La Crosse, WI

Weather Forecast Office

Meteorological 2021 Autumn Climate Summary in La Crosse WI and Rochester MN

Autumn 2021 was warmer and drier than normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. More specific details can be found below. This includes information for La Crosse WI and Rochester MN.

Temperatures...

During the meteorological autumn of 2021 (September 1-November 30), average temperatures ranged from near-normal to 6 degrees above normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The highest average temperature was 54.5°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. Meanwhile, the coolest average temperature was 46.6°F at Medford Taylor County Airport. Typically autumn temperatures average from 44°F to 50°F.

Rochester, MN tied 2005 and 2007 for their 4th warmest autumn (50.7°F). 11 out of their 21 warmest autumns have occurred since 1998. La Crosse, WI had their 5th warmest autumn (54.5°F). 9 out of their 16 warmest autumns have occurred since 1998.

The hottest temperature was 91°F at Boscobel, WI, and Mondovi, WI on September 19. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was 3°F at Black River Falls, WI on November 26.

Autumn 2021 Temperature Anomalies

Precipitation...

The autumn precipitation was drier than normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Precipitation total ranged from 2.80" at Friendship, WI to 10.83" near Waucoma, IA. Normally, precipitation totals range from 7.50" to 8.50" south of Interstate 94 and 8.50" to 9.50" across the remainder of the area.

Friendship, WI had its driest autumn (2.80"). The previous record was 4.15" in 1944. Precipitation records date back to 1930. Mather, WI had their 5th driest autumn (3.18"). Their driest autumn occurred in 1950 (2.27"). This autumn was their driest since 1953 (3.04" - 2nd driest). La Crosse, WI had their 15th driest (3.91") autumn and their driest since 1990.

The autumn began abnormally dry (D0) across parts of southeast Minnesota. Southwest Wisconsin saw abnormally dry (D0) to moderate (D1) drought conditions and northeast Iowa saw abnormally dry (D0) to severe (D2) drought conditions. During the autumn, there were some small improvements across southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. Meanwhile, abnormally dry (D0) and moderate (D1) drought conditions developed across central and north-central Wisconsin.

Autumn 2021 Precipitation Anomalies

Snowfall...

Snowfall was up to 2 to 6" below the 1991-2020 normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Snowfall typically ranges from 2 to 5“ south of Interstate 90 and 5 to 8” across the remainder of the area. The highest snow total was 5.2” near Medford, WI.

Autumn 2021 Snowfall Anomalies

La Crosse WI...

Temperatures...5th Warmest

From September 1 through November 30, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 54.5°F. This was 3.1°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 51.4°F. This was the 5th warmest meteorological autumn and the warmest since 2016 (average temperature 56.6°F - warmest autumn).

The table below contains the 10 warmest meteorological autumns.

Warmest Meteorological
Autumns in La Crosse WI
1873-2021

Rank Avg. Temp Year
---- --------- ----
1 56.6°F 2016
2 55.6°F 1931
3 55.1°F 2015
4 55.0°F 1963
5 54.5°F 2021
6 54.4°F 1998
7 54.2°F 1994
8 53.4°F 1922
9 53.2°F 2017
10 53.0°F 1953

The table below contains the monthly average temperatures and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2021.

Autumn 2021 Temperatures
in La Crosse WI

Average Departure
Month Temperature from Normal
----- ----------- -----------
September 67.2°F +2.4°F - Tied for
11th warmest
October 57.6°F +5.9°F - 5th warmest
November 38.7°F +1.1°F

Autumn 54.5°F +3.1°F - 5th warmest

The average high temperature was 64.5°F which was 3.6°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 60.9°F. This was the 4th warmest and the warmest since 2016.
The average low temperature was 44.5°F which was 2.7°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 41.8°F. This was the 8th warmest and the warmest since 2016.
The warmest high temperature was 90°F on September 19.
The coldest high temperature was 34°F on November 18, November 22, and November 26.
The warmest low temperature was 65°F on October 2.
The coldest low temperature was 14°F on November 25.
Temperatures averaged above normal on 56 days, below normal on 27 days and normal on 8 days.

Precipitation...15th Driest

From September 1 through November 30, La Crosse Regional Airport received 4.06 inches of precipitation. This was 3.91 inches drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 7.97 inches. This was the 15th driest meteorological autumn and the driest since 1990 (3.99 inches - 14th driest). The table below contains the 20 driest meteorological autumns.

Driest Meteorological
Autumns in La Crosse WI
1873-2021

Rank Precipitation Year
---- ------------- ----
1 0.82 inches 1976
2 2.11 inches 1952
3 2.23 inches 1953
4 2.69 inches 1897
5 2.77 inches 1949
6 2.84 inches 1899
7 2.93 inches 1939
8 3.06 inches 1888
9 3.24 inches 1955
10 3.25 inches 1950
11 3.29 inches 1932
12 3.54 inches 1912
13 3.98 inches 1910
14 3.99 inches 1990
15 4.06 inches 2021
16 4.08 inches 1967
17 4.12 inches 1993
18 4.23 inches 1893
19 4.30 inches 1918
20 4.40 inches 1895

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2021.

Autumn 2021 Precipitation
in La Crosse WI

Precipitation Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------- -----------
September 1.43 inches -2.20 inches
October 1.05 inches -1.44 inches
November 1.58 inches -0.27 inches

Autumn 4.06 inches -3.91 inches - 15th Driest

The highest daily precipitation total was 0.76 inches on November 11.
Measurable rain fell on 19 days (20.9%) and trace amounts fell on another 14 days (15.4%).

