So far June has been a little kinder to us than May as each day has featured at least a decent window of sunshine and even the rain we’ve seen has been fairly light.  May, on the other hand, certainly did feature a ridiculous amount of rainfall and even quite a dumping of snow!  Looking back at some of the specific statistics from the month, we can see that a record 12.26″ of rainfall was measured in the month, shattering the previous record of 8.41″ in 1899.  Another rainfall record that was obliterated was the spring rainfall total as 21.90″ of rain was registered between March 1 and May 31st, surpassing the previous record of 15.99 set in 1888. 

Temps were slightly below normal while precipitation was far above normal. Rochester registered records for both rainfall and snowfall in May of 2013.

Looking ahead at our upcoming days and weeks, there are going to be several chances for rain, but right now severe weather isn’t in the near term forecast and rainfall amounts look to be relatively light, so there is still an improvement in our weather from May even though we can’t seem to find a much needed stretch of sunshine in the forecast.

Posted under climate

What a crazy May it’s been!  Records have been falling left and right both in terms of temperatures and precipitation this month and our stormy pattern continues even as we wrap up May and move into June this weekend.  A large storm system to our west has been keeping things warmer, more humid, and rather stormy and that looks to be the case today and even tomorrow to some extend as rain chances will hold on through Saturday and Saturday evening before that system finally moves out.  There may even be another round of severe storms for our Friday before we finally finish off this wet and turbulent month of May.  There will be light showers around, but the severe weather risk will be all but removed from the scene Saturday.  With a cooler west and northwest breeze tomorrow and rain around the area, it’ll hardly be a “glorious first of June,” but at least things won’t be quite as volatile as in the final stages of this work week.  Sunday looks drier with sunshine and highs in the mid 60s.

May records in Rochester so far.

Posted under Uncategorized

A large, potent storm system is moving into the region from the west, drawing some unseasonably cold air and setting the stage for a snowy couple of days to start the month of May.  The National Weather Service has issued some headlines associated with this wintry scenario.  The Rochester area and portions of southeastern Minnesota are in a Winter Weather Advisory effective tonight and tomorrow as an evening mixture will give way to snow overnight when a couple of inches of snow may accumulate.  Another couple of inches will fall Thursday with a slow transition to a rain/snow mixture in the afternoon.  Totals in the Advisory counties will possibly reach four or five inches, especially on grassy surfaces.  Heavier amounts will be possible north and west of Rochester, Austin, and Wabasha in locations like Cannon Falls, Owatonna, and Mankato where six or seven inches will be possible.  The pavement may be a little slick early Thursday, even though accumulations will be lighter on those surfaces.  We’ll have mixed showers Thursday night and Friday, but little if any accumulation is expected then as slightly warmer air will be moving in.  The same storm system will keep light rain around for Saturday and possibly parts of Sunday before moving out of here.

Some records we’re watching this week.

Posted under winter

A fast moving “clipper” system is sliding through the Upper Midwest today, bringing light snow to the area.  We had light rain late Wednesday evening and then a coating of light snow very early Thursday morning from this system and a little more may be on the way for the midday and afternoon hours for the western half of our viewing area, especially along and west of Interstate 35.  We’re expecting about half an inch to an inch in those areas, while the eastern part of the area around Rochester, Decorah, Winona, and La Crosse will see only a trace amount of snow and flurries through the second half of the day and tonight.  Here’s a look at the snowfall totals from early this morning:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
823 AM CST THU FEB 14 2013

…RECENT SNOWFALL REPORTS…

LOCATION                       AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON

IOWA

…ALLAMAKEE…
LANSING 4SE                    T IN      0700 AM 02/14   43.32N/91.16W
WAUKON                         T IN      0600 AM 02/14   43.27N/91.47W

…CLAYTON…
MONONA WWTP                    T IN      0700 AM 02/14   43.04N/91.40W

…MITCHELL…
ST ANSGAR                      T IN      0630 AM 02/14   43.38N/92.92W

…WINNESHIEK…
CALMAR                         T IN      0700 AM 02/14   43.18N/91.87W

MINNESOTA

…DODGE…
KASSON                         0.3 IN    0745 AM 02/14   44.03N/92.75W
DODGE CENTER                   0.1 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.03N/92.87W

…FILLMORE…
SPRING VALLEY 3E               0.3 IN    0700 AM 02/14   43.68N/92.33W
LANESBORO                      0.2 IN    0600 AM 02/14   43.72N/91.97W

…MOWER…
GRAND MEADOW                   0.3 IN    0600 AM 02/14   43.71N/92.56W
AUSTIN WASTE WATER TREATMENT F T IN      0700 AM 02/14   43.65N/92.97W

…OLMSTED…
ROCHESTER AIRPORT              0.6 IN    0620 AM 02/14   43.91N/92.50W
BYRON 4 NORTH                  0.6 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.09N/92.64W
ROCHESTER AP 2NE               0.6 IN    0700 AM 02/14   43.93N/92.48W

…WABASHA…
THEILMAN 1SSW                  0.7 IN    0730 AM 02/14   44.28N/92.19W
WABASHA                        0.5 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.38N/92.05W

