Meteorological Summer 2023 Climate Summary

Upper Mississippi River

Temperatures - Near to Warmer than Normal

During the meteorological summer of  2023, average temperatures ranged from 64.9°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 73.2°F at La Crosse Regional Airport in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Temperature anomalies ranged from near normal to 2°F warmer than normal. The hottest temperature was 105°F at Boscobel Airport, WI (COOP) and Decorah, IA (COOP) on August 23. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was 29°F at Sparta Fort McCoy, WI (ASOS) on June 12.

Rainfall - Drier-than-Normal

Rainfall was below normal for meteorological summer. Rain totals ranged from 4.30" at Nashua 2 SW, WI (COOP) to 13.08" at Nora Springs 2.4 SSE, IA (CoCoRaHS). Rainfall anomalies ranged from 4" to 10" drier than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 3.68" at Postville 5.5 NE, IA (CoCoRaHS) from July 12-13.

The following locations saw one of their 10 driest summers.

After a relatively quiet start to the summer convective season with just 5 severe thunderstorm warnings in June (1986-2023 June average is 36 convective warnings), the severe weather picked up some in July (38 convective warnings - 1986-2023 average 28 convective warnings) and it was near the long-term average for August (17 convective warnings - 1986-2023 average 18 convective warnings). The total of severe thunderstorm warnings for the summer was 59 severe thunderstorm warnings (1986-2023 average is 61.2) and 1 tornado warning (1986-2023 average is 8.2). The 60 convective warnings were the 13th least amount of convective warnings in summer. It was the least since 2015 (44 convective warnings - 10th least). The least amount of convective warnings in summer was 1 in 1988. The 1986-2023 average for summer is 80.5 convective warnings.

La Crosse, WI
 

2023 Meteorological Summer was Warmer and Drier than Normal in La Crosse WI
 

During the meteorological summer (June 1st through August 31st) of 2023, it was warmer and drier than normal at La Crosse Regional Airport. Six out of the 17 hottest summers have occurred since 2010. More details are listed below...

Temperatures - Tied for 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 and 2022 for the 23rd warmest summer.The table below provides a breakdown of the temperature departures from normal for La Crosse, WI this summer.

        Summer 2023 Temperatures
             in La Crosse WI

                             Departure from
                                 Normal
                             --------------
June   Avg Temp     72.8°F +1.8°F - Tied for 13th Warmest
       Avg Max Temp 85.3°F +3.6°F - Tied for  6th Warmest
       Avg Min Temp 60.3°F -0.1°F 

July   Avg Temp     72.7°F -2.3°F 
       Avg Max Temp 84.1°F -1.3°F 
       Avg Min Temp 61.2°F -3.3°F 

August Avg Temp     74.2°F +1.4°F - Tied for 13th Warmest
       Avg Max Temp 85.2°F +2.0°F - Tied for 13th Warmest
       Avg Min Temp 63.2°F +0.9°F  

Summer Avg Temp     73.2°F +0.3°F 
       Avg Max Temp 84.9°F +1.4°F - 11th Warmest 
       Avg Min Temp 61.6°F -0.8°F 

Other temperature tidbits this summer...

• The hottest temperature was 104°F on August 23.
• The coldest high temperature was 67°F on July 12. 
• The warmest low temperature was 79°F on August 23.
• The coldest low temperature was 43°F on June 12.
   
• The temperature climbed to or exceeded 90°F on 22 days. Normally, there are 15 days per summer. 
• Temperatures averaged above normal on 46 days, below normal on 44 days, and normal on 2 days.

Rainfall - Tied for 25th Driest

During the meteorological summer, La Crosse Regional Airport received 8.22" of rain. This was 4.99" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 13.21". This was tied with 2013 for the 25th driest. The table below contains the monthly rainfall totals and their departures from normal for this summer.

         Summer 2023 Rainfall
            in La Crosse WI

                           Departure
   Month    Rain Total    from Normal
   -----    ----------    -----------
   June     2.40 inches   -2.68 inches 
   July     4.44 inches   +0.21 inches 
   August   1.38 inches   -2.52 inches - 16th Driest
 
   Summer   8.22 inches   -4.99 inches - 25th Driest

Other rainfall tidbits this summer...

• The La Crosse area started the summer abnormally dry (D0). During the summer, the drought intensified. By the end of summer, there was moderate (D1) to extreme (D3) drought.
• The wettest day occurred on June 18 when 1.81" of rain fell. 