Breakdown by precipitation amounts

None 58 Days
Trace 14 Days
0.01-0.09 inches 10 Days
0.10-0.24 inches 4 Days
0.25-0.49 inches 2 Days
0.50-0.99 inches 3 Days

Snowfall...Below-Normal

From September 1 through November 30, the official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport received 0.8 inches of snow. This was 2.9 inches below the 1991-2020 normal of 3.7 inches. The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2021.

Autumn 2021 Snowfall
in La Crosse WI

Snowfall Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------- -----------
September 0.0 inches 0.0 inches
October 0.0 inches -0.3 inches
November 0.8 inches -2.6 inches

Autumn 0.8 inches -2.9 inches

The highest daily snowfall was 0.7 inches on November 13.
Measurable snow fell on 2 days (2.2%) and trace amounts fell on another 2 days (2.2%).

Breakdown by snowfall amounts

None 87 Days
Trace 2 Days
0.1-0.9 inches 2 Days

Greatest snow depth was a trace on November 14.

Sky...

It was clear on 49 days.
It was partly cloudy on 31 days.
It was cloudy on 11 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

Highest was 30.48 inches on November 19.
Lowest was 29.37 inches on November 11.

Winds...

Highest sustained wind was 41 mph from the southwest on September 20.
Highest wind gust was 57 mph from the west southwest on September 20.

Rochester MN...

Autumn of 2021 was much warmer and drier than normal at Rochester, MN. It was tied for the 4th warmest with 2005 and 2007. 14 out of their 25 warmest autumns have occurred since 1998. More details can be found below.

Temperatures...Tied for the 4th Warmest with 2005 and 2007

From September 1 through November 30, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 50.7°F. This was 3.2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 47.5°F. This was tied for the 4th warmest meteorological autumn with 2005 and 2007, and the warmest since 2016 (average temperature of 53.1°F - the warmest meteorological autumn.

The table below contains the 10 warmest meteorological autumns.

Warmest Meteorological
Autumns in Rochester MN
1886-2021

Rank Avg. Temp Year
---- --------- ----
1 53.1°F 2016
2 52.6°F 1963
3 52.0°F 2015
4 50.7°F 2021
50.7°F 2007
50.7°F 2005
7 50.5°F 1953
8 50.3°F 2011
9 50.1°F 1998
10 50.0°F 2001
50.0°F 1994
50.0°F 1948

The table below contains the monthly average temperatures and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2021.

Autumn 2021 Temperatures
in Rochester MN

Average Departure
Month Temperature from Normal
----- ----------- -----------
September 63.1°F +2.0°F
October 53.4°F +5.5°F - 10th Warmest
November 35.5°F +1.9°F

Autumn 50.7°F +3.2°F - Tied for 4th Warmest

The average high temperature was 60.9°F which was 3.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 57.1°F. This was the 5th warmest and the warmest since 2016.
The average low temperature was 40.5°F which was 2.5°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 38.0°F. This was tied for 9th warmest with 1971 and the warmest since 2016.
The warmest high temperature was 86°F on September 19.
The coldest high temperature was 30°F on November 18 and November 25.
The warmest low temperature was 61°F on September 19.
The coldest low temperature was 11°F on November 25 and November 26.
Temperatures averaged above normal on 56 days, below normal on 30 days and normal on 7 days.

Precipitation...Drier than normal

From September 1 through November 30, Rochester International Airport received 5.15 inches of precipitation. This was 2.68 inches drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 7.83 inches. The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2021.

Autumn 2021 Precipitation
in Rochester, MN

Precipitation Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------- -----------
September 1.63 inches -1.97 inches
October 1.63 inches -0.80 inches
November 1.89 inches +0.09 inches

Autumn 5.15 inches -2.68 inches

The highest daily precipitation total was 1.42 inches on November 10.
Measurable rain fell on 22 days (24.2%) and trace amounts fell on another 10 days (11%).

Breakdown by precipitation amounts

None 59 Days
Trace 10 Days
0.01-0.09 inches 14 Days
0.10-0.24 inches 1 Day
0.25-0.49 inches 4 Days
0.50-0.99 inches 1 Day
1.00-1.99 inches 1 Day

Snowfall...Tied for 12th Least with 1933

From September 1 through November 30, the official snow observer near Rochester International Airport received 0.6 inches of snow. This was 4.8 inches below the 1991-2020 normal of 5.4 inches. This was tied with 1933 for the 12th least amount of snow in autumn. The table below contains the 20 autumns with the least amount of snow.

Snowless Meteorological
Autumns in Rochester MN
1933-2021

Rank Total Snow Year
---- ---------- ----
1 Trace 1941
2 0.1 inches 2012
0.1 inches 1960
4 0.2 inches 2011
5 0.3 inches 1973
0.3 inches 1963
7 0.4 inches 2001
0.4 inches 1962
9 0.5 inches 1999
0.5 inches 1967
0.5 inches 1935
12 0.6 inches 2021
0.6 inches 1933
14 0.7 inches 1998
0.7 inches 1980
0.7 inches 1958
17 0.9 inches 2007
18 1.0 inches 2016
19 1.1 inches 1965
20 1.3 inches 2013
1.3 inches 2010
1.3 inches 2003
1.3 inches 1948

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2021.

Autumn 2021 Snowfall
in Rochester MN

Snowfall Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------- -----------
September 0.0 inches 0.0 inches
October 0.0 inches -0.9 inches
November 0.6 inches -3.9 inches - Tied for 19th Least

Autumn 0.6 inches -4.8 inches - Tied for 12th Least

The highest daily snowfall total was 0.3 inches on November 12 and November 13.
Measurable snow fell on 2 days (2.2%) and trace amounts fell on another 5 days (5.5%).