Weather

February 2017 and Winter 2016-2017 St. Cloud Weather Summary


10 Warmest Winters
Happy Un-February to You!!!

3rd Warmest February Finishes 9th Warmest Winter in St. Cloud Records

February 2017 and Winter 2016-2017 Saint Cloud, MN, Weather Summary

Note: This is a summary of meteorological winter, which is defined as the three coldest months of the year (1 December through 29 February). Astronomical winter ends on the spring equinox, which will be on March 20 this year. That's the day when we get back to 12 hours of daylight. Also, note that the cold season can be used to refer to the part of the year when Minnesota can get snow (typically Oct-Apr, but can be longer) or the heating season (July 1-June 30). No, the groundhog doesn't work in Minnesota.

A mid-month heat wave, producing 6 straight highs of at least 51 degrees, was the highlight of the 3rd warmest February in St. Cloud records. The average temperature in February at the St. Cloud Regional Airport was 27.6°F, 10.6°F warmer than the February average. The six days fell during Feb 17-22 and broke the record for most February days, set in 1981. Five of the 6 days broke the daily record warm high and the February 17 high of 59 degrees tied the warmest high for the entire month of February. That record was set last February on the 27th.

There were a total of 9 record warm temperatures tied or broken during the streak. The 6 50-degree highs ties for the secondmost such days in a given winter. The record was 9 days, set in 1939-1940.

Nearly Too Warm For Snow All Month

The snow cover disappeared on January 25 and stayed disappeared throughout nearly the entire month of February. There were only two days of measurable snowfall: the first being 0.3 inch on February 7. St. Cloud dodged the heavy snowband that hit southern Minnesota on February 23 and 24 and came within 9 hours of having the least February snow in 96 years. However, an isolated central Minnesota snowband dumped 2.5 inches on the St. Cloud Prison in the late afternoon of February 28. The February snowfall climbed to 2.8 inches, still 4.4 inches below average. The total snowfall for the cold season of 2016-2017 stands at 28.9 inches through the end of February, 5.3 inches below average.

More surprisingly, there were only 3 February days with at least an inch of snow on the ground. There have only been 58 days with an inch of snow cover through March 1, well below the average of 101 days. Our longest streak with at least an inch of snow on the ground was 45 days, well short of the St. Cloud average of 86 days.

However, February had more than average precipitation, thanks to 0.54 inch of rain on February 20. The precipitation total was 0.78 inch, nearly two-tenths above average.

The warm conditions combined with the rain to make the ice unsafe on many lakes and to nearly completely break up the ice on some area rivers. Frost left the ground in the southern half of Minnesota during the warm stretch.

9th Mildest Winter in St. Cloud Records, 5th in Past 20 Years.

The wildly warm February was the biggest driving force in pushing the St. Cloud meteorological winter temperature average to 20.7 degrees. This was a smidge cooler than last February and ranks as the 9th warmest winter in St. Cloud records. This continues our streak of very mild winters that began in the late 1990's. Five of the 10 mildest winters have occurred since 1997-1998 and 10 of the 24 warmest winters have taken place since 1996.

One of the key elements of global warming theory is that the warming would be most dramatic in the interior of Northern Hemisphere continents and during the cold season. Our recent streak of mostly mild winters is consistent with that prediction. Of course, it doesn't mean that cold winters can be ruled out. Only three years ago, St. Cloud had its 5th coldest winter in St. Cloud records and we finished among the 5 snowiest winters in both 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. The predictions of global warming don't say anything about snow.

Long-Range Forecast Skeptic Makes Some March Statements

So, what can we say about the rest of the cold season, keeping in mind that this was supposed to be a colder than average winter? So far, St. Cloud has seen 22 days with a sub-zero low with only two days in February. We have a chance for a few more days in March, but it is unlikely without snow cover. If the 22 days hold up, that's a little more than half of what is expected for a cold season. St. Cloud has had a total of 3 days with a high of zero or colder, only one day less than average. And, on December 18, the low temperature dropped to -28 degrees, the coldest low St. Cloud has seen since the -29 low on January 21, 2011. That's the only low of -20 or colder this winter. It is possible for such a low to occur in March, but it isn't likely. On the average, St. Cloud sees 11 inches of snowfall in March and April, but the past two winters have had far below average amounts of snowfall.

March is beginning with near average temperatures, but by the weekend, we could easily be back to April-like temperatures, removing our scant snow cover once again.

