During meteorological summer 2022 (June 1-August 31), temperatures averaged near-normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley.  Monthly average temperatures ranged from 64.9°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 73.2°F at La Crosse Regional Airport, WI (ASOS). The hottest temperature was 101°F near Theilman, MN (COOP) on June 21 and the coldest temperature was 35°F at Sparta Fort McCoy, WI on June 3.

During meteorological summer 2022 (June 1-August 31), temperatures averaged near-normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley.  Monthly average temperatures ranged from 64.9°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 73.2°F at La Crosse Regional Airport, WI (ASOS). The hottest temperature was 101°F near Theilman, MN (COOP) on June 21 and the coldest temperature was 35°F at Sparta Fort McCoy, WI on June 3.

Summer rainfall was highly variable across The Upper Mississippi River Valley. Rain totals ranged from 5.49” at Wabasha, MN (COOP) to 23.61” at Preston, MN (COOP). The greatest 1-day rainfall was 5.25" at Grand Meadow, MN (COOP). This rainfall fell from 7 AM on July 23 to 7 AM on July 24.

Rainfall anomalies ranged from 8” drier-than-normal to 8” wetter-than-normal across the region. It was the 2nd wettest summer at Preston, MN (only 1990 was wetter with 23.64") and St. Ansgar, IA (only 2008 was wetter with 21.24"). It was the 8th wettest summer at Caledonia, MN and Decorah, IA; and 9th wettest summer at Grand Meadow, MN and Prairie du Chien, WI. In contrast, Wabasha, MN had their 3rd driest summer and Lake City, MN had their 6th driest summer.

Below are the August 2022 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI

2022 Meteorological Summer was Slightly Warmer and Drier-than-Normal at La Crosse, WI

During the meteorological summer (June 1st through August 31st) of 2022, it was slightly warmer (+0.3°F) and drier (-0.66") than normal at La Crosse Regional Airport.

More details are listed below...

Temperatures...23rd Warmest During meteorological summer, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 73.2°F. This was 0.3°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 72.9°F. This was tied with 1894 for the 23rd warmest summer. The table below provides a breakdown of the temperature departures from normal for La Crosse WI this summer...

        Summer 2022 Temperatures
             in La Crosse WI

                           Departure from
                               Normal
                           --------------
June   Avg Temp     71.9°F     +0.9°F
       Avg Max Temp 82.3°F     +0.6°F
       Avg Min Temp 61.4°F     +1.0°F

July   Avg Temp     75.0°F     Normal
       Avg Max Temp 85.3°F     -0.1°F
       Avg Min Temp 64.6°F     +0.1°F

August Avg Temp     72.7°F     -0.1°F 
       Avg Max Temp 82.5°F     -0.7°F
       Avg Min Temp 62.9°F     +0.6°F

Summer Avg Temp     73.2°F     +0.3°F 
       Avg Max Temp 83.4°F     -0.1°F    
       Avg Min Temp 63.0°F     +0.6°F

Other temperature tidbits this summer...

• The hottest temperature was 98°F on June 14 and June 20.
• The coldest high temperature was 61°F on June 4. 
• The warmest low temperature was 74°F on July 19 and August 7.
• The coldest temperature was 50°F on June 2 and June 3.
• The temperature climbed to or exceeded 90°F on 12 days. This was 3 days below the 1991-2020 normal of 15 days.
• Temperatures averaged above normal on 40 days, below normal on 39 days, and normal on 13 days.

Rainfall...Below Normal

• During the meteorological summer, La Crosse Regional Airport received 12.55" of rain. This was 0.66 inches drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 13.21". 
• This was the first summer to see below-normal precipitation since 2015 (10.12").
• The table below contains the monthly rainfall totals and their departures from normal for this summer.

         Summer 2022 Rainfall
            in La Crosse WI

                           Departure
   Month    Rain Total    from Normal
   -----    ----------    -----------
   June     5.15 inches   +0.07 inches 
   July     3.90 inches   -0.33 inches 
   August   3.50 inches   -0.40 inches 
 
   Summer  12.55 inches   -0.66 inches 

Other rainfall tidbits this summer...

• The wettest day occurred on June 13 when 2.09" of rain fell. 
• Measurable rain fell on 33 days (35.9%) and trace amounts fell on another 8 days (8.7%).  

None             51 days   51.3 percent
Trace             8 days    8.7 percent
0.01-0.09 inches 13 days   14.1 percent
0.10-0.24 inches  7 days    7.6 percent
0.25-0.49 inches  4 days    4.3 percent
0.50-0.99 inches  4 days    4.3 percent
1.00-1.99 inches  4 days    4.3 percent
2.00-2.99 inches  1 day     1.1 percent

• Thunderstorms occurred on 25 days and dense fog on 10 days.