…WINONA…
ALTURA 5W                      0.5 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.06N/92.04W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7              0.5 IN    0600 AM 02/14   43.87N/91.31W
MINNESOTA CITY DAM 5           T IN      0700 AM 02/14   44.16N/91.81W

WISCONSIN

…ADAMS…
MONROE CENTER 1E               1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.11N/89.92W

…BUFFALO…
MONDOVI                        3.0 IN    0510 AM 02/14   44.57N/91.67W
ALMA DAM 4                     0.2 IN    0600 AM 02/14   44.33N/91.92W

…CLARK…
NEILLSVILLE                    4.0 IN    0509 AM 02/14   44.56N/90.59W
2 NE VEEFKIND                  3.3 IN    0803 AM 02/14   44.72N/90.36W
NEILLSVILLE                    3.0 IN    0239 AM 02/14   44.56N/90.59W
NEILLSVILLE 3ESE               2.8 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.54N/90.53W
OWEN 2N                        2.5 IN    0239 AM 02/14   44.98N/90.55W

…CRAWFORD…
STEUBEN 4SE                    T IN      0730 AM 02/14   43.13N/90.84W

…JACKSON…
HATFIELD DAM                   2.5 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.41N/90.73W

…LA CROSSE…
HOLMEN 2S                      0.6 IN    0700 AM 02/14   43.93N/91.25W
FOUR CORNERS                   0.6 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.07N/90.92W
NWS LA CROSSE                  0.4 IN    0742 AM 02/14   43.82N/91.19W
LA CROSSE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT    T IN      0600 AM 02/14   43.88N/91.26W

…RICHLAND…
RICHLAND CENTER 1NW            T IN      0700 AM 02/14   43.36N/90.42W
RICHLAND CENTER 4N             T IN      0700 AM 02/14   43.40N/90.39W

…TAYLOR…
4 E POLLEY                     4.5 IN    0248 AM 02/14   45.14N/90.72W
MEDFORD                        3.8 IN    0800 AM 02/14   45.13N/90.34W
GILMAN                         3.5 IN    0106 AM 02/14   45.17N/90.81W

…TREMPEALEAU…
OSSEO                          4.0 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.58N/91.22W
WHITEHALL 2W                   2.0 IN    0802 AM 02/14   44.37N/91.36W
WHITEHALL                      1.0 IN    0511 AM 02/14   44.37N/91.31W
GALESVILLE 3ENE                0.7 IN    0700 AM 02/14   44.09N/91.29W

…VERNON…
WESTBY 3ENE                    0.4 IN    0700 AM 02/14   43.67N/90.81W
HILLSBORO WSW                  0.3 IN    0700 AM 02/14   43.65N/90.35W
VIROQUA                        0.2 IN    0700 AM 02/14   43.56N/90.88W
STODDARD                       T IN      0700 AM 02/14   43.66N/91.22W

Posted under Snow Totals

Yet another clipper system slid through the region Monday night, producing two distinct bands of snow in the area; one around midnight and another during the morning commute. We picked uo about half an inch in the first round and one to three inches with the quick burst of heavier activity in the morning. It looks like another weak disturbance will bring half an inch to an inch of snow between Wednesday afternoon and evening through early Thursday. A heavier round of snow still lurks in the 7 day forecast for the weekend, especially on Sunday, but it’s too early to pin down too many details at this point. In the meantime, here’s a look at some of Tuesday morning’s snowfall totals from the National Weather Service in LaCrosse:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
947 AM CST TUE FEB 5 2013

…LATEST SNOWFALL REPORTS…

LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE LAT/LON

IOWA

…ALLAMAKEE…
LANSING 4SE 0.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.32N/91.16W

…CHICKASAW…
IONIA 2W T IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.03N/92.50W
NEW HAMPTON 0.5 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.06N/92.31W

…CLAYTON…
ELKADER 6SSW 0.2 IN 0700 AM 02/05 42.78N/91.45W
MONONA WWTP 0.5 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.04N/91.40W
VOLGA 1NE 0.3 IN 0700 AM 02/05 42.81N/91.52W

…FAYETTE…
CLERMONT 0.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.00N/91.66W
FAYETTE T IN 0700 AM 02/05 42.85N/91.82W

…FLOYD…
CHARLES CITY 0.2 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.06N/92.67W

…HOWARD…
CRESCO 1NE 0.6 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.39N/92.09W
ELMA T IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.24N/92.44W

…MITCHELL…
OSAGE T IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.28N/92.81W

…WINNESHIEK…
CALMAR 0.5 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.18N/91.87W

MINNESOTA

…DODGE…
2 SSE CLAREMONT 0.5 IN 0732 AM 02/05 44.01N/92.98W
2 SSE CLAREMONT 0.5 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.01N/92.99W
2 ESE MANTORVILLE 1.0 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.05N/92.72W

…FILLMORE…
LANESBORO 1.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.72N/91.97W
2 SSE PILOT MOUND 0.7 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.79N/92.03W

…HOUSTON…
2 ENE WILMINGTON 0.2 IN 0800 AM 02/05 43.56N/91.51W

…MOWER…
AUSTIN 1.2 IN 0947 AM 02/05 43.67N/92.97W
AUSTIN WASTE WATER TREATMENT F 0.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.65N/92.97W
ELKTON 1.5 IN 0943 AM 02/05 43.66N/92.71W

