2020 Revision of St. Cloud Normals

2020 Revision to Saint Cloud Average Statistics

The 1991-2020 revision to St. Cloud averages shows a slightly wetter and whiter climate. The average annual precipitation climbed 2.7 percent to 28.49 inches. Both July and August gained more than two-tenths of an inch, while September and July each decreased more than four-tenths of an inch. These changes made August, instead of June the wettest month. It also reflected the tendency for parts of central Minnesota to have rainfall shortages in the summer to early fall.

The average snowfall in the new averages climbed 3.9 percent from 46.1 inches to 47.2 inches. Three of the 10 snowiest cold seasons in St. Cloud records happened in the 2010's. The changes in the monthly averages reflected the tendency for heavy late season snowfall during the 2010's. Three of the 4 heaviest February through April snowfalls occurred in 2013, 2018 and 2019. Each of January through April gained average snowfall with January (0.9 inches), February (1.8 inches), and April (1.8 inches) gained the most. Even through November and December average snowfall dropped, December continues to be the snowiest month of the cold season with an average of 9.3 inches. March, often thought of as the snowiest month, ranks only 4th.

The average temperature in St. Cloud remained at 42.9 degrees, but some effect of the changing precipitation and snowfall climatology is still reflected in the average temperatures. The second most dramatic change in the ground heating conditions, besides longer summer days and longer winter nights, is the difference in heating between snow-covered ground and bare ground. Having less snow on the ground in November and December resulted in warmer temperatures, including the biggest temperature gain in December temperatures (1.9 degrees). On the other hand, the tendency for more prolonged snow seasons into the spring took its toll on temperature. February through April had lower average temperatures, especially in February and April, which had the largest average snow gains. If recent years have had a really cold period, it has also been in February. Snow cover reduces especially the potential high temperature since it both reflects more sun energy back to space and also uses some of the energy that would normally heat the air to melt the snow instead.

While the summer months show much of a change, there was a small tendency for cooler high temperatures and warmer low temperatures. That would reflect more humid conditions, which would tend to keep the overnight temperatures milder, but would also create hazy skies or more cloud cover during the days. While the early 2010's had above average numbers of 90-degree highs, several years in that decade had far less than the average 11.4 days. Even when the temperature climbed into the 90's, upper 90's highs have been hard to come by in the 2010's. Until this June, there had been only 2 highs of at least 97 degrees during the period between 2007 and 2020. Typically, St. Cloud has to avoid even leftover low clouds from thunderstorms during the morning to be able to push the temperature to those extreme heights.

The complete monthly averages of mean, high, and low temperature, snowfall, and precipitation are shown below. Links to the daily averages can be found in the links below or through links from the January average climate page.

Daily Normals by Month

Temperatures (°F)

Precipitation (inches)

Note: Links Send You to New (1991-2020) Average Statistics