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December 2017 Saint Cloud Weather Summary



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(December 2017 Summary)

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Roller Coaster Temperature Pattern Pulls December Into Cold Finish

December 2017 St. Cloud Weather Summary

Updated for December Snowfall

The up-and-down temperature pattern that has been typical over the past 3 months continued in St. Cloud during December 2017. The month had averaged 22.3 degrees (high 29.9, low 14.8) through the first 22 days of the month. The month began with the tail end of a warm spell that peaked with a high of 50 degrees on December 4 (within 3 degrees of a record high). There were a couple of brief cold periods with low temperatures in the single digits. However, there were more days with highs above freezing on December 18 and 19.

The brief cold periods in the first two thirds of the month were created by a flow pattern from northwest-to-southeast from central Canada. However, it wasn't that cold since real arctic air hadn't developed in northern Canada. Finally, late in the month, an arctic air mass moved from Greenland into the Northwest Territories, then swooped into both Canada and the US to the east of the Rockies. While that air produced 8 days with a low of zero or colder, and 4 days with a high of zero or colder. This was the longest streak of below zero temperatures since the 4 complete days below zero between December 30, 2013 and January 2, 2014. This included a high of -8 degrees on December 30 (a degree warmer than the record cold high), the coldest high since the -15 high on January 6, 2014, and a low of -24 on December 31, only one of 3 such cold days in the past 4 winters.

Overall, December finished only a degree colder than normal with an average tempeature of 14.9 degrees.

There was a streak of 10 straight days with a low temperature of zero or colder. The most recent streak this long was again during the winter of 2013-2014 with 12 days between December 29, 2013 and January 9, 2014. There was a longer streak of 20 straight days between January 18 and February 6 in 1996. That streak included the last time St. Cloud reached -40 on February 2, 1996. The St. Cloud record for consecutive lows of zero or colder is 37 days between January 17 and February 22 in 1936.

The longest streak of temperatures of zero or colder in recent years was 4 straight days between December 30, 2013 and January 2, 2014. The record in St. Cloud is 8 straight days, set in 1899.

One reason it took so long for cold air to build up even in northern Canada was the general lack of snow cover, even across the Canadian Prairie Provinces. There have been very few major snow-producing storms in the southern Canadian Prairie Provinces and across the Northern Plains. St. Cloud did have 10 days with measurable snowfall in December, but the total was only 4.7inches with only one storm producing more than an inch. Despite an early start (1.4 inch on October 27), there have only been 11.8 inches of snow, nearly 7 inches below average so far this winter.

The total precipitation was only 0.44 inch, only about half of the normal amount.

While the coldest of the cold has eased a bit after New Year's Day, the overall pattern shows a lot of northwest-to-southeast steering flow continuing through much of the week. There is a chance that this relaxes a bit next week, but I don't see the pattern breaking completely through the first two weeks of January.

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(December 2017 Summary)

Precipitation

Temperature

Snowfall

 

     December 2017 Statistics

Temperatures (°F)
December 2017
Normal
December Average High Temperature (°F)
22.5
24.7
December Average Low Temperature (°F)
7.4
7.1
Mean Temperature for December (°F)
14.9
15.9

 

   

December Extremes

Temperature(°F)
Date
Warmest High Temperature for December 2017 (°F)
50
December 4
Coldest High Temperature for December 2017 (°F)
-8
December 30
Warmest Low Temperature for December 2017 (°F)
25
December 4
Coldest Low Temperature for December 2017 (°F)
-24
December 31
Record Temperatures in December 2017
Temperature(°F)
Date
Old Record
No temperatures records set
Temperature Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
December 2017 Days with High Temperatures <= 32°F
24
23.5
December 2017 Days with High Temperatures <= 0°F
4
1.0
December 2017 Days with Low Temperatures <= 32°F
31
25.7
December 2017 Days with Low Temperatures <= 0°F
9
9.9
December 2017 Days with Low Temperatures <= -20°F
1
0.9
Melted Precipitation (in)
December 2017
Normal
December 2017 Melted Precipitation (in)
0.44
0.82
 
Precipitation Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
December 2017 Days with Measurable (>= 0.01 inch) Precipitation
10
6.6
December 2017 Days with >= 0.10 inch Precipitation
1
2.0
December 2017 Days with >= 0.25 inch Precipitation
0
0.7
December 2017 Days with >= 0.50 inch Precipitation
0
0.1
December 2017 Days with >= 1.00 inch Precipitation
0
0.0
December Extremes
Precipitation (in)
Date
Most Daily Precipitation in December 2017
0.15 inch
December 28
Record Precipitation in December 2017
Precipitation (in)
Date
Old Record
No records set
     
Snowfall (in)
December 2017
Normal
December 2017 Saint Cloud Airport Snowfall (in)
4.7
10.5
2017-2018 Seasonal Snowfall (1 Oct 2017 - 31 Dec 2017)
11.8
20.1
 
