Snow Surges Despite Dry November as Decorah's Warm Streak Rolls On

If no one funds local news, your community is just rumors. Help Decorah News bring facts home. DECORAH — November 2025 continued the trend of warmth in Decorah according to Local Meteorologist and Luther Faculty Member Richard Bernatz, with the average daily temperature settling at 39.5 degrees, a full 4.2 degrees above the historical average. It was the 23rd-warmest November since 1893 and marked the 11th time in the past 12 months that the region experienced above-average temperatures. The month brought several days of unseasonable warmth, breaking two daily maximum temperature records. The warmest day reached 71 degrees on Nov. 14, setting a new record, and Nov. 15 tied a record high of 69 degrees. Even the minimum temperature on Nov. 25 was record-breaking, indicating unusually warm nights. The sustained warmth significantly reduced the need for heating, resulting in nearly 150 fewer heating degree days than average. The coldest temperature of the month was a comparatively mild 16 degrees on Nov. 28. In contrast to the warmth, overall precipitation for November trended drier. A total of 1.34 inches was recorded, about half an inch below the historical average. Measurable precipitation occurred on seven days, which is typical for the month. However, snowfall totaled 7.0 inches, significantly above the average of 2.4 inches. The twelve-month recap highlights a persistent pattern of warmth dominating Decorah's climate, with 11 of the past 12 months showing above-average temperatures. While November was drier than average, it followed a period of extremely heavy rain, particularly the near-record-breaking totals in August. As a result, precipitation deviations for the past year remain firmly in surplus, reflecting an overall much wetter year despite some recent dry spells. Unlock a world of knowledge! Sign up for free DecorahNews.com newsletters and receive local news, local events and everything that is happening in and around Decorah.