1:52 PM Sunday, December 31, 2023
Duluth almost went the entire month of December with above average temperatures. The only exception was on December 18th when the average temperature was just -1 degrees below normal.
No subzero temperatures in Duluth this month. This will be the first December since 2015 without any subzero temperatures.
Statewide temperature ranks for December 2023 (thru the 30th)
- Minnesota (warmest on record, dating back to 1895)
- Wisconsin (warmest on record)
- Iowa (warmest on record)
- North Dakota (2nd warmest on record)
- South Dakota (2nd warmest on record)
- Michigan (2nd warmest on record)
Average monthly temperatures for December 2023 are running well above normal by some +10 to +15 degrees from the northern Plains to the upper Midwest.
Here in the Northland, International Falls, Hibbing, Brainerd and Ashland will all record their warmest December on record, while Duluth will record its 2nd warmest December on record with only December 1877 ahead of December 2023, but you also have to remember that weather records were taken in Downtown Duluth (near Lake Superior) back in 1877.
Average temperature and departure from normal for December 2023 (thru the 30th)
Ashland, WI: 33.1 degrees, +12.8 degrees above normal
Brainerd, MN: 30.4 degrees, +13.5 degrees above normal
Duluth, MN: 30.3 degrees, +13.1 degrees above normal
International Falls, MN: 27.9 degrees, +16.0 degrees above normal
Hibbing, MN: 27.2 degrees, +14.8 degrees above normal
Also of note, International Falls is running +5.1 degrees warmer than their previous warmest December of 22.8 degrees set in 1913.
Brainerd, Hibbing and Ashland are running +2.5 to nearly +4.0 degrees warmer than their previous warmest December on record.
Thanks for reading!
Tim
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