Autumn 2023 Meteorological Climate Summary

Temperatures:

During Autumn 2023, average temperatures ranged from 46.5°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 54.5°F at La Crosse Regional Airport, WI (ASOS) in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Temperature anomalies ranged from 1°F to 5°F warmer than normal. The hottest temperature was 100°F at Boscobel Airport, WI (ASOS) on September 3. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was -6°F at Black River Falls, WI (RAWS) on November 28.

Several locations saw one of their 10 warmest autumns.

• Decorah, IA (COOP) had an average temperature of 54.5°F. This was the 4th warmest autumn. The warmest autumn was 55.8°F in 1931. Temperature records date back to 1894.
• Alma Dam, IA (COOP) had an average temperature of 53.1°F. This was the 5th warmest autumn. The warmest autumn was 56°F in 1963. Temperature records date back to 1943.
• La Crosse Regional Airport, WI (ASOS) had an average temperature was 53.6°F. This was the 8th warmest autumn. The warmest autumn was 56.6°F in 2016. Temperature records date back to 1873.

Precipitation:

During Autumn 2023, precipitation was highly variable across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Precipitation varied from 4.06" at Fredericksburg 0.3 S, IA (CoCoRaHS) to 16.65" at Black River Falls Sewage, WI (COOP). Precipitation anomalies ranged from 4" below normal to 6" wetter than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 6.23" at Black River Falls Sewage, WI (COOP) from October 24 through October 25.

During autumn, drought improved from 99.13% to 65.1% of the La Crosse Hydrologic Service Area (HSA). Extreme (D3) to exceptional drought improved from 65.21% to 20.09% of the HSA.

Snowfall:

Autumn snowfall ranged from 0" at Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10, IA (COOP) to 7.3" at Chatfield 9 ESE, MN (CoCoRaHS). These values were within 5 inches of normal. The snowiest day was 3.9" at Lanesboro 0.2 SSW, MN (CoCoRaHS) from 7 AM on October 31 to 7 AM on November 1.

The information below details meteorological autumn 2023 temperatures, precipitation, and snowfall for La Crosse WI, and Rochester MN.

La Crosse WI...
 

Meteorological Autumn of 2023 was warmer and drier than normal in La Crosse, WI. More details can be found below.

Temperatures - 8th Warmest

From September 1 through November 30, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 53.6°F. This was 2.2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 51.4°F. This was the 8th warmest autumn and the warmest since 2021 (54.5°F - 5th warmest). The table below lists the 10 warmest autumns for La Crosse, WI

  Ten Warmest Autumns 
   in La Crosse, WI
       1873-2023

        Average
Rank  Temperature  Year
----  -----------  ----
  1     56.6°F     2016
  2     55.6°F     1931
  3     55.1°F     2015
        55.1°F     1963
  5     54.5°F     2021
  6     54.3°F     1998
  7     54.2°F     1994
  8     53.6°F     2023
  9     53.4°F     1922
 10     53.2°F     2017

• 5 out of 10 warmest meteorological autumns have occurred since 2015.
• 9 out of the 20 warmest meteorological autumns have occurred since 2004. 

The table below contains the monthly average temperatures and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2023. 

     Autumn 2023 Temperatures
          in La Crosse WI

              Average     Departure
 Month      Temperature  from Normal
 -----      -----------  -----------
September      68.6°F       +3.8°F - 5th warmest
October        53.2°F       +1.5°F 
November       39.0°F       +1.4°F 

Autumn         53.6°F       +2.5°F - 8th warmest

• The average high temperature was 62.7°F which was 1.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 60.9°F. This was tied with 1990 for the 11th warmest.
• The average low temperature was 44.5°F which was 2.7°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 41.8°F. This was tied with 2021 for 8th warmest.
• The warmest high temperature was 99°F on September 3. This was tied September 10, 1931, and September 8, 1978, for the 4th hottest temperature in a meteorological autumn. Only September 6, 1922 (hottest), September 9, 1955 (tied for 2nd hottest), and September 7, 1978 (tied for 2nd hottest) were hotter.
• The coldest high temperature was 24°F on November 27 and November 28.
• The warmest low temperature was 78°F on September 5. This was the warmest low temperature ever recorded in meteorological winter. The previous record was 76°F on September 2, 1937, and September 6, 2015.
• The coldest low temperature was 7°F on November 28.
• Temperatures averaged above normal on 52 days, below normal on 33 days, and normal on 6 days. 

