2023 Astronomical Spring Climate Summary

Spring Temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley: During astronomical spring 2023 (March 20 to June 20), average temperatures ranged from 48.7°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 57.4°F at Decorah, IA (COOP) in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Temperature anomalies ranged from near normal to 2°F warmer than normal. The warmest temperature was 94°F at the Boscobel Airport (ASOS) on June 3, and the coldest temperature was 1°F in Sparta, WI (COOP) on March 30.
Spring Precipitation in the Upper Mississippi River Valley: Precipitation ranged from 4.82" at Boscobel Airport, WI (ASOS) to 12.41" at Osage, IA (COOP). This precipitation ranged from 1" to 9" below normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 4.83" at Osage, IA (COOP) from May 11-12. The combination of anomalous snow in the basins that feed the Upper Mississippi River Valley and a cold March resulted in flooding along the Upper Mississippi River Valley from mid-April to mid-May. The river was at its highest since 2001. Most sites saw a top 3 to 5 crest. From mid-May to mid-June, there was very little rainfall (many locations saw less than 25% of their normal rainfall). This resulted in the development of a moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought along and south of Interstate 90 and from Wabasha County in southeast Minnesota, and Buffalo and Trempeleau counties in west-central Wisconsin north and northeast into northern Wisconsin.
Spring Snowfall in the Upper Mississippi River Valley: Snowfall anomalies ranged from 5" below normal to 20" above normal. Snowfall totals ranged from 1" at Minnesota City Dam 5, MN (COOP) to 21.8" near Medford, WI (CoCoRaHS). The snowiest day was 19.5" near Melrose, WI (CoCoRaHS) from 7 AM on April 16 to 7 AM on April 17.

Below are the astronomical spring summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI
 

Astronomical Spring 2022 was Warmer-and Drier-than-Average at La Crosse, WI

During the astronomical spring of 2023, La Crosse Regional Airport was warmer (57°F or 2.4°F warmer than average) and drier (8.72 inches or 1.51 inches drier than average) than the long-term average (1873-2023). More details on these statistics can be found below. Temperatures - Warmer than Average From March 20 through June 20, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 57°F.  This was 2.4°F warmer than the long-term average of 54.6°F. This was the 21st warmest astronomical spring. This made it the 9th consecutive spring to average warmer than average. This includes the 5th warmest (2021), 12th warmest (2017), 21st warmest (2023), and the 24th warmest (2015).

The average high temperature was 68.7°F. This was 4°F warmer than the long-term average of 64.7°F. This was the 15th warmest astronomical spring.
The average low temperature was 45.4°F. This was 0.9°F warmer than the long-term average of 44.5°F. 

The warmest high temperature was 93°F on June 1. 
The coldest high temperature was 35°F on March 29.

The warmest low temperature was 68°F on June 2.
The coldest low temperature was 18°F on March 30.

There were 8 days in which the high temperature reached or exceeded 90°F. The long-term average is 2 days.
There were 21 days in which the low temperature was 32°F or colder. The long-term average is 18 days.  

Precipitation - Drier than Average

From March 20 through June 20, La Crosse Regional Airport received 8.72" of precipitation.  This was 1.51" drier than the long-term average of 10.23". 2 out of 3 last springs have been drier than average. Prior to this, there were 10 consecutive wet springs (2011-2020).

The combination of anomalous snow in the basins that feed the Upper Mississippi River Valley and a cold March resulted in major flooding along the Upper Mississippi River Valley from mid-April to mid-May. The river above its 12 feet flood stage at La Crosse from April 16 through May 7. It crested at 15.89 feet on April 26. This was the 3rd highest crest. Only 1965 (17.89 feet) and 2001 (16.41 feet) were higher.

Through May 15, 6.52" of precipitation fell. This was 74.8% of the spring precipitation. Since that date, just 2.20" (most of that fell on June 18 - 1.18") has fallen. This was 25.2% of the seasonal total. The combination of above-normal temperatures and the lack of precipitation resulted in moderate (D1) drought developing in the county.

Measurable precipitation (0.01" or greater) fell on 29 days (31.2%) and a trace of precipitation fell on 4 days (4.3%).  

Number of days with...

None              60 days (64.5%)
Trace              4 days ( 4.3%)
0.01-0.09 inches  12 days (12.9%)
0.10-0.24 inches   8 days ( 8.6%)
0.25-0.49 inches   3 days ( 3.2%)
0.50-0.99 inches   4 days ( 4.3%)
1.00-1.99 inches   2 days ( 2.2%)  

The wettest spring day was 1.81 inches on June 18. 

Snowfall - Above Average

From March 20 through June 20, the snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport measured 9.8" of snow.  This was 4.7" above the long-term average of 5.1". This was the 17 snowiest spring and the snowiest since 2018 (19" - snowiest astronomical spring).