Snowfall Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
December 2017 Days with Measurable (>= 0.1 inch) Snowfall
10
8.3
December 2017 Days with >= 1.0 inch Snowfall
1
3.2
December 2017 Days with >= 2.0 inch Snowfall
0
1.6
December 2017 Days with >= 5.0 inch Snowfall
0
0.2
     
December Extremes
Snowfall (in)
Date
Most Daily Snowfall in December 2017
1.7
December 28
Record Snowfall in December 2017
Snowfall (in)
Date
Old Record
No records set
     

 

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(December 2017 Summary)

Precipitation

Temperature

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Late Year Cold, Dryness Gets Attention, But 2017 Actually Warm and Wet
2017 Annual Saint Cloud Weather Summary

Above Average Temperature, Thanks Mainly to Mild Start

The St. Cloud average temperature in 2017 was 44.3 degrees, 1.4 degrees warmer than average. The months with the biggest warmer than average anomalies were January (5.5 degrees above average) and February (10.6 degrees above average), then September (3.8 degrees above average) and October (1.5 degrees above average). February 2017 ended up being the third warmest February in St. Cloud records with 5 record warm highs tied or broken, each of which was at least 55 degrees, 3 days with a record warm average set or tied and one day with a record warm low. The 59 degree high on February 17 tied the record warm high for all of February, set only a year previous on February 27, 2016. There were 6 straight days with a high of at least 51 degrees. The only other winter with more days warmer than 50 degrees was 1939-1940 with 9 days that warm.

The very warm pattern, which continued into March, produced the earliest three tornadoes in Minnesota history on March 6. One of the three tornadoes struck Sherburne County from northwest of Zimmerman to south of Princeton. The previous record was March 18, 1968.

January and February were part of the 9th mildest winter in St. Cloud records. The record includes temperatures from December 1, 2016 through February 29, 2016.

The overall summer ended up slightly cooler than average, mostly on the strength of a cooler than average August, when the temperature never got warmer than 86 degrees. There were some inroads of the extreme heat seen across the West and South US, but St. Cloud only managed 2 90-degree highs during the summer.

Despite the above average temperatures, 2017 was not nearly as warm as 2015 ( 9th warmest) or 2016 ( tied for 6th warmest)

Above Average Rain With a Lot More Just to the North

At times, the rainfall was lacking across Minnesota, but St. Cloud ended up with 30.20 inches, about two and half inches greater than average.The biggest rainstorm to hit St. Cloud was on October 2 and 3. The total of 3.37 inches between October 1 and 3 included new rainfall records for both October 2 and 3.

Much of central Minnesota had average to above average precipitation for the growing season. St. Cloud was at the s outh edge of some of the heavier precipitation events that spread over Alexandria, Long Prairie, Little Falls, Milaca, and Mora ( over 35 inches in much of this area).

Streak of Below Average Snowfall Continues

The heavy rainfall statistics did not extend to snowfall. The February warmth got rid of the snow cover and there were only 2 inches in March. An early season snowfall on October (1.4 inches on October 27) has not led to a snowy start to winter in 2017-2018. There have been only 10.7 inches of snow so far this season. The 2017 calendar year total was only 27.6 inches, 18.5 inches below average.

St. Cloud broke one daily record snowfall with 4.0 inches on November 3. The closest major snowstorm on February 23-24 missed not only St. Cloud, but just missed the Twin Cities to the south. It did produce more than a foot of snow in parts of south central and southeastern Minnesota.

 

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(December 2017 Summary)

Precipitation

Temperature

Snowfall

 

2017 Statistics

Temperatures (°F)
2017
Average
Average High Temperature (°F)
54.4
53.7
Average Low Temperature (°F)
34.2
32.1
Mean Temperature for 2017 (°F)
44.3
42.9
     
2017 Temperature Thresholds
2017
Average
Warm Season    
2017 Days with High Temperatures >= 90°F
2
11.4
2017 Days with High Temperature >= 100°F
0
0.5
2017 Days with Low Temperatures >= 70°F
1
3.0
2017 Days with Low Temperatures >= 75°F
0
0.47
Growing Season (Consecutive Days with Low Temp>= 32°F) May 2-October 8
160
137
Cold Season
2017 Days with High Temperatures <= 32°F
74
87.7
2017 Days with High Temperatures <= 0°F
3
4.3
2017 Days with Low Temperatures <= 32°F
163
170.4
2017 Days with Low Temperatures <= 0°F
24
42.5
2017 Days with Low Temperatures <= -20°F
1
5.4
Liquid Equivalent Precipitation (in)
2017
1981-2010 Average
2017 Total Precipitation (in)
30.20
27.71
     
Precipitation Thresholds
2017
1896-2017 Average
2017 Days with Measurable (>= 0.01 inch) Precipitation
116
97.3
2017 Days with >= 0.10 inch Precipitation
58
52.9
2017 Days with >= 0.25 inch Precipitation
41
32.1
2017 Days with >= 0.50 inch Precipitation
20
16.8
2017 Days with >= 1.00 inch Precipitation
7
5.5
Snowfall (in)
2017
1981-2010 Average
2017Total Snowfall
27.6
46.1
Precipitation Thresholds
2017
1904-2017 Average
2017 Total Days with Measurable (>= 0.1 inch) Snowfall
28
32.5
2017 Total Days with >= 1.0 inch Snowfall
10
14.0
2017 Total Days with >= 2.0 inch Snowfall
4
7.6
2017 Total Days with >= 5.0 inch Snowfall
0
1.5
 