 

10 Warmest Winters

February 2017 Statistics

Temperatures (°F)
Feb 2017
Normal
Average High Temperature (°F)
36.8
26.8
Average Low Temperature (°F)
18.4
7.2
Mean Temperature for February (°F)
27.6#
17.0
#3rd Warmest February in St. Cloud Records  
February Extremes
Temperature(°F)
Date
Warmest High Temperature for Feb 2017 (°F)
59 (set record for Feb; see below)
Feb. 27
Coldest High Temperature for Feb 2017 (°F)
10
Feb. 8
Warmest Low Temperature for Feb 2017 (°F)
37 (broke record, see below)
Feb. 20
Coldest Low Temperature for Feb 2017 (°F)
-5
Feb. 8
Record Temperatures in February 2017
Temperature(°F)
Date
Old Record
February Record Warm High Temperature
59°F (tied)
February 17
tied record set on Feb. 27, 2016
Daily Record Warm High Temperature
59°F
February 17
54°F set in 1981
 
57°F
February 18
56°F set in 1981
 
58°F
February 19
56°F set in 1981
 
56°F
February 21
55°F set in 1961
 
55°F (tie)
February 22
55°F set in 1961
Daily Record Warm Average Temperature
44°F
February 17
42°F set in 1916
 
43°F (tie)
February 18
tied record set in 1981
 
44°F
February 22
42°F set in 1961
Daily Record Warm Low Temperature
37°F
February 20
34°F set in 1930
Temperature Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
February 2017 Days with High Temperatures <= 32°F
10
20.0
February 2017 Days with High Temperatures <= 0°F
0
0.8
February 2017 Days with Low Temperatures <= 32°F
27
27.8
February 2017 Days with Low Temperatures <= 0°F
2
12.2
February 2017 Days with Low Temperatures <= -20°F
0
2.9
Liquid Equivalent Precipitation (in)
Feb 2017
Normal
February 2017 Saint Cloud Airport Melted Precipitation (in)
0.78 inch
0.59
February Extremes
Precipitation (in)
Date
Most Daily Precipitation in February 2017
0.54 inch (rain)
Feb 20
Record Precipitation in February 2017
Precipitation (in)
Date
Old Record
No records set
Precipitation Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
February 2017 Days with Measurable (>= 0.01 inch) Precipitation
4
5.7
February 2017 Days with >= 0.10 inch Precipitation
2
2.1
February 2017 Days with >= 0.25 inch Precipitation
1
0.8
February 2017 Days with >= 0.50 inch Precipitation
1
0.3
February 2017 Days with >= 1.00 inch Precipitation
0
0.0
Snowfall (in)
Feb. 2017
Normal
February 2017 Saint Cloud Airport Snowfall (in)
2.8
7.0
Snowfall Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
February 2017 Days with Measurable (>= 0.1 inch) Snowfall
2
5.7
February 2017 Days with >= 1.0 inch Snowfall
1
2.6
February 2017 Days with >= 2.0 inch Snowfall
1
1.4
February 2017 Days with >= 5.0 inch Snowfall
0
0.2
February Extremes
Snowfall (in)
Date
Most Daily Snowfall (in) in February 2017
2.5
February 28
Record Snowfall (in) in February 2017
Snowfall (in)
Date
Old Record
No records set      
10 Warmest Winters

Winter (Dec 1-Feb 28) 2016-2017 Statistics

Temperatures (°F)
Winter 2016-2017
Normal
Average High Temperature (°F)
28.6
24.2
Average Low Temperature (°F)
12.8
5.3
Mean Temperature for Winter (°F)
20.7$
14.8
$9th warmest winter in St. Cloud records
Winter Extremes
Temperature
Date
Warmest High Temperature for Winter 2016-2017 (°F)
59 (set record)
Feb 17, 2017
Coldest High Temperature for Winter 2016-2017 (°F)
-5
Dec 18, 2016
Warmest Low Temperature for Winter 2016-2017 (°F)
37
Feb 20, 2017
Coldest Low Temperature for Winter 2016-2017 (°F)
-28
Dec 18, 2016
Temperature Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal

Cold Season 2016-2017
Days with High Temperatures <= 32°F

55
87.6

Cold Season 2016-2017
Days with High Temperatures <= 0°F

3
4.3

Cold Season 2016-2017
Days with High Temperatures <= -10°F

0
0.6

Cold Season 2016-2017
Days with Low Temperatures <= 32°F

112
170.4

Cold Season 2016-2017
Days with Low Temperatures <= 0°F

14
42.7

Cold Season 2016-2017
Days with Low Temperatures <= -20°F

1
5.4

Cold Season 2016-2017
Days with Low Temperatures <= -30°F

None since January 16, 2009

0
0.6
Liquid Equivalent Precipitation (in)
Winter 2016-2017
Normal
Saint Cloud Airport Winter Melted Precipitation (in)
2.87
2.18
Precipitation Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
Winter 2016-2017
Days with Measurable (>= 0.01 inch) Precipitation
25
19.4
Winter 2016-2017
Days with >= 0.10 inch Precipitation
7
6.5
Winter 2016-2017
Days with >= 0.25 inch Precipitation
2
2.3
Winter 2016-2017
Days with >= 0.50 inch Precipitation
1
0.6
Winter 2016-2017
Days with >= 1.00 inch Precipitation
0
0.0

 