20 Snowiest Astronomical Springs
      in La Crosse, WI
         1893-2023

 Rank    Snowfall     Year
 ----    --------     ----
   1   19.0 inches    2018
   2   17.0 inches    1973
   3   15.6 inches    1952
   4   14.5 inches    1911
   5   13.9 inches    1993
   6   13.4 inches    1931
       13.4 inches    1909
   8   13.3 inches    1900
   9   13.0 inches    1934
  10   12.4 inches    1975
       12.4 inches    1910
  12   12.1 inches    1944
  13   11.1 inches    2002
  14   10.8 inches    1929
  15   10.4 inches    2015
  16   10.1 inches    1964
  17    9.8 inches    2023
  18    9.7 inches    1928
  19    9.6 inches    1962
        9.6 inches    1936

Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) fell on 4 days (4.3%) and a trace of snow fell on 5 other days (5.4%).  

Number of days with...

No snow       84 Days (90.3%)
Trace          5 Days  (5.4%)
0.1-0.9 inches 2 Days  (2.2%) 
1.0-2.9 inches 1 Day   (1.1%)
3.0-5.9 inches 0 Days  (0.0%)
6.0-8.9 inches 1 Day   (1.1%)      

The snowiest day was 7" of snow on April 16. While the airport received 9.5" on April 16-17, other parts of La Crosse County saw much higher snow totals from that snowstorm. This includes 12.8" near Holmen, 14" in Onalaska, and 17.3" in West Salem. Hourly snow totals approached 3" an hour at times on Sunday afternoon.

Snow Depth - Average 

From March 20 through June 20, the average snow depth near La Crosse Regional Airport was 0.1". This was the same as the long-term average of 0.1".

The greatest snow depth was 9 inches on April 17.

Number of days with...

No snow       88 Days (94.6%)
Trace          2 Days  (2.2%)
1-3 inches     3 Days  (3.2%) 
4-6 inches     0 Days  (0.0%)
7-9 inches     1 Day   (1.1%)

Rochester, MN

Astronomical Spring 2023 was Warmer and Slightly Drier than Average at Rochester MN
 

During the astronomical spring of 2023, temperatures averaged warmer than average (53.8°F or 1.6°F warmer than average) and it was slightly drier than average (10.30 inches or 0.05 inches drier than average) at Rochester International Airport.  More details on these statistics can be found below. Temperatures - Warmer than Average From March 20 through June 20, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 53.8°F. This was 1.6°F warmer than the long-term average of 52.2°F. The average high temperature was 64.6°F. This was 1.8°F warmer than the long-term average of 62.8°F.   The average low temperature was 42.9°F. This was 1.3°F warmer than the long-term average of 41.6°F.

The warmest high temperature was 87°F on April 12, May 30, and June 19. 
The coldest high temperature was 29°F on March 297.

The warmest low temperature was 65°F on June 6.
The coldest low temperature was 13°F on March 29.

There were 0 days in which the high temperature reached or exceeded 90°F. The long-term average is 2 days.
There were 26 days in which the low temperature was 32°F or colder. The long-term average is 24 days.  

Precipitation - Slightly Drier than Average

From March 20 through June 20, Rochester International Airport received 10.30" of precipitation. This was 0.05" drier than the long-term average of 10.35". 2 out of 3 last springs have been drier than average. Prior to this, there were 8 consecutive wet springs (2013-2020). Through May 15, 9.79" of precipitation fell. This was 94.6% of the seasonal precipitation. Since then 0.51" of rain has fallen (5.4% of the seasonal total).

Measurable precipitation (0.01" or greater) fell on 28 days (30.1%) and a trace of precipitation fell on 9 days (9.7%).  

Number of days with...

None              56 days (60.2%)
Trace              9 days ( 9.7%)
0.01-0.09 inches  11 days (11.8%)
0.10-0.24 inches   4 days ( 4.3%)
0.25-0.49 inches   7 days ( 7.5%)
0.50-0.99 inches   3 days ( 3.2%)
1.00-1.99 inches   2 days ( 2.2%) 
2.00-2.99 inches   1 day  ( 1.1%)

The wettest spring day was 2.15" on March 31. 

Snowfall - Slightly Below Average

From March 20 through June 20, the snow observer near Rochester International Airport measured 6.4" of snow.  This was 0.3" below the long-term average of 6.7". 

Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) fell on 3 days (3.2%) and a trace of precipitation fell on 8 days (8.6%). 

Number of days with...

No snow         82 Days (88.2%)
Trace            8 Days ( 8.6%)
0.1-0.9 inches   0 Days ( 0.0%)
1.0-2.9 inches   3 Days ( 3.2%)  

The snowiest day was 2.4" on April 1.

Snow Depth - Less than Average

From March 20 through June 20, the average snow depth near Rochester International Airport was 0.1".  This was 0.2" below the long-term average of 0.3".

Number of days with...

No snow       90 Days (96.8%)
Trace          0 Days ( 0.0%)
1-3 inches     2 Days ( 2.2%)
4-6 inches     1 Day  ( 1.1%)

The greatest snow depth was 5" on April 1.