Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary for Meteorological Spring 2024: Temperatures - Warmer than Normal

During the 2024 meteorological spring (March 1 through May 31), average temperatures ranged from 44.1°F at the Medford County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 51.7°F at Decorah, IA (COOP). Boscobel, WI had its 3rd warmest spring (records go back to 2000) and Decorah, IA had its 4th warmest spring (records go back to 1893). Temperature anomalies ranged from 1°F to 5°F above normal. There was a 90°F difference between the warmest and coldest temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The warmest temperature was 91°F at Boscobel Airport, WI (ASOS) on May 18. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was 1°F at Mondovi, WI on March 23.

Precipitation - Wetter than Normal

Spring precipitation totals varied from 10.10" at Alma Dam 4, WI (COOP) to 18.34" at Charle City, IA (COOP). Charles City, IA had their 2nd wettest spring. Only 2013 was wetter with 18.46". Precipitation anomalies were up to 8" wetter than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 3.72" at Decorah Municipal Airport, IA (AWOS) on May 21. At the beginning of the spring, 82% of the La Crosse Hydrologic Service Area (HSA) was in drought. Severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought covered much of northeast Iowa. Well above-normal precipitation during April and May, alleviated the drought across the entire area.

Snowfall - Highly Variable

Spring snowfall varied from 1" at Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10, IA (COOP) to 24.9" at the La Crosse National Weather Service on top of La Crosse Ridge. Snowfall anomalies ranged from 6" below normal to 10" above normal. The highest one-day snowfall was 11.8" at NWS La Crosse, WI on April 2.

Below are the climate summaries for the 2024 meteorological spring in La Crosse, WI and Rochester, MN

La Crosse, WI

 Meteorological Spring 2024 Summary for La Crosse WI 
 

The 2024 meteorological spring (March 1 through May 31) was tied for the 13th warmest with 1910 and the 12th wettest for La Crosse, WI. More details on these statistics can be found below.

Temperatures - Tied for 12th Warmest with 1910 & 1985 From March 1st through May 31st, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 50.6°F. This was 2°F warmer than 1991-2020 normal of 48.6°F. This was tied for the 12th warmest with 1910 and 1985. 7 out of the 19 wettest springs have occurred since 2004. 9 out of the last 10 springs have been warmer than the long-term average. The only one that was cooler was 2019 (average temperature 45.4°F). The table below lists the 20 warmest meteorological springs for La Crosse, WI.

Warmest Meteorological Springs
      in La Crosse, WI
         1873-2024

          Average
Rank    Temperature    Year
----    -----------    ----
  1       54.7°F       2012
  2       53.9°F       1977
  3       52.0°F       2010
          52.0°F       1878
  5       51.9°F       1987
  6       51.4°F       1998
  7       51.3°F       1946
  8       51.1°F       2021
  9       50.9°F       2000
 10       50.7°F       2016
          50.7°F       1921 
 12       50.6°F       2024
          50.6°F       1985
          50.6°F       1910
 15       50.5°F       1999
 16       50.3°F       2007
 17       50.1°F       1986
 18       50.0°F       1894
 19       49.8°F       2015
          49.8°F       2006

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the spring of 2024.

      Spring 2024 Temperatures
          in La Crosse WI 

             Average     Departure
   Month   Temperature  from Normal
   -----   -----------  -----------
   March      39.9°F      +4.1°F - Tied for 14th Warmest
                                   with 1977
   April      49.5°F      +0.5°F
   May        62.5°F      +1.5°F 
 
   Spring     50.6°F      +2.0°F - Tied with 1910 and 1985
                                   for 12th Warmest

• The average high temperature was 61.4°F. This was 2.3°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 59.1°F. This was the 12th warmest.
• The average low temperature was 39.9°F. This was 1.7°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 38.2°F. This was tied with 1879 for the 19th warmest.
   
• The warmest high temperature was 89°F on May 18.
• The coldest high temperature was 34°F on March 22.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 60°F on May 18, May 20, and May 21. 
• The coldest low temperature was 16°F on March 23.
   
• Maximum Temperature <= 32 on 0 Days
• Maximum Temperature >= 90 on 0 Days 
• Minimum Temperature <= 32 on 25 Days
• Minimum Temperature <=  0 on  0 Days

Precipitation - 12th Wettest

• La Crosse Regional Airport received 12.83 inches of precipitation. This was 2.71" wetter than the 1991-2020 spring normal of 10.12 inches. This was the 12th wettest spring. The table below lists the 20 warmest meteorological springs for La Crosse, WI.

Wettest Meteorological Springs
    for La Crosse, WI
        1873-2020

        Rainfall 
Rank     Amount     Year
----    --------    ----
  1  17.21 inches   1973
  2  16.53 inches   2013
  3  15.37 inches   1945
  4  15.04 inches   1991
  5  14.61 inches   2004
  6  13.83 inches   2017
  7  13.70 inches   1993
  8  13.61 inches   1888
  9  13.28 inches   1908
 10  13.11 inches   1903
 11  12.88 inches   1960
 12  12.83 inches   2024
 13  12.41 inches   2008
 14  12.31 inches   1951
 15  12.29 inches   1892
 16  12.03 inches   1965
 17  11.97 inches   1876
 18  11.53 inches   2018
 19  11.51 inches   2006
 20  11.41 inches   1956

• The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the spring of 2024.