…OLMSTED…
BYRON 4 NORTH 1.8 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.09N/92.64W
ELGIN 2SSW 1.3 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.10N/92.27W
ORONOCO 1.8 IN 0817 AM 02/05 44.16N/92.54W
PINE ISLAND 2S 2.2 IN 0922 AM 02/05 44.19N/92.65W
1 SE ROCHESTER 2.0 IN 0944 AM 02/05 44.00N/92.46W
ROCHESTER AP 2NE 0.2 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.93N/92.48W

…WABASHA…
MAZEPPA 5SE 2.5 IN 0837 AM 02/05 44.21N/92.48W
THEILMAN 1SSW 3.5 IN 0830 AM 02/05 44.28N/92.19W
WABASHA 1.2 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.38N/92.05W

…WINONA…
ALTURA 5W 1.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.06N/92.04W
4 SW ELBA 3.3 IN 0929 AM 02/05 44.04N/92.06W
GOODVIEW 0.5 IN 0741 AM 02/05 44.07N/91.71W
LEWISTON 0.5 IN 0739 AM 02/05 43.99N/91.87W
MINNESOTA CITY DAM 5 0.5 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.16N/91.81W
WINONA 2.0 IN 0826 AM 02/05 44.05N/91.66W

WISCONSIN

…ADAMS…
MONROE CENTER 1E T IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.11N/89.92W

…CLARK…
NEILLSVILLE 3ESE T IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.54N/90.53W
OWEN 2N 0.3 IN 0800 AM 02/05 44.98N/90.55W

…CRAWFORD…
DESOTO 1SE 0.4 IN 0721 AM 02/05 43.41N/91.19W
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN 0.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.05N/91.13W
STEUBEN 4SE 0.5 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.13N/90.84W

…GRANT…
LANCASTER 4WSW 0.4 IN 0800 AM 02/05 42.83N/90.79W

…JACKSON…
HATFIELD DAM 0.1 IN 0743 AM 02/05 44.41N/90.73W
MATHER 3NW T IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.17N/90.35W

…LA CROSSE…
LA CROSSE 4NNW 0.5 IN 0730 AM 02/05 43.87N/91.27W
2 NW ONALASKA 0.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.90N/91.24W

…MONROE…
4 WNW KENDALL T IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.81N/90.44W
TUNNEL CITY 0.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.01N/90.57W
WARRENS 4WSW 1.0 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.10N/90.59W

…RICHLAND…
RICHLAND CENTER 1NW T IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.36N/90.42W
RICHLAND CENTER 4N T IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.40N/90.39W

…TAYLOR…
MEDFORD 0.5 IN 0800 AM 02/05 45.13N/90.34W

…TREMPEALEAU…
ETTRICK 4WNW 0.7 IN 0701 AM 02/05 44.19N/91.34W
GALESVILLE 3ENE 0.6 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.09N/91.29W
OSSEO 0.2 IN 0700 AM 02/05 44.58N/91.22W

…VERNON…
HILLSBORO WSW 0.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.65N/90.35W
LA FARGE 0.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.57N/90.64W
ONTARIO 3E T IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.72N/90.53W
STODDARD 0.4 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.66N/91.22W
VIROQUA 0.3 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.56N/90.88W
WESTBY 3ENE 0.2 IN 0700 AM 02/05 43.67N/90.81W

Posted under snowfall amounts

Our active, “Albert Clipper heavy” weather pattern continues this week as each day seems to bring a light “dusting” of snow and temperatures remain fairly typical for this time of the year. In other words, no arctic air or temps in the 40s to talk about right now. We’ve had four of these fast moving, light snow producing clipper type systems in the past five days and it looks like we’ll have have another two or so this week before the pattern changes. The next round will be tonight when an inch or so of snow is expected to fall in much of the area. Another may bring less than an inch late Wednesday and Wednesday night. Here’s a look at some of the snowfall amounts from Sunday night’s snow event. The totals listed were compiled by the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The seasonal snowfall total for Rochester currently stands at 19.9 inches. We registered 24 inches in all of last winter, so we’re not far from surpassing that total already this season.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
929 AM CST MON FEB 4 2013

…LATEST SNOWFALL REPORTS…

LOCATION                       AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON

IOWA

…ALLAMAKEE…
WAUKON 8NW                     2.3 IN    0714 AM 02/04   43.34N/91.60W
LANSING 4SE                    1.8 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.32N/91.16W
WAUKON                         2.0 IN    0600 AM 02/04   43.27N/91.47W

…CLAYTON…
ELKADER 6SSW                   0.3 IN    0700 AM 02/04   42.78N/91.45W
STRAWBERRY POINT               T IN      0700 AM 02/04   42.69N/91.53W
VOLGA 1NE                      0.2 IN    0700 AM 02/04   42.81N/91.52W
MONONA WWTP                    3.4 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.04N/91.40W
GUTTENBERG DAM 10              0.5 IN    0600 AM 02/04   42.79N/91.10W
EDGEWOOD                       0.3 IN    0505 AM 02/04   42.65N/91.40W

…HOWARD…
ELMA                           0.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.24N/92.44W
CRESCO 1NE                     2.1 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.39N/92.09W

…MITCHELL…
OSAGE                          0.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.28N/92.81W