Measurable rain fell on 26 days (28.3%) and trace amounts fell on another 9 days (9.8%).  

• 0.01" or more - 26 days
• 0.10" or more - 14 days
• 0.50" or more -  4 days
• 1.00" or more -  4 days

There were 21 days with thunderstorms.

There were 34 days with fog. 7 of these days had dense fog.

Sky...

• It was clear on 67 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 24 days.
• It was cloudy on 1 day.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.23" on August 21.
• Lowest was 29.50" on June 25. 

Winds...

• Highest sustained wind was 48 mph from the northwest on August 11.
• Highest wind gust was 68 mph from the northwest on August 11.

Rochester, MN

2023 Meteorological Summer was Warmer and much Drier than Normal (4th driest)

During the meteorological summer (June 1st through August 31st) of 2023, Rochester was warmer (70°F of +1.3°F and much drier than normal. A total of 5.03" of rain fell. This was 8.63" drier than normal or 4th driest. More details are listed below...

Temperatures - Warmer-than-Normal

During meteorological summer, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 70°F. This was 1.3°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 2023 Temperatures
             in Rochester MN

                             Departure from
                                 Normal
                             --------------
June   Avg Temp     69.9°F +2.4°F - Tied for 18th Warmest
       Avg Max Temp 81.7°F +4.1°F - 15th Warmest
       Avg Min Temp 58.2°F +0.7°F

July   Avg Temp     69.4°F -1.1°F 
       Avg Max Temp 80.7°F +0.4°F
       Avg Min Temp 58.2°F -2.6°F

August Avg Temp     70.6°F +2.4°F
       Avg Max Temp 81.1°F +3.1°F
       Avg Min Temp 60.1°F +1.8°F - 18th Warmest

Summer Avg Temp     70.0°F +1.3°F
       Avg Max Temp 81.2°F +2.6°F
       Avg Min Temp 70.0°F  0.0°F

Other temperature tidbits this summer...

• The hottest temperature was 97°F on August 23.
• The coldest high temperature was 68°F on June 11. 
• The warmest low temperature was 77°F on August 23.
• The coldest temperature was 45°F on June 12.
   
• The temperature reached or exceeded 90°F on 2 days.  Normally there are 4 days.
• Temperatures averaged above normal on 53 days, below normal on 34 days, and normal temperatures on 5 days.

Rainfall - 4th Driest

During the meteorological summer, Rochester International Airport received 5.03 inches of rain. This was 8.63" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 13.66". This was the 4th driest summer and the driest since 1976 (4.84"). The driest summer occurred in 1910 when only 3.78" of rain fell. Below are the 10 driest summers in Rochester, MN.

 Driest Meteorological Summers
      in Rochester MN
         1886-2023

Rank     Rainfall      Year
----     --------      ----  
  1    3.78 inches     1910
  2    4.33 inches     1964
  3    4.84 inches     1976
  4    5.03 inches     2023
  5    5.52 inches     1988
  6    6.60 inches     1992
  7    7.33 inches     1932
  8    7.61 inches     1933
  9    7.75 inches     1936
 10    8.05 inches     1941

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

         Summer 2023 Rainfall
            in Rochester MN

                           Departure
   Month    Rain Total    from Normal
   -----    ----------    -----------
   June     1.34 inches   -4.01 inches -  6th Driest
   July     2.18 inches   -2.01 inches 
   August   1.51 inches   -2.61 inches - 12th Driest
 
   Summer   5.03 inches   -8.63 inches -  4th Driest

Other rainfall tidbits this summer...

• Olmsted County started the summer with a small abnormally dry (D0) in the southeast part of the county. During the summer, the drought rapidly intensified. By the end of summer, the county was under extreme drought (D3).
• The wettest day occurred on July 22 when 1.04" of rain fell. 

Measurable rain fell on 19 days (20.7%) and trace amounts fell on another 14 days (15.2%).

• 0.01" or more - 19 days
• 0.10 " or more -  9 days
• 0.50" or more -  5 days
• 1.00" or more -  1 day 

There were 18 days with thunderstorms.

There were 33 days with fog. 4 of these days had dense fog.

Sky...

• It was clear on 67 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 24 days.
• It was cloudy on 1 day.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.21" on August 21.
• Lowest was 29.56" on June 25.  

Winds...

• Highest sustained wind was 36 mph from the northwest on July 26.
• Highest wind gust was 59 mph from the north on July 26.