Wisconsin State Climatology Office
The first month of winter began with a burst of severe cold and lingering November snow, then flipped to temperature swings, gusty storms and mixed precipitation. Dec. 2025 wasted no time reminding Wisconsinites what winter can deliver, opening with an unusually intense cold spell. From Dec. 1 to 14, temperatures across Wisconsin averaged just 12 degrees – about 12 degrees colder than normal for that time of year – producing conditions more typical of mid-January than early December. More than 100 daily low minimum and maximum temperature records were tied or broken in Wisconsin during the first two weeks of the month.
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Authors are Bridgette Mason and Edward Hopkins, assistant state climatologists; Amanda Latham, climate-outreach specialist; Dea Larsen Converse, communications director; and Steve Vavrus, State Climatologist.
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