…WINNESHIEK…
4 S SATTRE                     2.1 IN    0624 AM 02/04   43.34N/91.64W

MINNESOTA

…DODGE…
3 SSE KASSON                   1.6 IN    0739 AM 02/04   43.99N/92.73W
2 ESE MANTORVILLE              1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.05N/92.72W
2 SSE CLAREMONT                1.6 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.01N/92.99W

…FILLMORE…
PRESTON 1SSE                   1.3 IN    0820 AM 02/04   43.66N/92.08W
LANESBORO                      1.7 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.72N/91.97W
SPRING VALLEY 3E               4.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.68N/92.33W
2 SSE PILOT MOUND              1.0 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.79N/92.03W

…HOUSTON…
2 ENE WILMINGTON               2.2 IN    0800 AM 02/04   43.56N/91.51W
SPRING GROVE 4N                0.8 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.61N/91.62W
RENO 3SW                       1.6 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.60N/91.28W
1 NNW LA CRESCENT              2.0 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.83N/91.31W

…MOWER…
1 W AUSTIN                     1.0 IN    0858 AM 02/04   43.67N/92.99W
AUSTIN WASTE WATER TREATMENT F 1.0 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.65N/92.97W
LYLE 2NE                       2.8 IN    0541 AM 02/04   43.54N/92.92W

…OLMSTED…
BYRON 4 NORTH                  1.4 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.09N/92.64W
ROCHESTER AP 2NE               1.7 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.93N/92.48W
3 W ROCHESTER                  1.3 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.01N/92.53W
ELGIN 2SSW                     1.2 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.10N/92.27W
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL AIRPOR 1.7 IN    0600 AM 02/04   43.91N/92.50W

…WABASHA…
THEILMAN 1SSW                  1.9 IN    0815 AM 02/04   44.28N/92.19W
4 SSW ZUMBRO FALLS             1.4 IN    0750 AM 02/04   44.24N/92.46W
WABASHA                        1.0 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.38N/92.05W

…WINONA…
GOODVIEW                       1.8 IN    0811 AM 02/04   44.07N/91.71W
MINNESOTA CITY DAM 5           1.7 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.16N/91.81W
ALTURA 5W                      1.6 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.06N/92.04W
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6              2.0 IN    0600 AM 02/04   44.00N/91.44W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7              2.0 IN    0600 AM 02/04   43.87N/91.31W
WINONA DAM 5A                  2.0 IN    0600 AM 02/04   44.09N/91.67W

WISCONSIN

…ADAMS…
MONROE CENTER 1E               1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.11N/89.92W
FRIENDSHIP                     1.7 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.98N/89.83W

…BUFFALO…
ALMA DAM 4                     1.0 IN    0600 AM 02/04   44.33N/91.92W

…CLARK…
OWEN 2N                        T IN      0800 AM 02/04   44.98N/90.55W
NEILLSVILLE 3ESE               T IN      0700 AM 02/04   44.54N/90.53W

…CRAWFORD…
MOUNT ZION 2NW                 2.0 IN    0911 AM 02/04   43.29N/90.87W
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN               1.6 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.05N/91.13W
STEUBEN 4SE                    2.0 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.13N/90.84W
FERRYVILLE 4ESE                T IN      0700 AM 02/04   43.33N/91.02W
LYNXVILLE DAM 9                2.5 IN    0600 AM 02/04   43.21N/91.10W

…GRANT…
LANCASTER 4WSW                 2.8 IN    0800 AM 02/04   42.83N/90.79W
LANCASTER                      2.0 IN    0700 AM 02/04   42.85N/90.71W

…JACKSON…
1 WNW VAUDREUIL                1.3 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.32N/90.83W
HATFIELD DAM                   0.1 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.41N/90.73W

…LA CROSSE…
LA CROSSE 4NNW                 2.0 IN    0730 AM 02/04   43.87N/91.27W
2 NW ONALASKA                  1.8 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.90N/91.24W
WEST SALEM                     1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.90N/91.09W
FOUR CORNERS                   1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.07N/90.92W
NWS LA CROSSE                  1.8 IN    0632 AM 02/04   43.82N/91.19W
ONALASKA                       1.8 IN    0614 AM 02/04   43.89N/91.22W
LA CROSSE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT    2.0 IN    0600 AM 02/04   43.88N/91.26W

…MONROE…
SPARTA HIGHWAY DEPT            1.0 IN    0800 AM 02/04   43.94N/90.80W
1 ENE MELVINA                  1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.81N/90.76W
4 WNW KENDALL                  0.7 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.81N/90.44W
TUNNEL CITY                    1.6 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.01N/90.57W

…RICHLAND…
RICHLAND CENTER 4N             T IN      0700 AM 02/04   43.40N/90.39W
RICHLAND CENTER 1NW            1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.36N/90.42W
RICHLAND CENTER                1.8 IN    0534 AM 02/04   43.34N/90.38W
RICHLAND CENTER                2.0 IN    0534 AM 02/04   43.34N/90.39W

…TREMPEALEAU…
GALESVILLE 3ENE                1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.09N/91.29W
OSSEO                          1.0 IN    0700 AM 02/04   44.58N/91.22W
ETTRICK 4WNW                   2.0 IN    0659 AM 02/04   44.19N/91.34W
WHITEHALL 2W                   2.0 IN    0559 AM 02/04   44.37N/91.36W

