January 2007 Saint Cloud Weather Summary

3rd Lowest Seasonal Snowfall in Saint Cloud Records

   Saint Cloud's snow drought that began at the start of 2006 continued through the first month in January of 2007. Only 2.0 inches of snow fell during January at the Saint Cloud Reformatory. Normally, January is the snowiest month of the year with an average of 10.5 inches. The low January snowfall total tied with 1903 and 1959 for the 8th lowest January snowfall total in the 104 years of Saint Cloud snowfall records. Note that the least amount of January snow in Saint Cloud records was 0.1 inch in 1990. The last above normal snow month was December 2005. The last storm of that month (5.6 inches on December 29 and 30) was the last snowfall of 2 inches or more in Saint Cloud.

   For the entire season, the winter of 2006-2007 ranks as one of the brownest on record. The seasonal snowfall through January 31 is now 4.7 inches. The normal snowfall to this point in the winter is 28.8 inches. This is the 3rd lowest seasonal snowfall through Jan in Saint Cloud history. The last season with such little snowfall through January was 1959-1960. Note, however, that only half of the brownest seasons through January (1899-1900, 1901-1902, 1914-1915, 1958-1959, 1980-1981) ended up among the lowest snowfalls for the entire season. However, both 1901-1902 (6.0 inches) and 1958-1959 (14.1 inches) continued to be snowless enough to make the two brownest seasons in Saint Cloud records.

   While central Minnesota has avoided snow better than any other part of the state, the state report on snow drought from Minnesota State Climatology Office shows well below normal snowfall statewide. Just to put into perspective how far the primary storm track has dropped to our south, here is a list of cities that have had more snow than Saint Cloud and other area cities through the end of January:

   The combination of the first two warm months means that we are all but guaranteed to have our 9th warm winter out of the past 10 years. In fact, if temperatures during February end up being merely normal, the average winter temperature would end up being 19.6°F, which would rank as the 8th warmest winter in Saint Cloud records. Even though we are in the grip of the coldest arctic air outbreak of the season and will remain so through the middle of next week, this outbreak will use up the coldest air on the continent. Since air has to sit over the area with deep snow cover and no sunlight for 3-4 weeks to make that kind of arctic, the odds favor major moderation for quite a while once the core of the cold air goes by mid-week next week.

• • Last high colder than 5°F: February 17-18, 2006 (5°F high on January 12, 2007)
  • Last low colder than -15°F : February 17-18, 2006 (-10°F on January 16, 2007)
  • Last streak of below zero highs and sub -20°F lows: January 14-17, 2005
  • Last low of at least -30°F : January 30, 2004
  • Last high of -10°F or colder: January 29, 2004
  • Last low of at least -40°F: February 2, 1996 (date of state record low: -60°F in Tower)
    • 6 straight days with a low of -30°F or colder
    • temperature below zero for more than 5 days
    • below zero lows every day January 18 - February 6, 1996