Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary for October 2024:

Temperatures - Above Normal

During October 2024, average temperatures ranged from 50°F near Owen, WI (COOP) to 57.5°F at Winona Dam 5A, WI (COOP). Temperature anomalies ranged from 4 to 8°F warmer-than-normal. There was a 72°F difference between the warmest and coldest temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The warmest temperature was 88°F at Charles City, IA (COOP) and Oelwein, IA (COOP) on October 5. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was 16°F at Sparta Fort McCoy, WI (ASOS) on October 16. It was the warmest October for Minnesota City, MN (previous record was 56.8°F in 1971); 2nd warmest for Winona Dam 5A, MN (only 1971 was warmer with an average of 58.4°F); 3rd warmest for Decorah, IA & Mather, WI; 4th warmest for Alma Dam 4, WI; 5th warmest for Rochester, MN; 6th warmest for Gays Mills, WI; 7th warmest for Preston, MN & Trempealeau Dam 6, WI; 8th warmest for Genoa Dam 8, WI; 12th warmest for Neillsville, WI; and 13th warmest for La Crosse Regional Airport, WI.

Rainfall - Mainly Dry

Rainfall totals varied from 0.48" near Rochester, MN (CoCoRaHS) to 3.20" near Platteville, WI (CoCoRaHS). Rainfall anomalies ranged from near normal to 3" drier than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 3.11" near Platteville, WI (CoCoRaHS) from October 30 to October 31.

Below are the October 2024 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI

October 2024 was Warmer and Slightly Drier than Normal in La Crosse, WI

...October 2024 Highlights...

Temperatures - 13th Warmest

During October 2024, the average temperature was 56.4°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 4.7°F warmer than the 1981-2020 normal of 51.7°F. This was the 13th warmest October and the warmest since 2021 (57.6°F). 7 out of the last 11 Octobers have been warmer than normal.

• The table below contains the 20 warmest Octobers for La Crosse, WI.

      Warmest Octobers
      in La Crosse WI
         1873-2024

        Warmest Avg.
Rank    Temperature     Year
----    ------------    ----
  1       61.2°F        1963
  2       60.5°F        1947
  3       59.1°F        1900
  4       59.0°F        1879
  5       57.6°F        2021
  6       57.4°F        1956
  7       57.1°F        1973
  8       57.0°F        1950
  9       56.9°F        1920
 10       56.7°F        1924
 11       56.5°F        2007
          56.5°F        1953
 13       56.4°F        2024
 14       56.3°F        1938
 15       56.1°F        1914
 16       56.0°F        2016
 17       55.7°F        1971
 18       55.4°F        1949
 19       55.3°F        1886
 20       55.2°F        1931  

• The average high temperature was 68.9°F. This was 7.3°F warmer than the 1981-2020 normal of 61.6°F. This was the 3rd warmest. Only 1963 (71.3°F) and 1947 (69.5°F) had warmer averages.
• The average low temperature was 44°F. This was 2.1°F warmer than the 1981-2020 normal of 41.9°F. This was the 30th warmest.
• The warmest temperature was 83°F on October 20.
• The warmest low temperature was 59°F on October 20 and October 29.
• The coldest high temperature was 50°F on October 14. 
• The coldest temperature was 28°F on October 16.
• The temperature fell below freezing on 3 days.
• The record high temperature of 82°F on October 29. This was tied with 1950 for the third latest in the year for an 80°F or warmer high temperature. Only 1933 (November 1) and 1924 (October 30) occurred later in the year.
• With the high temperatures remaining at or above 50°F through October, this lengthened the stretch of days with a high temperature of 50°F or warmer to 194 consecutive days. This streak began on April 21. This tied a similar stretch with 1975 (April 29 through November 8) for the 6th longest stretch. The longest stretch was 214 days in 1998 (April 13 through November 2).

Rainfall - Slightly Drier than Normal

• A total of 2.34" of rain fell at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 0.15" below the 1991-2020 normal of 2.49". All of this measurable rain fell on just 3 days (0.40" on the 24th, 1.69" on the 30th, and 0.25" on the 31st. On 4 other days, a trace of rain fell.
• 4 out of the last 5 Octobers have been drier than normal.
• The wettest calendar day was on October 30 when 1.69 inches of rain fell.
• On October 24, 0.40" of rain fell. This ended a 32 consecutive day stretch of days without measurable rain which began on September 22. This tied a similar stretch in 1947-48 (December 13 through January 13) for the 3rd longest stretch without measurable precipitation. The longest stretch is 44 days in 1976 (October 20 through December 2). The 2nd longest stretch was 35 consecutive days in 1939 (April 21 through May 25).

