Generally in December, low temperatures are in the 10’s and creep towards below zero. This December was not like most. National Weather Service Meteorologist Michelle Markgraf said there were some days, like Christmas Eve and Christmas, where the lowest temperature of the day was higher than a typical high.

“For the entire month of December, the average low temperature was 34.3,” Markgraf said. “The previous record was in 1877 of 33.3. Given how hard it is to change averages, this is a huge leap. We set record-warm lows on Dec. 16, 23, 24 and 25th. We were above normal and close to record highs every day, so it added up over time and culminated with high low temperatures over Christmas.”

The highest low temperature in December was 45 on December 24th. On that day throughout the years, the low is usually 13 and the high is 26. On several days, the lowest temperature was hotter than typical highs. The lowest it got all month was 16 degrees on December 18, which is still hotter than typical lows.

What was behind this abnormal month of warm temperatures, even at their lowest? Markgraf said lack of snow and El Nino conditions were the biggest factors.

For the most part New Ulm is staying grassy, as snow has been light and the temperatures have been higher. National Weather Service Meteorologist Michelle Markgraf said the lack of substantial snow combined with effects from El Nino were the main factors behind the higher low temperatures.

“We will get colder when there is snow on the ground and we haven’t had any snow,” she said. “When there’s bare ground, it absorbs the heat and makes it warmer. When there’s snow on the ground, it reflects the heat and absorbs it, which makes everything colder. One of the other key players is we have El Nino conditions, which means there are higher than average water temperatures in the eastern Pacific. This affected temperatures and storm conditions in our area.”

While it may not be as drastic as December, Markgraf said there are expected to be higher than normal temperatures in the future. With an El Nino winter, there are only sporadic instances of colder-than-average temperatures. For those looking for cold and snow, she said their wish could be on the horizon.

“Around the middle of January, we are expecting a change with below-average temperatures and potential accumulating snowfall,” Markgraf said. “None of the storm systems have developed yet, but our computer models are projecting storms. There are chances of light snow from Friday to Saturday, and some more next week. After that, we believe there might be more significant snowfall. We are seeing more storms across the Central US that could make their way here.”

Given how warm this “winter” has been, some may have been lulled into a false sense of security. Markgraf said for those who have been putting off their winterization responsibilities, now is the time to act.

“By this time of year lows are usually near zero,” she said. “Since it hasn’t been, we aren’t acclimated to it yet. Now, winter is coming. If you have a winter survival kit, that needs to be put in. Any yard work that needs to be done should be taken care of right now.”