Sky...

• It was clear on 55 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 31 days.
• It was cloudy on 6 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.29" on August 12.
• Lowest was 29.49" on July 20. 

Winds...

• Average wind speed was 7.4 mph.
• Highest sustained wind speed was 60 mph from the west northwest on July 23.

Rochester, MN

2022 Meteorological Summer was Wetter and Slightly Warmer than Normal Rochester MN

During the meteorological summer (June 1st through August 31st) of 2022, it was wetter than normal (2.16") and slightly warmer (+0.8°F) than normal at Rochester International Airport.

More details are listed below... 

Temperatures...Slightly Warmer than Normal During meteorological summer, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 69.5°F. This was 0.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 68.7°F. The table below provides a breakdown of the temperature departures from normal for Rochester MN this summer...

        Summer 2022 Temperatures
             in Rochester MN

                             Departure from
                                 Normal
                             --------------
June   Avg Temp     69.5°F       +2.0°F 
       Avg Max Temp 79.9°F       +2.3°F
       Avg Min Temp 59.2°F       +1.7°F 

July   Avg Temp     71.0°F       +0.5°F 
       Avg Max Temp 80.8°F       +0.5°F   
       Avg Min Temp 61.2F        +0.4°F 
 
August Avg Temp     68.0°F      -0.2°F   
       Avg Max Temp 77.5°F      -0.5°F 
       Avg Min Temp 58.6°F      +0.3°F  

Summer Avg Temp     69.5°F      +0.8°F 
       Avg Max Temp 79.4°F      +0.8°F
       Avg Min Temp 59.7°F      +0.9°F 

Other temperature tidbits this summer...

• The hottest temperature was 96°F on June 20.
• The coldest high temperature was 60°F on June 4. 
• The warmest low temperature was 72°F on June 14.
• The coldest temperature was 48°F on June 2. 
• The temperature reached 90°F on 4 days.  Normally there are 4 days.
• Temperatures averaged above normal on 51 days, below normal on 31 days, and normal temperatures on 10 days.

Rainfall...19th Wettest

• During the meteorological summer, Rochester International Airport received 15.82" of rain.  This was 2.16" wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 13.66". This was the 19th wettest summer. 

 Twenty Wettest Augusts 
     in Rochester MN
        1886-2022

Rank    Rainfall    Year
----    --------    ----
  1   23.34 inches  2000
  2   22.86 inches  1990
  3   20.36 inches  1981
  4   19.87 inches  1978
  5   19.32 inches  1993
  6   19.14 inches  2007
  7   18.90 inches  1942
  8   18.70 inches  1999
  9   18.23 inches  1938
 10   18.20 inches  1951
 11   18.00 inches  2019
 12   17.84 inches  2002
 13   17.04 inches  1935
 14   16.80 inches  1952
 15   16.58 inches  2016
 16   16.56 inches  2004
 17   16.49 inches  2010
 18   16.24 inches  1914
 19   15.82 inches  2022
 20   15.57 inches  1913  

• The table below contains the monthly rainfall totals and their departures from normal for this summer.

         Summer 2022 Rainfall
            in Rochester MN

                           Departure
   Month    Rain Total    from Normal
   -----    ----------    -----------
   June     4.28 inches   -1.07 inches 
   July     5.01 inches   +0.82 inches 
   August   6.53 inches   +2.41 inches - 9th Wettest
 
   Summer  15.82 inches   +2.16 inches - 19th Wettest 

Other rainfall tidbits this summer...  

• The wettest day occurred on July 23 when 3.09" of rain fell. 
• Measurable rain fell on 32 days (34.8%) and trace amounts fell on another 8 days (8.7%).

None             52 days   56.5 percent
Trace             8 days    8.7 percent
0.01-0.09 inches 13 days   14.1 percent
0.10-0.24 inches  4 days    4.3 percent
0.25-0.49 inches  5 days    5.4 percent
0.50-0.99 inches  5 days    5.4 percent
1.00-1.99 inches  4 days    4.3 percent
2.00-2.99 inches  0 days    0.0 percent
3.00 inches +     1 day     1.1 percent

Sky...

• It was clear on 53 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 33 days.
• It was cloudy on 6 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.34" on August 12.
• Lowest was 29.49" on June 14 and July 20.  

Winds...

• Highest sustained wind was 51 mph from the southwest on June 21.
• Highest wind gust was 52 mph from the northeast on July 23.