Snowfall (in)
Winter 2016-2017
Normal
Winter 2015-2016 Snowfall (in)
21.6
25.0
Seasonal Snowfall (in) for Cold Season 2016-2017 (October 1, 2016-February 28, 2017)
28.9
34.2
     
Snowfall Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
Cold-Season 2016-2017 Days with Measurable Snowfall
24
24.8
Cold-Season 2016-2017 Days with >= 1.0 inch Snowfall
10
10.6
Cold-Season 2016-2017 Days with >= 2.0 inch Snowfall
6
5.5
Cold-Season 2016-2017 Days with >= 5.0 inch Snowfall
1
1.0
10 Warmest Winters

 

Top 24 Warmest Winters in Saint Cloud Records

(1881-1882 through 2016-2017)

White background indicates occurrence since 1996
Rank
Winter Average Temperature (°F)
Year

1 (tie)

23.4°F

2001-2002

1 (tie)

23.4°F

2011-2012

3

23.2°F

1881-1882

4

23.0°F

1997-1998

5

22.7°F

1930-1931

6

22.2°F

1986-1987

7

21.5°F

1920-1921

8

20.9°F

2015-2016

9

20.7°F

2016-2017

10

20.0°F

1918-1919

11

19.9°F

1982-1983

12 (tie)

19.33°F

1907-1908

12 (tie)

19.33°F

1943-1944

12 (tie)

19.33°F

2005-2006

15

19.26°F

1989-1990

16

19.0°F

1931-1932

17

18.9°F

1941-1942

18

18.6°F

1999-2000

19

18.2°F

1998-1999

20

18.1°F

1891-1892

21 (tie)

17.8°F

1890-1891

21 (tie)

17.8°F

1913-1914

21 (tie)

17.8°F

2004-2005

21 (tie)

17.8°F

2006-2007

 

St. Cloud Warm Winter (Dec-Feb) Highs
Most Winter Highs >=40°F
Most Winter Highs >=45°F
Most Winter Highs >=50°F
Rank Cold-Season Number of Days Rank Cold-Season Number of Days Rank Cold-Season Number of Days
1
2001-2002
24
1
1980-1981
15
1
1939-1940
9
2
1923-1924
22
2
2001-2002
14
2 (tie)
1941-1942
6
3 (tie)
1913-1914
21
3
1930-1931
13
2 (tie)
1980-1981
6
3 (tie)
1930-1931
21
4
1939-1940
12
2 (tie)
2016-2017
6
3 (tie)
1980-1981
21
5
1990-1991
11
5 (tie)
1930-1931
5
3 (tie)
1986-1987
21
6 (tie)
1941-1942
10
5 (tie)
1999-2000
5
7
1998-1999
18
6 (tie)
1960-1961
10
7 (tie)
1907-1908
4
8 (tie)
1941-1942
17
8 (tie)
1899-1900
9
7 (tie)
1929-1930
4
8 (tie)
1960-1961
17
8 (tie)
1999-2000
9
8 (tie)
1904-1905
3
8 (tie)
1999-2000
17
10 (tie)
1923-1924
8
9 (tie)
1913-1914
3
11 (tie)
1943-1944
16
10 (tie)
1986-1987
8
9 (tie)
1920-1921
3
11 (tie)
1957-1958
16
10 (tie)
2016-2017
8
9 (tie)
1931-1932
3
11 (tie)
2011-2012
16
13 (tie)
1901-1902
7
9 (tie)
1957-1958
3
11 (tie)
2015-2016
16
13 (tie)
1913-1914
7
9 (tie)
1960-1961
3
     
13 (tie)
1916-1917
7
9 (tie)
1962-1963
3
2016-2017
14
13 (tie)
1917-1918
7
9 (tie)
1990-1991
3
13 (tie)
1931-1932
7
9 (tie)
1997-1998
3
13 (tie)
1957-1958
7
9 (tie)
2001-2002
3
     
9 (tie)
2002-2003
3

 

St. Cloud, MN Most 50°F Highs in February
Rank
Number
Year
1
6
2017
2
5
1981
3 (tie)
4
1930
3 (tie)
4
1941
3 (tie)
4
2000

 

St. Cloud Mildest Extreme Low of the Cold Season

Rank
Winter

Coldest Low Temperature of Season (°F)

1
2001-2002
-9
2
1982-1983
-16
3 (tie)
2005-2006
-17
3 (tie)
2011-2012
-17
5 (tie)
1900-1901
-18
5 (tie)
2012-2013
-18
5 (tie)
2015-2016
-18
7
1897-1898
-19
8 (tie)
1956-1957
-20
8 (tie)
1986-1987
-20
10
1931-1932
-21
8 tied with -22, including 2006-2007, 2014-2015
   
2007-2008
-24
2008-2009
-36
2009-2010
-27
 
2010-2011
-29
2013-2014
-25
 
2016-2017
-28

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