…VERNON…
STODDARD 2NE                   1.6 IN    0740 AM 02/04   43.69N/91.18W
VALLEY 1NW                     2.0 IN    0711 AM 02/04   43.65N/90.55W
STODDARD 5NNE                  1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.72N/91.17W
STODDARD                       1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.66N/91.22W
WESTBY 3ENE                    1.4 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.67N/90.81W
VIROQUA                        1.3 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.56N/90.88W
HILLSBORO WSW                  2.0 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.65N/90.35W
LA FARGE                       1.6 IN    0700 AM 02/04   43.57N/90.64W
GENOA DAM 8                    1.0 IN    0600 AM 02/04   43.57N/91.23W

Posted under snowfall amounts

It seems like winter showed up all at once for us as our weekend storm system made up for lost time bringing significant snowfall to most of the area.  We officially ended up with 4.1 inches of snowfall in Rochester on Sunday, snapping the string of 292 days without at least one inch of measurable snowfall in the city.  That, incidentally, was the fourth longest such stretch in Rochester’s climate history.  Sunday was also the first time in which we  as much as four inches of snowfall in one day since February 20th, 2011!  Here’s a look at some area snowfall totals from Sunday’s storm:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
718 AM CST MON DEC 10 2012

...SNOWFALL TOTALS FROM DECEMBER 9-10...

LOCATION      SNOWFALL  TIME    LAT/LON

IOWA

...ALLAMAKEE COUNTY...
WAUKON 5 E                    3.5         0601 AM 43.27N 91.38W
WAUKON 8NW                    1.0         1216 PM 43.34N 91.6W

...CLAYTON COUNTY...
MONONA                        3.0         0700 AM 43.04N 91.4W
GUTTENBERG                    3.0         1200 AM 42.79N 91.1W
VOLGA                         0.8         0700 AM 42.81N 91.52W

...MITCHELL COUNTY...
ST ANSGAR                     1.4         0630 AM 43.38N 92.92W

MINNESOTA

...DODGE COUNTY...
MANTORVILLE                   5.5         0607 PM 44.07N 92.76W
CLAREMONT 3 SSE               3.0         0326 PM 44.01N 92.97W

...FILLMORE COUNTY...
PRESTON                       4.0         0707 AM 43.68N 92.08W
PETERSON 1S                   3.0         0705 PM 43.78N 91.82W
SPRING VALLEY                 3.0         0707 AM 43.69N 92.39W

...HOUSTON COUNTY...
RENO 3SW                      6.7         0927 PM 43.53N 91.33W
LA CRESCENT 1N                6.4         0749 PM 43.83N 91.31W

...MOWER COUNTY...
AUSTIN 1 W                    2.3         0922 PM 43.67N 92.99W

...OLMSTED COUNTY...
ORONOCO                       5.2         0435 PM 44.16N 92.54W
ROCHESTER AP 2NE              4.2         0700 AM 43.93N 92.48W
ROCHESTER                     4.0         0557 PM 44.02N 92.48W

...WABASHA COUNTY...
READS LANDING 1W             10.2         0759 PM 44.40N 92.17W
THEILMAN                      6.7         0624 PM 44.30N 92.2W

...WINONA COUNTY...
WINONA                        7.7         0856 PM 44.05N 91.66W
WINONA 3S                     6.5         0601 AM 43.99N 91.61W
MINNESOTA CITY                6.3         0719 PM 44.09N 91.75W
GOODVIEW                      6.3         0647 AM 44.07N 91.71W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7             5.0         0700 PM 43.87N 91.31W
ST CHARLES 5N                 4.1         0750 PM 44.04N 92.07W

WISCONSIN

...ADAMS COUNTY...
FRIENDSHIP                    4.0         0526 AM 43.97N 89.82W
ARKDALE                       2.4         0628 PM 44.03N 89.88W

...BUFFALO COUNTY...
MONDOVI                       7.0         0500 PM 44.56N 91.67W
ALMA DAM 4                    5.2         0700 PM 44.33N 91.92W
COCHRANE                      5.0         0852 PM 44.22N 91.82W

...CLARK COUNTY...
NEILLSVILLE                   8.0         0443 AM 44.56N 90.59W
COLBY 4SW                     7.0         0525 AM 44.87N 90.42W
NEILLSVILLE 4NNE              6.0         0643 PM 44.61N 90.56W
LONGWOOD                      2.0         0431 PM 44.89N 90.6W

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
LYNXVILLE DAM 9               3.0         0700 PM 43.21N 91.1W

...GRANT COUNTY...
DICKEYVILLE                   4.0         0705 AM 42.63N 90.59W
PLATTEVILLE                   3.7         0704 AM 42.74N 90.48W
SINSINAWA                     2.3         0900 AM 42.52N 90.54W

...JACKSON COUNTY...
BLACK RIVER FALLS 2SE         4.8         0859 PM 44.28N 90.83W
MERRILLAN                     4.0         0424 PM 44.45N 90.84W

...JUNEAU COUNTY...
NEW LISBON 2N                 3.0         0635 PM 43.90N 90.17W
NECEDAH 3SE                   2.0         0631 PM 43.98N 90.04W
MAUSTON                       2.0         0445 AM 43.80N 90.08W