        Spring 2024 Precipitation
             in La Crosse WI 

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
   March    1.86 inches   -0.18 inches
   April    4.26 inches   +0.51 inches
   May      6.71 inches   +2.38 inches - 12th Wettest
 
   Spring  12.83 inches   +2.71 inches - 12th Wettest

• The wettest day occurred on May 26 when 1.64" of rain fell.
• Measurable precipitation fell on 34 days (37%) and trace amounts on another 15 days (16.3%).

Snowfall - Below Normal

• The snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport recorded 7.5".
• This was 2.7" less than the 1991-2020 normal of 10.2".
• The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the spring of 2024.

          Spring 2024 Snowfall
             in La Crosse WI 

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
   March     6.4 inches   -0.9 inches 
   April     1.1 inches   -1.8 inches
   May       0.0 inches    0.0 inches
 
   Spring   7.7 inches    -2.7 inches

• The snowiest day occurred on March 24 when 4.4" of snow fell.
• Measurable snow fell on 3 days (3.3%) and trace amounts on another 10 days (10.9%).
• Greatest snow depth was 3” on March 25.

Rochester, MN  
 

Meteorological Spring 2024 Summary for Rochester MN

The 2024 meteorological spring (March 1 through May 31) was tied with 2000 for the 8th warmest and 22nd wettest for Rochester, MN.  More details on these statistics can be found below.
 

Temperatures - Tied with 2000 for the 8th Warmest Spring From March 1st through May 31st, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 47.9°F.   This was 3.1°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 44.8°F.   This was tied for the 8th warmest spring with 2000. 9 out of the 18 warmest meteorological springs have occurred since 2000. The table below lists the 10 warmest meteorological springs for Rochester, MN.

Warmest Meteorological Springs
      in Rochester, MN
         1886-2024

          Average
Rank    Temperature    Year
----    -----------    ----
  1       53.8°F       2012
  2       52.1°F       1977
  3       50.1°F       2010
  4       49.3°F       1987
  5       48.8°F       1985
          48.8°F       1946
  7       48.1°F       2016
  8       47.9°F       2024
          47.9°F       2000
 10       47.8°F       2006
          47.8°F       1910

• The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the spring of 2024.

      Spring 2024 Temperatures
          in Rochester MN 

             Average     Departure
   Month   Temperature  from Normal
   -----   -----------  -----------
   March      37.3°F      +5.6°F - 11th Warmest
   April      46.8°F      +1.6°F 
   May        59.4°F      +1.8°F 
 
   Spring     47.9°F      +3.1°F - Tied for 8th Warmest
                                   with 2000                                   

• The average high temperature was 58.7°F.  This was 4.3°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 54.4°F. This was tied for the 8th warmest with 1918 and 1985.
• The average low temperature was 37°F.  This was 2.2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 35.2°F. This was tied for the 14th warmest with 2004.
   
• The warmest high temperature was 88°F on May 18.
• The coldest high temperature was 30°F on March 22.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 59°F on May 20.
• The coldest low temperature was 12°F on March 23.
   
• Maximum Temperature <= 32 on 3 Days
• Maximum Temperature >= 90 on 0 Days 
• Minimum Temperature <= 32 on 37 Days
• Minimum Temperature <=  0 on  0 Days
   

Precipitation - 22nd Wettest Spring

• Rochester International Airport received 10.60" of precipitation.  
• This was 0.71" wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 9.89".  
• This was the 22nd wettest spring.
• 8 out of the 20 wettest springs have occurred since 2000.  
• The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the spring of 2024.

        Spring 2024 Precipitation
             in Rochester MN 

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
   March    2.35 inches   +0.33 inches
   April    3.92 inches   +0.40 inches 
   May      4.33 inches   -0.02 inches
 
   Spring  10.60 inches   +0.71 inches

• The wettest day occurred on May 2 when 1.38" of rain fell.
• Measurable precipitation fell on 36 days (39.1%) and trace amounts fell on another 9 days (9.8%).

Snowfall - Slightly Below Normal

• The snow observer near Rochester International Airport recorded 12.1" of snow.
• This was 0.3" less than the 1991-2020 normal of 12.4".
• The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the spring of 2024.

          Spring 2024 Snowfall
             in Rochester MN 

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
   March     8.6 inches    0.0 inches 
   April     3.5 inches   +0.2 inches 
   May       0.0 inches   -0.5 inches
 
   Spring    12.1 inches  -0.3 inches 

• The snowiest day occurred on March 24 when 5.7" of snow fell.
• Measurable snow fell on 8 days (8.7%) and trace amounts fell on another 3 days (3.3%).
• Greatest snow depth was 5" on March 25.