News Release

St. Cloud colder than normal first time since 1996

Monday, January 5, 2009

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – According to St. Cloud State University Meteorologist Bob Weisman, St. Cloud experienced a colder than normal year for the first time since 1996, as well as the fourth snowiest December since 1969.

• The average temperature in 2008 was 40.8 degrees, 0.9 degrees below normal.
• Total precipitation in 2008 was 27.36 inches, just above normal.
• The growing season lasted 157 days, the longest growing season since 1970.
• The first frost occurred Oct. 4, one of the latest frosts in St. Cloud records.
• The first hard freeze was Oct. 21, among the latest 10% in St. Cloud records.
• In December, the average temperature was 8.5 degrees, 5.9 below normal.
• December 2008 was the 15th coldest in St. Cloud recorded history.
• It snowed 23 inches in December, more than 14 inches above normal.
• There were 11 days with measurable snowfall in December.
• December also yielded five days with temperatures -20 degrees or lower.

Weisman’s St. Cloud weather summaries are available at http://web.stcloudstate.edu/raweisman/monthlysummaries/Dec2008.html#seasum.

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