...LA CROSSE COUNTY...
HOLMEN 2NW                    7.0         0859 PM 43.98N 91.29W
LA CROSSE NWS                 6.8         0451 AM 43.82N 91.19W
LA CROSSE WEATHER             6.7         0600 AM 43.82N 91.19W
LA CROSSE 4 NNW               6.6         0925 PM 43.88N 91.27W
HOLMEN 2S                     6.3         0700 AM 43.93N 91.25W
WEST SALEM                    5.3         0921 PM 43.90N 91.1W
LA CROSSE 5SE                 5.0         0700 AM 43.77N 91.15W

...MONROE COUNTY...
WARRENS                       8.0         0700 AM 44.10N 90.59W
TUNNEL CITY                   5.6         1238 AM 44.00N 90.57W
CASHTON                       5.5         0902 PM 43.74N 90.79W
SPARTA                        4.0         0444 AM 43.95N 90.81W
WILTON 3E                     2.9         0246 PM 43.80N 90.47W

...TAYLOR COUNTY...
MEDFORD                       4.0         0917 PM 45.14N 90.35W
LUBLIN                        2.5         0434 PM 45.08N 90.72W

...TREMPEALEAU COUNTY...
ARCADIA                       8.0         0912 PM 44.25N 91.49W
OSSEO                         6.5         0857 PM 44.58N 91.21W
GALESVILLE 2 WSW              6.0         1240 AM 44.07N 91.39W
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6             5.4         0700 PM 44.00N 91.44W
GALESVILLE                    5.3         0545 PM 44.08N 91.36W
INDEPENDENCE3NE               4.5         0405 PM 44.39N 91.39W
WHITEHALL 2W                  4.0         0545 AM 44.37N 91.36W

...VERNON COUNTY...
STODDARD 2NE                  4.8         0909 PM 43.69N 91.18W
STODDARD 5NNE                 4.8         0909 PM 43.72N 91.17W
VIROQUA                       4.5         0632 PM 43.55N 90.89W
WESTBY 3ENE                   4.1         0421 PM 43.66N 90.82W
STODDARD                      3.5         0700 AM 43.66N 91.24W
GENOA                         3.0         0700 PM 43.57N 91.23W

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
935 PM CST SUN DEC 09 2012

...PRELIMINARY SNOW FALL TOTALS...
...MORE REPORTS EXPECTED THROUGH THE NIGHT...
...FINAL TOTALS WILL BE PUBLISHED MONDAY...

