3.
  
• The warmest low temperature was 37°F on February 14.
• The coldest low temperature was -10°F on February 3.

Precipitation – identified as the wettest February 10th in 1939

• A total of 2.19 inches of rain fell at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was an inch wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.19 inches. This was tied with 1939 for the 10th wettest and wettest February since 2019 (3.02 inches – fourth wettest). ).
• The wettest day was February 27 when 0.87 inches of rain fell. It was the 14th wettest day in February and the wettest since February 19, 2002, when 0.96 inches fell. The wettest February day was 2.05 inches on February 22, 1922.

Snowfall – above normal

• A total of 11.5 inches of snow was measured by an official snow spotter near the La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 1.8 inches more snowfall than the 1991-2020 normal of 9.7 inches. It was the snowiest February since 2021 when 12.1 inches of snow fell.
• The snowiest day was 6.5 inches on February 22. This was the snowiest day in over 3 years (February 9, 2020 – 8.5 inches).

Snow depth – below average

• The official snow monitor near the La Crosse Regional Airport reported a snow depth of 3.6 inches. This was 1.5 inches lower than the 1893-2023 long-term average of 5.1 inches.
• The greatest snow depth was 10 inches on February 24 and 25. This was the greatest depth of snow since February 24, 2021 (11 inches).

…records…

…looking forward to March…

• The normal high temperature in La Crosse starts at 38°F on March 1 and rises to 53°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature starts at 20°F on the first day and rises to 32°F by the end of the month. The warmest March temperature on record was 84°F on March 29, 1986; The coldest temperature was -28 degrees Fahrenheit on March 1, 1962.
• The average normal temperature for March is 35.8 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmest March in La Crosse occurred in 2012 with an average temperature of 50.4°F, and the coldest March was in 1899 with an average temperature of 21.3°F.
• The normal precipitation rate for March is 2.04″. The wettest March day occurred in 1876 with 4.23 inches of precipitation and the driest occurred in 1910 with only 0.03″. The wettest day in March occurred on March 27, 1880, when 2.01 inches of rain fell. Usually, there is one day with thunderstorms.
• Normal snowfall in March is 7.3 inches (4th snowiest month). The snowiest March occurred in 1959 with 33.5 inches of snow and the least no snow in 2010. The snowiest March day occurred on March 13, 1997, when it had 14.3 inches of snow. He falls.

Rochester, MN

February 2023 was warmer and wetter than normal in Rochester, Minnesota

Temperatures – Warmer than normal

The average temperature was 19.9 degrees Fahrenheit at Rochester International Airport. This was 1.2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 18.7°F. The average high temperature was 28.8 degrees Fahrenheit. This was 2.1°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 26.7°F. The average low temperature was 11 degrees Fahrenheit. This was 0.3°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 10.7°F.

• The warmest high temperature reached 40°F on February 14.
• The coldest high temperature was 4 degrees Fahrenheit on February 3.
  
• The warmest low temperature reached 35°F on February 14.
• The coldest low temperature was -16°F on February 3.

Rainfall – the second rain of February

• A total of 2.54 inches of rain fell at Rochester International Airport. This was 1.52 inches wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.02 inches. This was the second wettest February. Only February 2019 was wetter with 2.97 inches of rain.
• After having the third wettest January (2.41 inches), Rochester International Airport followed with the second wettest February. It is the wettest start to a calendar year. The previous wettest start to the year through February 28 was 4.20 inches in 2019.

• The wettest day was February 27 when 0.72 inches of rain fell. This was tied for the 13th wettest day in February on February 23, 1977 and the wettest February day since February 9, 2020, when 0.72 inches fell. The wettest February day was 1.12 inches on February 20, 2014.

Snowfall…above normal

• A total of 13.6 inches of snow was measured by an official snow spotter near Rochester International Airport. This was 2.9 inches more snow than the 1991-2020 normal of 10.7 inches. It was the snowiest February since 2020 when 14.7 inches of snow fell.
• The snowiest day was 4.1 inches on February 21.

Snow depth…below average

• The official snow spotter near Rochester International Airport reported 5 inches of snow depth. This was 1 inch lower than the 1937-2023 long-term average of 6 inches.
• Maximum snow depth was 12 inches on February 24 and 26.

…records…

• Daily precipitation…
  

  • February 14 – Warmest low temperature 35°F – previous record 32°F set in 1915 and 1918

…looking forward to March…

• The normal high temperature in Rochester starts at 32°F on March 1 and rises to 48°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature starts at 17°F on the first day and rises to 30°F by the end of the month. The warmest March temperature on record was 82°F on March 24, 1910; The coldest was -31 degrees Fahrenheit on March 1, 1962.
• The average normal temperature for March is 31.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmest March in Rochester occurred in 2012 with an average temperature of 49.1°F, and the coldest March was in 1888 with an average temperature of 17.4°F.
• Normal rainfall in March is 2.02 inches. The wettest March occurred in 1888 with 4.02 inches of rain, and the driest was in 1910 with only a trace of precipitation. The wettest March day was March 22, 2011, when 2.20 inches of rain fell. Usually, there is one day with thunderstorms.
• Normal snowfall in March is 8.6 inches (4th snowiest month). The snowiest March occurred in 1951 with 35.1 inches of snow and the least no snow in 2010. The snowiest March day occurred on March 18, 2005, when it had 19.8 inches of snow. He falls.