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February 2024 and Winter 2023-2024 St. Cloud Weather Summary


 

 

Perpetual March-April Weather Lasts Entire Meteorological Winter

February 2024 and Winter 2023-2024 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 19 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.

The State Climatology Office in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is calling this season the lost winter of 2023-2024. Temperatures have been more frequently like early spring or late fall than the teeth of winter and there has been a major lack of snow. All of these extremes came close to or set records in Minnesota.

Mildest February Finishes Mildest Winter in a Runaway

The St. Cloud Regional Airport had its mildest February on record, with an average temperature of 30.4 degrees, 14.3 degrees above the average. The average high was 40.6, the mildest February average high on record, and the average low was 20.2 degrees, in 2nd place to 1998's 23.2 degrees). Only two days had a colder than average temperature, making it only 12 of the 91 days of meteorological winter. The only low of zero or colder was the zero set on February 28. That makes only 10 days with a low of zero or colder. If that holds through March, it would tie 2001-2002 for the fewest number of sub-zero days. The coldest low seen all winter was the -13 degrees on January 20. If that held up through the entire winter, 2023-2024 would be only the second season never getting colder than -13. The other one was also 2001-2002. The -13 as the coldest low would need to hold up through about late March, when lows colder than -13 become very rare. Basically, St. Cloud had those 2 days in February and 10 days in January of true winter temperatures.

The very mild February helped the winter of 2023-2024 easily become St. Cloud's mildest meteorological winter. The average December through February temperature was 27.3 degrees, more than 14 degrees above average. That mild winter temperature beat the previous record (2001-2002) by almost 4 degrees.

Mild Temperatures a Symptom of the Recent Warm Global Temperatures and El Nino

The generally milder than average temperatures were expected due to presence of El Nino, the unusually warm ocean current in the Tropical Pacific. That is associated with milder than average winters in the Northern Plains and south central Canada. However, setting a record for warmth means that circulation had to be lined up with unusually warm ocean temperatures nearly worldwide going into this winter. That is supported by the continued trend of top 10 global temperatures seen in recent years. 2023 is likely to be the warmest year in the history of temperature readings when the statistics become final.

The warmth produced more temperature records, most notably on February 26, when some parts of Minnesota reached well into the 60's and even approached 70 (see Feb 26 Record Heat). St. Cloud got to 58 degrees, the 4th record warm temperature of the month. That ran the winter total to 22 warm temperature records (10 broken or tied in December, 8 in January). Instead of running up below zero days, St. Cloud set records for the most days with a high of at least 40 degrees (38 days) and 45 degrees (20 days). The 8 winter days with a high of 50 degrees or milder finished second to 1939-1940 (9 days).

Potential for Second Least Snowy Cold Season, If We Get Little or No More Snow

The most noticeable part of this "winter" has been the lack of snow. St. Cloud State University did pick up 4.5 inches of snow, 4.4 inches of it on February 14 (see Valentine's Day Snow from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources). That kept the winter snowfall to 11.0 inches, the 10th lowest winter total in St. Cloud records. For the entire season, St. Cloud has only 13.6 inches of snow. If we went snowless through March and April, that would rank second to 1920-1921 as the least snowy cold season. This provides an extreme contrast to last season, which had the 3rd most snowfall through February, and ended being St. Cloud's snowiest season on record. There is a wilder swing of year-to-year snow seasons in that table. 1966-1967 (53.6 inches, 7th tie) and 1968-1969 (60.8 inches, 2nd) were heavy snow years through February, but they were separated by 1967-1968 with only 15.5 inches (5th lowest). And, even in an El Nino year, we have March and April to go. Note that 1964-1965, the previous complete season record before last year, picked up the bulk of it, 51.7 inches, in March.

Abnormally Wet and Abnormally Effective at Recharging Ground Water

Still, this particular winter continued the trend of being much wetter than average. 0.99 inch fell at the St. Cloud Airport, 0.40 inch above the average. However, the entire measurable precipitation amount fell in two days; 0.74 inch on February 8 and 0.25 inch, locked up in 4.4 inches of snow, on February 14. This ran the winter season precipitation to 4.53 inches, the 5th highest winter total in St. Cloud records. Both this winter, featuring little snow, and last winter, featuring a season snowfall record, placed among the 5 wettest winters in St. Cloud records. With this season's mild conditions, much of that precipitation in the wettest December on record was able to seep into the ground during a time when frozen ground usually keeps the ground water from recharging. There was some shallow frost in the ground during the two precipitation events this February, but some of it managed to seep in. So, Minnesota has gotten some unusual winter relief from this precipitation.