2017 Month-by-Month Summary January-July
Temperature (°F)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Average High Temperature 24.5 36.8 40.2 56.5 66.1 79.3 82.3
Average Low Temperature 9.7 14.3 21.0 35.4 43.7 53.1 58.0
Mean Temperature 17.1 27.6 30.6 46.0 54.9 66.2 70.2
Departure from Normal +5.5 +10.6 +1.2 +1.5 -1.6 +0.6 -0.1
2017 Warmest High Temperature

92°F on July 17

2017 Coldest High Temperature -8°F on December 30
2017 Warmest Low Temperature 70°F on September 22
2017 Coldest Low Temperature -24°F on December 31


2017 Monthly Record Temperatures
Temperature (°F)
Date
Record Monthly High Temperature (1 tied)
59
February 17
2017 Daily Record Temperatures
Temperature (°F)
Date
Record Warm High Temperature (5 broken, 2 tied)
59
February 17
57
February 18
58
February 19
56
February 21
55 (tie)
February 22
57
November 24
58 (tie)
November 27
Record Warm Average Temperature (7 broken, 1 tied)
34
January 20
33
January 22
44
February 17
43
February 18
44
February 22
48 (tie)
March 5
80
September 22
47
November 24
Record Warm Low Temperature (5 broken)
37
February 20
42
March 13
45
March 14
44
March 15
70
September 22
Record Cold High Temperature (2 broken)
34
April 27
60
August 3
Record Cold Average Temperature (2 broken)
34
April 27
55
August 3
Record Cold Low Temperature (1 broken)
42 (tie)
June 26
Precipitation (in)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Liquid Precipitation 0.54   0.78 0.67 3.27 4.44 3.58 2.38
Departure from Normal -0.11 +0.19 -0.88 +0.70 +1.49 -0.59 -0.93
Most in 24 hours 1.55 on October 2
New Daily Precipitation Records Set
Amount (inches)
Date
Daily Record Precipitation (2 broken)
1.55
October 2
1.36
October 3
Snowfall (in)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Snowfall 10.0 2.8 2.0 T 0.0 0.0 0.0
Departure from Normal +2.1 - 4.3 - 6.1 - 2.9 - - -
Most in 24 hours 4.0 inches on November 3
New Snowfall Records Set
Amount (inches)
Date
Daily Record Snowfall (1 broken)
4.0
November 3

 

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(December 2017 Summary)

Precipitation

Temperature

Snowfall

 
2017 Month-by-Month Summary August-December
Temperature (°F)
Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2017
Average High Temperature 75.2 74.0 57.2 38.7 22.5 54.4
Average Low Temperature 54.0 50.8 37.3 21.2 7.4 34.2
Mean Temperature 64.6 62.4 47.2 30.0 14.9 44.3
Departure from Normal -3.2 +3.8 +1.5 -0.4 -1.0 +1.4

 

Precipitation (in)
Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2017
Liquid Precipitation 5.27 2.93 5.08 0.82 0.44 30.20
Departure from Normal +1.48 -0.53 +2.59 -0.56 -0.38 +2.47
Snowfall (in)
Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2017
Snowfall 0.0 0.0 1.4 5.7 4.7 27.6
Departure from Normal - - +0.6 - 3.2 - 5.8 - 18.5
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(December 2017 Summary)

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Saint Cloud Hottest Annual Temperatures (1988-2017)
Year
Hottest High (°F)
Date
Days with High >= 97°F
1988
102°F
June 24, July 31
13
(7 days with >= 100°F)
1989
98°F
August 4
1
1990
101°F
July 3
1
1991
95°F
July 18
0
1992
92°F
June 12, August 9
0
1993
90°F
August 10
0
1994
95°F
June 14
0
1995
97°F
June 17, July 13
2
1996
96°F
June 28
0
1997
95°F
June 23
0
1998
94°F
May 18
0
1999
98°F
July 30
2
2000
94°F
June 9
0
2001
98°F
August 6, 7
4
2002
95°F
June 30, July 6
0
2003
96°F
August 24
0
2004
96°F
June 30
0
2005
98°F
June 23
1
2006
101°F
July 31
5
2007
96°F
August 10
0
2008
91°F
June 6, 11, August 18
0
2009
92°F
May 20
0
2010
94°F
May 24
0
2011
101°F
June 7
1
2012
94°F
May 18
0
2013
95°F
May 14, Aug 26
0
2014
94°F
July 21
0
2015
91°F
August 14
0
2016
93°F
July 22
0
2017
92°F
July 17
0
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Historic temperature data provided courtesy of the Saint Cloud National Weather Service Office, and NOAA/NWS
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Send comments to: raweisman@stcloudstate.edu