Snowfall - Tied for Least

• No snow fell.  This was tied with 52 other Octobers.

...Daily Records...

• October 29 - Record High - 82°F - Previous record was 81°F in 1937
• October 29 - Record Warm Low Tied - 59°F - Last reached in 2004
• October 29 - Record Daily Average Temperature - 70.5°F - Previous record was 67.5°F in 2004

...Looking Ahead to November...

• The normal high temperature in La Crosse starts at 53°F on November 1st and falls to 38°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature starts at 35°F on the 1st and falls to 23°F by the end of the month. The warmest November temperature on record is 80°F on November 1, 1933, and the coldest is -21°F on November 29, 1875.  
• The normal mean temperature for November is 37.6°F. La Crosse’s warmest November occurred in 2001 with an average temperature of 47.5°F, and their coldest November occurred in 1880 with an average temperature of 25°F. 
• The normal November precipitation is 1.85". The wettest November occurred in 1934 with 7.01" of precipitation and the driest November occurred in 1976 with just a trace of precipitation (driest month ever in La Crosse). The wettest November day occurred on November 1, 1990, when 2.80" of precipitation fell. Normally, there is 1 day with thunderstorms.
• The normal November snowfall is 3.4". The snowiest November occurred in 1991 with 30.3" of snow and the least snow was none in 1949 and 1999. The snowiest November day occurred on November 23, 1991, when 13" of snow fell.

Rochester, MN
 

October 2024 was Much Warmer and Drier than Normal in Rochester, MN

...October 2024 Highlights...

Temperatures - 5th Warmest

During October 2024, the average temperature was 54.5°F at Rochester International Airport. This was 6.6°F warmer than the 1981-2020 normal of 47.9°F. This was the 5th warmest October. This was the 4th October in a row to be warmer than normal. 7 out of the last 10 have been warmer than normal.

• The table below lists the 10 warmest Octobers.

      Warmest Octobers
      in Rochester MN
         1886-2024

        Warmest Avg.
Rank    Temperature     Year
----    ------------    ----
  1       58.1°F        1963
  2       57.8°F        1947
  3       55.5°F        1956
  4       54.6°F        1914
  5       54.5°F        2024
  6       54.4°F        2007
  7       54.3°F        1953
  8       53.9°F        1973
          53.9°F        1950
 10       53.8°F        1920

• The average high temperature was 67.1°F. This was 9.2°F warmer than the 1981-2020 normal of 57.9°F. This was the 5th warmest. The warmest was 69.2°F in 1963.
• The average low temperature was 41.9°F. This was 3.9°F warmer than the 1981-2020 normal of 38°F. This was the 13th warmest.
• The warmest temperature was 83°F on October 5.
• The warmest low temperature was 58°F on October 20.
• The coldest high temperature was 49°F on October 14.
• The coldest temperature was 26°F on October 16.
• The temperature fell below freezing on 4 days.

Rainfall - Drier than Normal

• A total of 1.13" of rain fell at Rochester International Airport.
• This was 1.30" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 2.43".
• All of this measurable rain fell on just 4 days (0.01" on the 3rd, 0.28" on the 24th, 0.41" on the 30th, and 0.43" on the 31st).
• There was also one day with a trace of rain.
• 4 out of the last 5 Octobers have been drier than normal.
• The wettest calendar day was on October 31 when 0.43" of rain fell.

Snowfall - Tied for Least

• No snow fell.  This was tied with 26 other Octobers.

...Daily Records...

• October 28 - Record High - 73°F - Previous record was 72°F in 1945
• October 29 - Record Warm Low - 56°F - Previous record was 55°F in 2004
• October 29 - Record Daily Average Temperature - 67.5°F - Previous record was 66°F in 2004

...Looking ahead to November...

• The normal high temperature in Rochester starts at 49°F on November 1st and falls to 34°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature starts at 32°F on the 1st and falls to 19°F by the end of the month. The warmest November temperature on record is 77°F on November 1, 1893, and the coldest is -24°F on November 28, 1887.  
• The normal mean temperature for November is 33.6°F. Rochester’s warmest November occurred in 2001 with an average temperature of 45.4°F, and its coldest November occurred in 1985 with an average temperature of 22.9°F. 
• The normal November precipitation is 1.80". The wettest November occurred in 1909 with 5.91" of precipitation and the driest November occurred in 1917 with only 0.01". The wettest November day occurred on November 1, 1991, when 2.30" of precipitation fell. Normally, there is 1 day with thunderstorms.
• The normal November snowfall is 4.5". The snowiest November occurred in 1985 with 22.5" of snow and the least snow was none in 1913 and 1939. The snowiest November day occurred on November 30, 1934, when 12" of snow fell.