Only 3rd St. Cloud Cold Season Among Both Warmest, Brownest

The combination of extreme warmth and extreme brown ground is a rare one in Central Minnesota. I prepared the following table, including the 10 warmest winters on record and the 10 least snowy seasons on record. Most years with high snow amounts were not that mild and most mild years were not that snowless. Only 1920-1921, 8th mildest and least snowy, and 1986-1987 (7th mildest, 4th lowest snow total) have both statistics in the top 10. Of course, this year is on track to be the only one ranked in the Top 5 for both statistics.

Is It Over? Little Chance for Prolonged Cold, but....

All of the statistics involving low frequency of cold extremes and low snow totals still have to survive March (and sometimes April). The El Nino circulation is weakening (its strongest correlation is to mild Dec-Feb, not necessarily the spring months), and there is currently very cold air from northwestern Canada into northern Alaska. Eventually, the circulation will have to bring that cold air somewhere southward to get rid of it. Some surges of the cold air have also missed Minnesota by a few hundred miles, so records like fewest sub-zero temperatures and mildest extreme low could still fall if we get a brief shot of that cold air. And, even in a mild pattern, one major snowstorm, even similar to the Valentine's Day storm, could push St. Cloud's snow total to the lower half of the 10 least snowy seasons or even out of the top 10 with a direct hit.

However, you can already plan on annoying your current or future grandchildren about the winter that didn't happen, at least temperature-wise. Those numbers stop counting after February, so they are in the books.

St. Cloud, MN Warm and Snowless Winters
Season Wint Temp °F (rank) Lows Below Zero Highs Below Freezing Seasonal Snowfall inches (rank)
1899-1900 15.0 (46th) 33 (34th) 82 (42nd) 20.5 (8th)
1902-1903 11.7 (79th) 47 (76th) 75 (30th) 19.0 (6th)
1904-1905 11.8 (78th) 46 (72nd) 74 (29th) 20.0 (7th)
1912-1913 14.5 (53rd) 38 (48th) 79 (36th) 22.9 (10th)
1914-1915 15.0 (47th) 31 (28th) 70 (14th) 20.6 (9th)
1918-1919 20.0 (11th) 22 (13th) 53 (2nd) 34.6 (50th)
1920-1921 21.5 (8th) 16 (6th) 72 (21st) 10.7 (1st)
1930-1931 22.7 (6th) 16 (6th) 71 (20th) 27.5 (25th)
1958-1959 10.1 (103rd) 57 (113th) 82 (43rd) 14.1 (2nd)
1960-1961 16.4 (30th) 34 (36th) 68 (14th) 25.9 (18th)
1967-1968 13.4 (63rd) 42 (61st) 85 (55th) 16.1 (3rd)
1980-1981 17.6 (23rd) 35 (37th) 62 (5th) 16.5 (4th)
1986-1987 22.2 (7th) 17 (9th) 63 (6th) 16.7 (5th)
1997-1998 23.0 (5th) 16 (6th) 86 (62nd) 44.9 (66th)
2001-2002 23.4 (2nd tie) 15 (5th) 73 (22nd) 64.0 (105th)
2011-2012 23.4 (2nd tie) 10 (1st) 49 (1st) 27.4 (24th)
2015-2016 20.9 (9th) 14 (4th) 64 (9th) 30.3 (34th)
2016-2017 20.7 (10th) 24 (15th) 65 (10th) 30.9 (41st)
2023-2024 27.3 (1st) 10 (tied for 1st if it holds up) 37 (1st if it holds up) 13.6 (tied for 2nd through Feb)

 

 

 

February 2024 Statistics

Temperatures (°F)
Feb 2024
Normal
Average High Temperature (°F)
40.6 (warmest on record)
25.7
Average Low Temperature (°F)
20.2 (2nd warmest on record; record 23.2 in 1998)
6.5
Mean Temperature for February (°F)
16.1
   
