National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

 

Christmas Temperature, Precipitation, and Snowfall Normals and Extremes

  

	Normal High Temp   (1971-2000)	Record High Temp	Normal Low Temp   (1971-2000)	Record Low Temp	Record Precipitation(inches)	Record Snowfall (inches)
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN Airport	23°	51° (1922)	6°	-39° (1879)	1.35 (1982)	9.6 (1945)
St. Cloud, MN	20°	47° (1922)	1°	-26° (2000)	1.07 (1983)	4.2 (1950)
Redwood Falls, MN	24°	49° (1999)	5°	-18° (2000)	0.39 (1950)	6.5 (1945)
Eau Claire, WI	22°	45° (1994)	4°	-27° (1968)	0.72 (1945)	8.0 (1945)

   Note:  Records from above sites span varying periods of length.

Snowiest Christmas Eve and Christmas

...TOP 5 SNOWFALLS FOR THE TWIN CITIES...
FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY

MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MINNESOTA

CHRISTMAS EVE

YEAR    DEC 24
1969    1.6
1945    1.7
1933    2.4
1987    2.7
1916    2.8
2009    5.2 SNOWIEST
CHRISTMAS DAY
YEAR    DEC 25
1920    2.8
2007    3.4
1950    5.9
1932    8.0
1945    9.6 SNOWIEST XMAS-DAY
CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY
...TOP 5 TWO-DAY SNOWFALL TOTALS...
EVE     XMAS     COMBO
YEAR   DEC 24  DEC 25   TWO-DAY-TOTAL
1933    2.4    1.0      3.4
2007    0      3.4      3.4
1950    0      5.9      5.9
2009    5.2    2.0      7.2
1932    0      8.0      8.0
1945    1.7    9.6      11.3 SNOWIEST COMBO EVE-DAY

THE MOST SNOW TO FALL ON THE COMBINED CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY
WAS JUST OVER 11 INCHES IN 1945.

$$
CARLYON

...TOP 5 SNOWFALLS FOR ST CLOUD MINNESOTA...

ST CLOUD MINNESOTA

CHRISTMAS EVE

1937    1.0
1977    1.2
1916    1.8
1987    2.6
1920    4.0

2009    4.8

CHRISTMAS DAY

1934    2.0
1942    2.0
1982    3.2

2009    3.2
1920    4.0
2009    4.8  SNOWIEST

CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY COMBINED

...TOP 5 TWO-DAY SNOWFALL TOTALS...
        EVE     XMAS    COMBO
YEAR    DEC 24  DEC 25
1987    2.6     0.0     2.6
1982    0.3     3.2     3.5
1910    0.0     4.0     4.0
1950    0.0     4.2     4.2
1920    4.0     1.5     5.5

2009    4.8     3.2     8.0    SNOWIEST COMBO EVE-DAY

$$
CARLYON

...TOP 5 SNOWFALLS FOR EAU CLAIRE WISCONSIN...
FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY

EAU CLAIRE WISCONSIN

CHRISTMAS EVE

2001    2.2
1937    2.4
1969    2.9
1977    3.4
1914    4.1     SNOWIEST

EAU CLAIRE WISCONSIN

CHRISTMAS DAY

1950    2.0
1969    2.3
1957    3.2
1895    6.0
1945    8.0     SNOWIEST

CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY COMBINED

...TOP 5 TWO-DAY SNOWFALL TOTALS...
        EVE     XMAS    COMBO
YEAR    DEC 24  DEC 25
1977    3.4     0.0     3.4
1914    4.1     0.0     4.1
1969    2.9     2.3     5.2
1895    0.0     6.0     6.0
1945    1.5     8.0     9.5     SNOWIEST COMBO EVE-DAY

$$
CARLYON

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White Christmas Probabilities

   This year will bring a white Christmas to Minnesota.  Just how common is that?  The graphic below was created from historical data from NOAA’S National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). It reflects the chance, or probability, of a white Christmas based on observed conditions from past years, with a "white" Christmas being defined as having one inch or more of snow on the ground. The probability is based on the full period of record for a station, which in some cases could extend as far back as the 1800s. As you can see from the graphic below, the chance for a white Christmas for most of Minnesota and Wisconsin is greater than 60 percent, with enhanced probabilities (over 90 percent) across the northern portions of both states. To see more detailed climatology for Christmas in Minnesota from the Minnesota State Climatologist’s office, click here.

Current Snow Depth:     Text     Graphical

 

 

 

  

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