National Weather Service Meteorologist Tyler Hasenstein said several independent observers marked the rain count at nearly two inches over the 24th and 25th. Near St. Cloud three inches of rain were recorded, which Hasenstein said is unheard of for this time of year. He said it was the result of a large system refusing to go away.

“We had a gradual slow-moving system that parked itself just to our south and kept throwing rain in our direction,” Hasenstein said. “In previous years there would be some cold to decrease the moisture and bring some snow but this year we didn’t have that.”

Not all of Minnesota missed out on a white Christmas. Hasenstein said portions of northern and western Minnesota were able to get and keep snow, with the furthest south being parts of Yellow Medicine County.

For most of central and southern Minnesota, they had record-breaking temperatures instead. New Ulm made it to 52 degrees Christmas Eve, breaking the record of 45 set in 1936. The high was also 52 on Christmas but was one degree short of breaking the record of 53 set in 1922. Hasenstein said these conditions are very unusual.

Temporary ponds, like this one in the River Bend Learning Center parking lot, have sprung up across New Ulm due to the rain and high temperatures received over the holidays. There is no snow in the upcoming forecast, and National Weather Service Meteorologist Tyler Hasenstein said any plans relying on it should be changed.

“It isn’t entirely uncommon to see temperatures in the 50’s, but how long it has gone on is an anomaly,” he said. “Sometimes we would see this amount of precipitation, but that usually happens with a mix of rain and snow and over a longer period. This rainstorm happened all at once.”

Hasenstein said the upcoming forecast shows no sign of a winter takeover. For the next week highs are expected to level off in the low 30’s with lows in the low 20’s. It is also expected to be much drier. Besides some flurries without accumulation, no snow is expected through the first week of January.

This is good news for fans of no snowfall, but for those anxiously anticipating a winter wonderland, Hasenstein said it is bound to come.

“At this point, you will have to be patient,” he said. “This is still Minnesota, we will get snow, we just have to wait.”

Though ground temperatures are above freezing, Hasenstein said caution is still necessary while driving on the roads. He highlighted bridges and overpasses as areas to watch out for, as these road surfaces often freeze when cold air runs underneath them. For those still holding out on planned wintery excursions, Hasenstein advised coming up with alternatives.