February Extremes
Temperature(°F)
Date
Warmest High Temperature for Feb 2024 (°F)
58 (set daily record, see below)
Feb 26
Coldest High Temperature for Feb 2024 (°F)
16
Feb 16
Warmest Low Temperature for Feb 2024 (°F)
34 (set daily record; see below)
Feb 8
Coldest Low Temperature for Feb 2024 (°F)
0
Feb 28
Record Temperatures in February 2024
Temperature(°F)
Date
Old Record
Daily Record Warm Low
33
February 7
32 in 1925
34
February 8
33 in 1966
Daily Record Warm High
58
February 26
55 in 1958
Daily Record Warm Average
42
February 7
38 in 1925
February St. Cloud Record Temperatures      
Temperature Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
February 2024 Days with High Temperatures <= 32°F
5
20.0
February 2024 Days with High Temperatures <= 0°F
0
0.8
February 2024 Days with Low Temperatures <= 32°F
27
27.8
February 2024 Days with Low Temperatures <= 0°F
1
12.2
February 2024 Days with Low Temperatures <= -20°F
0
2.9
Liquid Equivalent Precipitation (in)
Feb 2024
Normal
February 2024 Saint Cloud Airport Melted Precipitation (in)
0.99 inch
0.59
February Extremes
Precipitation (in)
Date
Most Daily Precipitation in February 2024
0.74 inch
Feb 8
Record Precipitation in February 2024
Precipitation (in)
Date
Old Record
No Daily Precipitation Records Set
Precipitation Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
February 2024 Days with Measurable (>= 0.01 inch) Precipitation
2
5.7
February 2024 Days with >= 0.10 inch Precipitation
2
2.1
February 2024 Days with >= 0.25 inch Precipitation
2
0.8
February 2024 Days with >= 0.50 inch Precipitation
1
0.3
February 2024 Days with >= 1.00 inch Precipitation
0
0.0
Snowfall (in)
Feb. 2024
Normal
February 2024 Saint Cloud Airport Snowfall (in)
4.5 inches
8.9
Snowfall Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
February 2024 Days with Measurable (>= 0.1 inch) Snowfall
2
5.7
February 2024 Days with >= 1.0 inch Snowfall
1
2.6
February 2024 Days with >= 2.0 inch Snowfall
1
1.4
February 2024 Days with >= 5.0 inch Snowfall
0
0.2
February Extremes
Snowfall (in)
Date
Most Daily Snowfall (in) in February 2024
4.4
Feb 14
Record Snowfall (in) in February 2024
Snowfall (in)
Date
Old Record
No records set
Winter (Dec 1-Feb 29) 2023-2024 Statistics
Temperatures (°F)
Winter 2023-2024
Normal
Average High Temperature (°F)
34.9
24.2
Average Low Temperature (°F)
19.6
5.3
Mean Temperature for Winter (°F)
14.8
 
Winter Extremes
Temperature
Date
Warmest High Temperature for Winter 2023-2024 (°F)
58
Feb 26, 2024
Coldest High Temperature for Winter 2023-2023 (°F)
0
Jan 14,15, 2023
Warmest Low Temperature for Winter 2023-2024 (°F)
34
Dec 25,26, 2023; Jan 25, 26, Feb 8, 2024
Coldest Low Temperature for Winter 2023-2024 (°F)
-13 (second mildest; see table below)
Jan 20, 2024
Temperature Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal

Cold Season 2023-2024
Days with High Temperatures <= 32°F

37
87.6

Cold Season 2023-2024
Days with High Temperatures <= 0°F

2
4.3

Cold Season 2023-2024
Days with High Temperatures <= -10°F

0
0.6

Cold Season 2023-2024
Days with Low Temperatures <= 32°F

107
170.4

Cold Season 2023-2024
Days with Low Temperatures <= 0°F

10
42.7

Cold Season 2023-2024
Days with Low Temperatures <= -20°F

0
5.4

Cold Season 2023-2024
Days with Low Temperatures <= -30°F

0
0.6
Liquid Equivalent Precipitation (in)
Winter 2023-2024
Normal
Saint Cloud Winter Melted Precipitation (in)
2.18
Precipitation Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
Winter 2023-2024
Days with Measurable (>= 0.01 inch) Precipitation
17
19.4
Winter 2023-2024
Days with >= 0.10 inch Precipitation
8
6.5
Winter 2023-2024
Days with >= 0.25 inch Precipitation
6
2.3
Winter 2023-2024
Days with >= 0.50 inch Precipitation
3
0.6
Winter 2023-2024
Days with >= 1.00 inch Precipitation
1
0.0

