Hello all,

Inquiring from the Land of Lincoln. Curious how the current winter conditions are this year? Last winter started out warm and seemed like the warmth continued resulting in record or near record early ice outs.

I would think it has to be a more "normal" year up there as January was very cold in Illinois. I know you never can predict ice out but hoping it will be closer to May 1st in BWCA for 2025.

Thx

Can't speak for the BW but here in Iowa we've had a record dry and mild winter so far. We're at less than 4" of snow total for the season, and most of that came before Christmas. We even hit 60 degrees a couple days ago. Definitely the weirdest winter I've ever seen.

Without going into specific details: yes it is a much more traditional winter near Ely with snow pack & ice depths.

December had well above normal temps (again), and January was about normal. Decent snowfall in border country but well below average to the south.

We’ve had a very dry winter- no skiing, no snowshoeing, just brown grass. Record cold, also record highs. I’m an hour north of WI Dells.

SE Wisconsin - thus far we are well below in snowfall, which is fine with me since I don’t care to deal with it anymore. However, my snow removal crew, two teenage girls next door, are no doubt disappointed with their income decline this winter.

Wisconsin is the tale of 2 winters. Dry and brown in south, close to normal winter up north. Not a lot of snow up north though, but they have stayed a touch cooler while the south experienced some record highs recently. I'm south of Madison but headed to Vilas county this weekend so I'll see both sides. Not sure where the snow line is right now but its gonna change with storm coming Wed and again Saturday.

200 miles west of Ely near Bemidji, MN there is very little snow on the ground and temperatures have been much warmer than 20 to 30 years ago. Very few people are willing to run their snowmobiles with so little snow and I can see the tops of grass stems in the ditches where the snow should be thigh deep.

cowdoc: "Wisconsin is the tale of 2 winters. Dry and brown in south, close to normal winter up north. Not a lot of snow up north though, but they have stayed a touch cooler while the south experienced some record highs recently. I'm south of Madison but headed to Vilas county this weekend so I'll see both sides. Not sure where the snow line is right now but its gonna change with storm coming Wed and again Saturday. "

I was just talking with a buddy who lives in Vilas County north of Minocqua. He noted they haven’t had much snow this winter and when they got it, it was mostly light and fluffy with low moisture. He is a volunteer trail groomer and hasn’t done much of it this season.

arctic: "December had well above normal temps (again), and January was about normal. Decent snowfall in border country but well below average to the south."

Brainerd up to a day ago are fields lacked snow. Now we have about 3 inches. Way below normal. Last summer was verry dry, we did get some fall rains, but looking pleak unless spring rains and late snow shows up.

Hibbing- which has the best data set- (back 86 years to 1938-39) for in near proximity to the BWCA has the following #'s thus far this winter for temps

December 2024 avg temp was 16.9F. 86 year mean is 12.6F = +4.3F
Jan 2025 avg temp was 5.0F. 86 year mean is 6.7. = -1.7F

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So far winter temps (through JAN 31st) have avg 11F - 86 year mean is 9.6F = +1.4

Jan/Dec since late 70's (it's all I could fit on a page) -- the means are from 1938-39 - present- not from the late 1970's. Interesting stat- both the warmest ever Jan/Feb on record at Hibbing (2023-24) at 20.5F - and the coldest ever Jan/Feb on record at Hibbing (2013-2014) at -1.6F have occurred in the last 11 years.




Unfortunately - snowfall data at Hibbing has not been done in 25 years.

But these maps pretty much sum up what previous posters have said.
Enjoy the weather - it's the only weather you got.

Snow fall is well below average most everywhere in MN. Winter seems to be showing up later and later each year.

Southwest Iowa least amount of snow on record at this point of the year. We’ve accumulated less than an inch!

Not near BWCA but normal snow here in NY north country but cold. First time in 5 years the St Lawrence is nearly frozen.

You've probably already researched this, but you can find the median ice-out dates here at the MN DNR. The dates are compiled over the past 20 years or so. It can help when planning a shoulder season adventure.

You might get your wish. As a skier in the Arrowhead, I will be very unhappy if you do. ;-)

Update-

Hibbing is on pace for a top 10 cold FEB

this data is through yday-


after today with a -30F low-- (the high still to be known) but still - a mean near 3.0F thus far.

With the current forecast- I think top 10 coldest FEB is in the mix.

That +3F mean is only going downhill in the next 7 days-----

enjoy the weather- it's the only weather you got!

Lots of snow here in Michigan.

The NE coast (and Michigan) is gonna get blasted in the next 10 days. Epic pattern.
meanwhile in canoe county -- too cold for big storms-- just clippers.

Enjoy the weather- it's the only weather you got.

pretty sure Hibbing set a record low this AM of -36F / -37F ( I don't know which yet because I only have access to on the hour data-- may have been colder intra hour.
The old record was -34F just 3 years ago in 2022.
I'd expect more cold records to be broken next week (region wide) as the Polar Vortex comes for a visit and fresh snow cover ( heavy) for those in the I-80 / I-70 corridor that have not seen much this season. Feast to famine.

half an hour north of the twin cities here. Just got about 4-7 inches of snow last week, but just really cold.

-37F at Hibbing this AM-- record.
Nearly 7F below normal for the first 12 days of FEB--- but the high for today the 12th will not be 0F, so a slight adjustment-- still impressive cold with not a real deep snowpack.

Just 45 minutes from town reported to have most snow in the nation. 257" as of the other day. The village of Copenhagen NY. Lot of snow.