For my first post I'll start with the way-above-average temperatures so far this January. The average high (considering 1891 thru 2012 Minneapolis data) for January 1st-8th is 22; average low is 6. Our averages for 2012 have been 36/21 -- 14/16 degrees higher than average! We set a record high minimum for January 6th at 37. Five such "overnight low" record highs were set in 2011.
Here are the data for 2012 so far:
Average Hi = 36 / Average Lo = 21
| Year | M | D | H | L |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 19 |
| 2012 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 11 |
| 2012 | 1 | 3 | 29 | 10 |
| 2012 | 1 | 4 | 37 | 23 |
| 2012 | 1 | 5 | 45 | 24 |
| 2012 | 1 | 6 | 46 | 37 |
| 2012 | 1 | 7 | 37 | 25 |
| 2012 | 1 | 8 | 40 | 21 |
The National Weather Service in La Crosse has posted some fascinating data on the effect of snow cover on January temperatures. You might suspect that it would simply be warmer outside without snow, but to what extent? To see the actual data is interesting. Here's the chart of daytime highs in La Crosse with and without snow:
Here are the nighttime lows:
The warmest average high temp without snow is 40.1F (Jan 26th), but LAX's normal high for that day is just 26! Coldest average nighttime temp without snow is +13.3F (Jan 12th); that day's normal low is 6. The implication to me is that it would be difficult to get subzero temperatures without snow. Unfortunately they don't say how many Januaries had no snow, so we have no idea how many data points they're using. Still, it's interesting to know that our typical cold winters are very highly dependent on snow. These charts show that things are quite different around here without it.