 

Snowfall (in)
Winter 2023-2024
Normal
Winter 2023-2024 Snowfall (in)
25.5
Seasonal Snowfall (in) for Cold Season 2023-2024 (October 1, 2023-February 29, 2024)
34.9
     
Snowfall Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
Cold-Season 2023-2024 Days with Measurable Snowfall
15
24.8
Cold-Season 2023-2024 Days with >= 1.0 inch Snowfall
5
10.6
Cold-Season 2023-2024 Days with >= 2.0 inch Snowfall
2
5.5
Cold-Season 2023-2024 Days with >= 5.0 inch Snowfall
0
1.0

 

St. Cloud, MN, Snowiest and Brownest Cold Seasons Through Feb
Snowiest Seasons Brownest Seasons
Rank Most Inches Season Rank Least Inches Season
1
73.0
1936-1937
1
10.7
1920-1921
2
60.8
1968-1969
2 (tie)
13.6
1958-1959
3
60.3
2022-2023
2 (tie)
13.6
2023-2024
4
54.3
2013-2014
4
14.6
1980-1981
5
54.2
1993-1994
5
15.5
1967-1968
6
54.1
1978-1979
6
16.7
1986-1987
7 (tie)
53.6
1921-1922
7
17.2
1960-1961
7 (tie)
53.6
1966-1967
8
19.0
1902-1903
9
53.2
1983-1984
9
19.2
1910-1911
10
51.9
1985-1986
10
19.3
1923-1924

 

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
2023-2024
38
1
2023-2024
20
1
1939-1940
9
2
2001-2002
24
2
1980-1981
15
2
2023-2024
8
3
1923-1924
22
3
2001-2002
14
3 (tie)
1941-1942
6
4 (tie)
1913-1914
21
4
1930-1931
13
3 (tie)
1980-1981
6
4 (tie)
1930-1931
21
5
1939-1940
12
3 (tie)
2016-2017
6
4 (tie)
1980-1981
21
6
1990-1991
11
6 (tie)
1930-1931
5
4 (tie)
1986-1987
21
7 (tie)
1941-1942
10
6 (tie)
1999-2000
5
8
1998-1999
18
7 (tie)
1960-1961
10
8 (tie)
1907-1908
4
9 (tie)
1941-1942
17
9 (tie)
1899-1900
9
8 (tie)
1929-1930
4
9 (tie)
1960-1961
17
9 (tie)
1999-2000
9
10 (tie)
1904-1905
3
9 (tie)
1999-2000
17
11 (tie)
1923-1924
8
10 (tie)
1913-1914
3
12 (tie)
1943-1944
16
11 (tie)
1986-1987
8
10 (tie)
1920-1921
3
12 (tie)
1957-1958
16
11 (tie)
2016-2017
8
10 (tie)
1931-1932
3
12 (tie)
2011-2012
16
14 (tie)
1901-1902
7
10 (tie)
1957-1958
3
12 (tie)
2015-2016
16
14 (tie)
1913-1914
7
10 (tie)
1960-1961
3
14 (tie)
1916-1917
7
10 (tie)
1962-1963
3
14 (tie)
1917-1918
7
10 (tie)
1990-1991
3
14 (tie)
1931-1932
7
10 (tie)
1997-1998
3
14 (tie)
1957-1958
7
10 (tie)
2001-2002
3
     
10 (tie)
2002-2003
3

St. Cloud Mildest Extreme Low of the Cold Season

Rank
Winter

Coldest Low Temperature of Season (°F)

1
2001-2002
-9
Would be 2
2023-2024
-13
2
1982-1983
-16
3 (tie)
2005-2006
-17
3 (tie)
2011-2012
-17
5 (tie)
1900-1901
-18
5 (tie)
2015-2016
-18
5 (tie)
2022-2023
-18
8 (tie)
1897-1898
-19
8 (tie)
2019-2020
-19
10 (tie)
1956-1957
-20
10 (tie)
1986-1987
-20
12
1931-1932
-21
8 tied with -22, including 2006-2007, 2014-2015
   
2018-2019
-34
 
2020-2021
-28
2021-2022
-28

 

 Updated March 6, 2024

 

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