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL
AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION. WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE DUPLICATES...
BUT GIVEN THE VOLUME OF REPORTS SOME DUPLICATES MAY BE PRESENT.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE PROVIDED AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SNOWFALL
TOTALS.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 16.00   3 N LINO LAKES           MN  ANOKA            0741 PM
                 REPORT FROM COLUMBUS... STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY
 15.80   HUGO                     MN  WASHINGTON       0900 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY
 15.50   ISANTI                   MN  ISANTI           0730 PM
                 LIGHT SNOW FALLING...THOUGH NOW STARTING TO
                 GET BLOWN BY WINDS.
 15.20   HAM LAKE                 MN  ANOKA            0643 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 14.90   1 ESE CAMBRIDGE          MN  ISANTI           0830 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY
 14.00   FALCON HEIGHTS           MN  RAMSEY           0904 PM
                 STILL LIGHTLY SNOWING
 14.00   3 E EAST FARMINGTON      WI  POLK             0638 PM
                 STILL FALLING
 14.00   4 SSE SILVER CREEK       MN  WRIGHT           0523 PM
                 STILL SNOWING 1/4 MILE VISIBLITY.
 13.50   OSCEOLA                  WI  POLK             0625 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 13.50   FOREST LAKE              MN  WASHINGTON       0516 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 13.10   MONTICELLO               MN  WRIGHT           0835 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY
 13.10   3 WSW BLAINE             MN  ANOKA            0758 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY.
 13.00   3 W RED WING             MN  GOODHUE          0632 PM
                 SNOW SNOWING
 13.00   COON RAPIDS              MN  ANOKA            0630 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 13.00   KINGSTON                 MN  MEEKER           0518 PM
                 SNOW TAPERED
 13.00   3 NW REDWOOD FALLS       MN  REDWOOD          0410 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 13.00   8 ESE PRINCETON          MN  ISANTI           0337 PM
                 STILL SNOW
 12.70   1 E ST MICHAEL           MN  WRIGHT           0906 PM
 12.60   2 SSE FRIDLEY            MN  ANOKA            0600 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 12.50   DARWIN                   MN  MEEKER           0837 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY...WITH BLOWING SNOW NOW
                 AS WELL
 12.50   HASTINGS                 MN  DAKOTA           0517 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 12.50   2 NNW NORTH BRANCH       MN  CHISAGO          0410 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 12.40   3 NE BURNSVILLE          MN  DAKOTA           0552 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 12.10   MENOMONIE                WI  DUNN             0712 PM
                 STILL SNOWING.
 12.00   MINNETONKA               MN  HENNEPIN         0738 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY.
 12.00   NEW RICHMOND             WI  ST. CROIX        0722 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 12.00   3 S EXCELSIOR            MN  HENNEPIN         0635 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 12.00   COKATO                   MN  WRIGHT           0618 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 12.00   CHANHASSEN               MN  CARVER           0545 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 11.80   MAHTOMEDI                MN  WASHINGTON       0638 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 11.70   NORTH ST PAUL            MN  RAMSEY           0759 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 11.50   HANOVER                  MN  WRIGHT           0732 PM
 11.50   2 W EAGAN                MN  DAKOTA           0700 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY.
 11.50   ROCKFORD                 MN  HENNEPIN         0521 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 11.50   STILLWATER               MN  WASHINGTON       0500 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 11.50   3 NNW MINNEAPOLIS        MN  HENNEPIN         0459 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 11.30   1 W RED WING             MN  GOODHUE          0859 PM
 11.00   SHOREVIEW                MN  RAMSEY           0812 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY.
 11.00   2 NW EAU CLAIRE          WI  EAU CLAIRE       0730 PM
                 STILL SNOWING...
 11.00   BLOOMINGTON              MN  HENNEPIN         0632 PM
                 SNOW TAPERING
 11.00   5 WSW ST PAUL            MN  RAMSEY           0510 PM
                 STILL SNOW
 11.00   2 W FOLEY                MN  BENTON           0410 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 10.80   3 N LAKEVILLE            MN  DAKOTA           0811 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY.
 10.80   3 NW ROCKFORD            MN  WRIGHT           0729 PM
                 STILL SNOWING.
 10.80   ST CLOUD                 MN  STEARNS          0600 PM
                 SNOW TAPERING STC AIRPORT
 10.70   1 SW EDINA               MN  HENNEPIN         0730 PM
                 STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY
 10.60   3 SW MAPLE GROVE         MN  HENNEPIN         0737 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 10.50   COTTAGE GROVE            MN  WASHINGTON       0557 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 10.40   OTSEGO                   MN  WRIGHT           0435 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
 10.20   MINNEAPOLIS              MN  HENNEPIN         0606 PM
                 STILL SNOWING MSP AIRPORT
 10.10   5 NW ROSEVILLE           MN  ANOKA            0337 PM
 10.00   ANDOVER                  MN  ANOKA            0510 PM
 10.00   2 W PRIOR LAKE           MN  SCOTT            0459 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  9.90   3 SW MINNEAPOLIS         MN  HENNEPIN         0600 PM
                 STILL SNOWING.
  9.50   ORONO                    MN  HENNEPIN         0632 PM
                 SNOW TAPERING
  9.50   3 SW MINNEAPOLIS         MN  HENNEPIN         0606 PM
                 SNOW TAPERING
  9.50   4 NE WOODBURY            MN  WASHINGTON       0459 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  9.50   1 W DURAND               WI  PEPIN            0356 PM
  9.40   WACONIA                  MN  CARVER           0645 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  9.40   2 W NEW PRAGUE           MN  SCOTT            0536 PM
                 STILL SNOWING.
  9.40   PLYMOUTH                 MN  HENNEPIN         0347 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  9.40   RICHFIELD                MN  HENNEPIN         0337 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  9.30   AUGUSTA                  WI  EAU CLAIRE       0901 PM
  9.30   HUTCHINSON               MN  MCLEOD           0435 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  9.30   5 S FARMINGTON           MN  DAKOTA           0435 PM
                 SNOW TAPERED
  9.00   FARMINGTON               MN  DAKOTA           0646 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  9.00   3 S MINNEAPOLIS          MN  HENNEPIN         0606 PM
  9.00   CREDIT RIVER             MN  SCOTT            0454 PM
                 SNOW TAPERED
  8.80   8 S HILLMAN              MN  MORRISON         0736 PM
  8.50   HAMMOND                  WI  ST. CROIX        0538 PM
  8.50   5 SW ST PAUL             MN  RAMSEY           0521 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  8.40   WATERTOWN                MN  CARVER           0357 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  7.50   4 SW MINNEAPOLIS         MN  HENNEPIN         0435 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  7.00   BOYCEVILLE               WI  DUNN             0459 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  6.50   5 WNW MORA               MN  KANABEC          0856 PM
  5.50   MOTLEY                   MN  MORRISON         0606 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  5.10   4 S ISLAND LAKE          WI  CHIPPEWA         0721 PM
                 STILL SNOWING.
  5.00   EAU CLAIRE               WI  EAU CLAIRE       0337 PM
                 STILL SNOWING WQOW TV
  4.30   10 N BRUCE               WI  RUSK             0435 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  4.30   4 ESE CLAYTON            WI  BARRON           0435 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  3.50   MANKATO                  MN  BLUE EARTH       0701 PM
                 STILL SNOWING
  3.50   1 E OWATONNA             MN  STEELE           0435 PM
                 SNOW TAPERED
  2.00   JIM FALLS                WI  CHIPPEWA         0348 PM
                 STILL SNOWING

Posted under Uncategorized

Corrected for avg temperature of 22.8 degrees vs. 22.7 degrees and from 7th place to tied for 6th warmest January on record in Rochester, MN.

