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

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.

February 2017 Statistics

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

St. Cloud Mildest Extreme Low of the Cold Season