Meteorological 2020 Autumn Climate Summary

While the overall meteorological autumn average temperatures were near- to slightly cooler-than-normal, the temperatures were highly variable. During October 2020, temperatures averaged 3 to 7F colder-than-normal. Meanwhile, it was 3 to 6F warmer-than-normal in November.

Precipitation was highly variable across the region. It was 1 to 4 inches below-normal north of a Charles City IA to Wausau, WI line and up to 5 inches wetter-than-normal south of this aforementioned line.

Snowfall was up to 4 inches north of Interstate 90 and up to 4 inches below-normal south of this Interstate.

The information below provides details on autumn 2020 temperatures, precipitation and snowfall for La Crosse WI and Rochester MN.

La Crosse WI...

Autumn of 2020 was slightly warmer and drier-than-normal at La Crosse, WI.  More details can be found below.

Temperatures...Slightly Warmer-than-Normal

From September 1 through November 30, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 50.0 degrees.  This was 0.4 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 49.6 degrees.  The table below contains the monthly average temperatures and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2020. 

           Autumn 2020 Temperatures
               in La Crosse WI

                  Average            Departure
   Month        Temperature         from Normal
   -----        -----------         -----------
   September   62.4 degrees        -0.4 degrees 
   October     46.0 degrees        -4.2 degrees - Tied for 16th Coldest
                                                  with 1896
   November    41.8 degrees        +5.9 degrees - 8th Warmest

   Autumn      50.2 degrees        +0.6 degrees 

• The average high temperature was 59.5 degrees which was 0.5 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 59.0 degrees.  
• The average low temperature was 40.5 degrees which was 0.2 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 40.3 degrees.  
   
• The warmest high temperature was 85 degrees on October 9.
• The coldest high temperature was 33 degrees on November 30.
   
• The warmest low temperature was 64 degrees on September 26.  
• The coldest low temperature was 19 degrees on November 30.

Temperatures averaged above normal on 46 days...below normal on 40 days...and normal on 5 days.

Precipitation...Slightly Drier-than-Normal

From September 1 through November 30, La Crosse Regional Airport received 7.62 inches of precipitation.  This was 0.12 inches drier than the 1981-2010 normal of 7.74 inches. The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2020.

          Autumn 2020 Precipitation 
               in La Crosse WI

                Precipitation         Departure
   Month            Total            from Normal
   -----        ------------         -----------
   September    3.62 inches         +0.06 inches  
   October      1.61 inches         -0.56 inches
   November     2.40 inches         +0.39 inches  
 
   Autumn       7.62 inches         -0.12 inches 

The highest daily precipitation total was 1.33 inches on September 24.  

Measurable rain fell on 24 days (26.4%) and trace amounts fell on another 12 days (13.2%).  

• 0.01 inches or more - 24 days
• 0.10 inches or more - 15 days
• 0.50 inches or more -  8 days
• 1.00 inches or more -  2 days

Snowfall...Less-than-Normal

From September 1 through November 30, La Crosse Regional Airport received 3.3 inches snow.  This was 1 inch less than their 1981-2010 normal of 4.3 inches. The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2020.

            Autumn 2020 Snowfall 
               in La Crosse WI

                  Snowfall            Departure
   Month            Total            from Normal
   -----        ------------         -----------
   September     0.0 inches           0.0 inches
   October       2.3 inches          +2.1 inches - 4th Snowiest  
   November      1.0 inch            -3.1 inches   
 
   Autumn        3.3 inches          +1.0 inch   

The highest daily snowfall total was 2 inches on October 25.

Greatest snow depth was 2 inches on October 26.

Measurable snow fell on 3 days (3.3%) and trace amounts fell on another 8 days (8.8%).  

• No Snow - 80 days
• Trace - 8 days
• < 1 inch - 1 day
• 1 to 2.9 inches - 2 days

Sky...

• It was clear on 48 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 29 days.
• It was cloudy on 14 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.62 inches on November 21.
• Lowest was 29.32 inches on November 15.

Winds...

• Highest sustained wind was 38 mph from the northwest on November 1.
• Highest wind gust was 54 mph from the west northwest on October 31.

Rochester MN...

Autumn of 2020 was slightly colder and drier-than-normal at Rochester, MN.  More details can be found below.

Temperatures...Slightly Colder-than-Normal

From September 1 through November 30, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 46.3 degrees.  This was 1.4 degrees colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 47.7 degrees.  The table below contains the monthly average temperatures and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2020.

           Autumn 2020 Temperatures
               in Rochester MN

                  Average            Departure
   Month        Temperature         from Normal
   -----        -----------         -----------
   September   59.2 degrees        -1.7 degrees 
   October     42.1 degrees        -6.3 degrees - 7th Coldest
   November    37.9 degrees        +4.0 degrees - 12th Warmest
  
   Autumn      46.3 degrees        -1.4 degrees 

• The average high temperature was 55.5 degrees which was 1.6 degrees colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 57.1 degrees.  
• The average low temperature was 37.2 degrees which was 1.1 degrees colder than the 1981-2010 normal of 38.3 degrees.  
   
• The warmest high temperature was 82 degrees on September 6.
• The coldest high temperature was 28 degrees on October 25. 
   
• The warmest low temperature was 59 degrees on September 6.
• The coldest low temperature was 11 degrees on October 27.  

Temperatures averaged below normal on 47 days...above normal on 42 days...and normal on 2 days.

Precipitation...Slightly Drier-than-Normal

From September 1 through November 30, Rochester International Airport received 6.73 inches of precipitation.  This was 0.87 inches drier than the 1981-2010 normal 7.60 inches.  The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2020.

          Autumn 2020 Precipitation 
               in Rochester MN

                Precipitation         Departure
   Month            Total            from Normal
   -----        ------------         -----------
   September    2.81 inches         -0.64 inches 
   October      1.40 inches         -0.84 inches 
   November     2.52 inches         +0.61 inches

   Autumn       6.73 inches         -0.87 inches 

The highest daily precipitation total was 1.32 inches on September 24. 

Measurable rain fell on 21 days (23.1%) and trace amounts fell on another 18 days (19.8%).  

• 0.01 inches or more - 21 days
• 0.10 inches or more -  6 days
• 0.50 inches or more -  4 days
• 1.00 inches or more -  2 days

Snowfall...Slightly Snowier-than-Normal

From September 1 through November 30, Rochester International Airport received 8.6 inches of snow.  This was 1.7 inches greater than their 1981-2010 normal of 6.9 inches.  The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2020.

            Autumn 2020 Snowfall 
               in Rochester MN

                  Snowfall            Departure
   Month            Total            from Normal
   -----        ------------         -----------
   September     0.0 inches           0.0 inches
   October       4.2 inches          +3.4 inches - 6th Snowiest
   November      4.4 inches          -1.7 inches  
 
   Autumn        8.6 inches          +1.7 inches

The highest daily snowfall total was 4 inches on November 24.
Greatest snow depth was 3 inches from November 25.

Measurable snow fell on 5 days (5.5%) and trace amounts fell on another 6 days (6.6%).  

• No Snow - 80 days
• Trace - 6 days
• < 1 inch - 2 day
• 1 to 2.9 inches - 2 days
• 3 to 5.9 inches - 1 day

Sky...

• It was clear on 50 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 23 days.
• It was cloudy on 18 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.61 inches on November 21.
• Lowest was 29.39 inches on November 14.

Winds...

• Highest sustained wind was 40 mph from the north on September 24.
• Highest wind gust was 54 mph from the northwest on September 30.