Our unbelievable mild weather spell continues today as we cruise into the month of February with temperatures that are more reminiscent of March than something we might feel in mid winter.  Of course this isn’t the first stretch of unseasonably warm weather we’ve experienced this winter as both December and January have already featured some incredible warmth.  Looking at the month we just finished, January, we can see that with the exception of just a few days in two cold snaps, temperatures in Rochester weren’t very January-like.  It was supposed to be the coldest month of the year and instead it was mostly unwinter-like with an average high near the freezing mark.  The mean temperature for January in Rochester was 22.8°, making it the 6th warmest January in history.  The warmest, interestingly enough, was just six years ago when we had a mean temperature of 28° in January of 2006.  Here’s a look at some of the more specific statistics:

Temperatures were well above normal for January while overall precipitation and snowfall were a little lower than average.

Posted under climate

After a day of freezing drizzle, we had to deal with some pretty messy road conditions on Monday morning thanks to the addition of some light to moderate snowfall across the area.  Totals were generally in a one to three inch range with a few outliers:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
416 PM CST MON JAN 23 2012

…RECENT REPORTED SNOWFALL TOTALS…

LOCATION       SNOWFALL   TIME    LAT/LON

NORTHEAST IOWA

…MITCHELL COUNTY…
RICEVILLE                     1.8         0244 PM  43.36N 92.55W

SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA

…DODGE COUNTY…
MANTORVILLE                   3.0         1130 AM 44.07N 92.76W

…FILLMORE COUNTY…
PETERSON 1S                   2.0         1010 AM 43.78N 91.83W

…WABASHA COUNTY…
OAK CENTER                    3.5         1146 AM 44.35N 92.4W
WABASHA 5S                    2.7         1133 AM 44.32N 92.05W

…WINONA COUNTY…
WINONA                        2.6         0245 PM 44.05N 91.66W

SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN

…CLARK COUNTY…
WITHEE                        2.0         1128 AM 44.96N 90.6W
LONGWOOD                      1.0         1128 AM 44.89N 90.6W

…JACKSON COUNTY…
BLACK RIVER FALLS             2.5         1107 AM 44.30N 90.85W
MERRILLAN                     2.0         1108 AM 44.45N 90.84W

…JUNEAU COUNTY…
NEW LISBON 2N                 1.3         1120 AM 43.90N 90.17W
NECEDAH 3SE                   1.0         1109 AM 43.98N 90.04W
MAUSTON WRJC RADIO            1.0         1113 AM 43.82N 90.07W

…MONROE COUNTY…
SPARTA 2S                     2.5         1058 AM 43.88N 90.82W
WARRENS 5WSW                  2.0         1102 AM 44.11N 90.59W

…TAYLOR COUNTY…
WESTBORO 4E                   2.6         1105 AM 45.35N 90.26W
PERKINSTOWN 5E                1.5         1106 AM 45.20N 90.51W
JUMP RIVER 1N                 1.2         1117 AM 45.37N 90.8W

…TREMPEALEAU COUNTY…
OSSEO                         1.7         1135 AM 44.58N 91.22W
ARCADIA                       1.3         1133 AM 44.25N 91.49W
INDEPENDENCE 3NE              1.0         0244 PM 44.39N 91.39W

…VERNON COUNTY…
STODDARD 5NNE                 2.8         1136 AM 43.72N 91.17W

Rochester picked up 2.6 inches of snow officially, while we measured 3.0 inches her at KTTC. That brings our total to 7.4 inches for January and 16.0 inches for the winter which is still a foot of snow below average for the season.
We’ll have just a couple of rounds of light snow or flurries in the coming days, but little or no accumulation is expected at least for another week. Unfortunately, one of those chances is tonight as a weak disturbance brings some clouds and light snow showers to the region for the overnight period, likely interfering with our chances of seeing what looks to be an impressive aurora show (northern lights.) Keep your fingers crossed, perhaps there will be a few breaks in the clouds!

Posted under snowfall amounts

It’s been quite a while since we’ve dealt with the brutally cold conditions that are now plaguing the region and it looks like we’ll have this frigid stuff in the area for the remainder of the week, so we’ll have to brace ourselves and do our best to survive.  A strong, arctic cold front is on its way from the northwest today and is expected to bring a light dusting of snow to the local area early in the evening and then usher in some unbelievably cold air for the next couple of days.  The coldest night of the season is ahead of us tonight as low temperatures will be close to minus 10 and gusty northwest winds behind that front will make it feel like it’s as cold as minus 30 at times after midnight tonight through the middle of the morning tomorrow.  A Wind Chill Advisory has been posted for much of the area because of the potential for frost bite in this situation especially for those exposed to the elements for longer periods of time.  Be sure to wear layers, cover up the head and hands with hats and gloves and keep the pets inside as much as possible during this brutal cold snap.

Wind chills will be as cold as -30 early Thursday morning and will only climb above -20 around the midday hours. High temperatures tomorrow will be around zero.

Another storm system will move in for Friday and because of the rather cold temperatures we’ll be experiencing, we’ll have a steeper ratio of moisture to snowfall meaning fluffier snow will fall and it will add up a little more quickly.  Totals will be higher as a result.  Right now, it appears that we’ll be shoveling up to 6 or 7 inches of fresh snowfall by Friday evening with this next storm system moves out.  Temperatures will moderate a little over the weekend with lower 30s possible by Sunday.

Posted under Cold