2011 was a year of extremes across Southeastern Minnesota. Everything from extreme heat, fairly cold temps, to heavy rain and drought were experienced. This post will take a quick look at yearly extremes at Rochester. Becuase my station is too new, all the data was either gathered by me from an online search, or from NWS La Crosse from the airport.

Overview.

The Winter of 10 into 2011 was cool and snowier then normal, This cool and snowy pattern lead into spring. and a long lasting Winter. The cool pattern finally broke in May. Then it went to a warm and stormy mid summer season, with very heavy rains and waves of severe storms every other week in July. There was also 1 very hot day over 100.F in the month of June then a significant heat wave in July with 4 days in the mid to upper 90s. After about Mid July it dried out significantly, this paved the way for a very mild and dry fall, 60 degree temperatures were still being experienced in November, and 50s were seen as late as mid December. This lead to a brown Christmas and as the year ended on New Years, the ground was still bare.

Weather information recorded Rochester International Airport-7 miles south of the city.

Temperatures

The year over all ended out above average for temperatures  by a little under 1 degree. High Temps: The hottest temperatures reported was 101.F on June 7th, (warmer temps were reported in inner city), The warmest month on average was July with an average high of 84.F which is 5 degrees above normal. Low Temps: The coldest temperature reported was -22.F on January 21st. The coldest month on average was January with an average high of 19.F which is slightly less then 1 degree below normal.

Precipitation

The year ended drier them normal. Rainfall: The total rainfall for the year was 27.76″ which is 5.26″ below normal. The wettest month of average was June when 5.20″ of rain fell which is 1.02″ above normal, The driest month was November when 0.38″ of rain fell, which is 1.53″ below normal.Snowfall: Snowfall for the 2010-2011 season was 70.50″ which is 18.0″ above normal. The snowiest month was December when 41.30″ of snow fell which is 28.0″ above normal. The highest snow depth was 29.0″ in December.

Wind

The highest wind gust observed was 58MPH from the Northwest in a severe thunderstorm on July 1st 2011, which done damage in the city. 

Thanks for viewing my writeup on the yearly extremes. I look forward to future years when I can compare my station to the airport!

For more yearly extremes and a very good detailed report on weather stories of 2011 visit the La Crosse NWS page located HERE