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

From September 1 through November 30, La Crosse Regional Airport received 5.78 inches of precipitation. This was 2.19 inches drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 7.97 inches. 

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2023.

     Autumn 2023 Precipitation
          in La Crosse WI

          Precipitation   Departure
 Month        Total      from Normal
 -----    -------------  -----------
September  2.26 inches  -1.37 inches
October    3.38 inches  +0.89 inches
November   0.14 inches  -1.71 inches - Tied for 5th driest

Autumn     5.78 inches  -2.19 inches 

• The highest daily precipitation total was 1.25 inches on October 13.  
• Precipitation fell on 33 days (36.3%). Measurable rain fell on 24 days (26.4%) and trace amounts fell on another 9 days (9.9%).  

Breakdown by precipitation amounts

None              58 Days (63.7%)
Trace              9 Days ( 9.9%)
0.01-0.09 inches  10 Days (11.0%)
0.10-0.24 inches   7 Days ( 7.7%)
0.25-0.49 inches   3 Days ( 3.3%)
0.50-0.99 inches   3 Days ( 3.3%)
1.00-1.99 inches   1 Day  ( 1.1%)

Snowfall - Below-Normal

From September 1 through November 30, the official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport received 2.9 inches of snow. This was 0.8 inches below the 1991-2020 normal of 3.7 inches. 

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2023.

        Autumn 2023 Snowfall
          in La Crosse WI

             Snowfall     Departure
 Month        Total      from Normal
 -----    -------------  -----------
September   0.0 inches    0.0 inches
October     1.1 inches   +0.8 inches
November    1.8 inches   -1.6 inches 

Autumn      2.9 inches   -0.8 inches 

• The highest daily snowfall total was 1.5 inches on November 26.
• Snow fell on 6 days (6.6%). Measurable snow fell on 3 days (3.3%), and trace amounts fell on another 3 days (3.3%). 

Breakdown by snowfall amounts

None              85 Days (93.4%)
Trace              3 Days ( 3.3%)
0.1-0.9 inches     1 Day  ( 1.1%)
1.0-2.9 inches     2 Days ( 2.2%)

The greatest snow depth was 2 inches on November 27.

Sky...

• It was clear on 39 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 31 days.
• It was cloudy on 21 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.69 inches on November 24.
• Lowest was 29.54 inches on November 16.

Winds...

• Highest sustained wind was 31 mph from the south on November 16 and northwest on November 16.
• Highest wind gust was 44 mph from the south on November 16.

Rochester MN...

The Autumn of 2023 was warmer and slightly wetter than normal at Rochester, MN. More details can be found below.

Temperatures - 5th Warmest

From September 1 through November 30, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 50.9°F. This was 3.4°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 47.5°F. This made it the 5th warmest November, and warmest since 2016 (53°F - 2nd warmest November). The table below lists the 10 warmest autumns for Rochester, MN.

  Ten Warmest Autumns 
    in Rochester MN
       1886-2023

        Average
Rank  Temperature  Year
----  -----------  ----
  1     53.8°F     1931
  2     53.0°F     2016
  3     52.7°F     1963
  4     52.0°F     2015
  5     50.9°F     2023
  6     50.8°F     1914
  7     50.7°F     2021
        50.7°F     2007
        50.7°F     2005
 10     50.6°F     1953

• 6 out of 10 warmest meteorological autumns have occurred since 2005.
• 10 out of 20 warmest meteorological autumns have occurred since 2004. 

The table below contains the monthly average temperatures and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2023. 

     Autumn 2023 Temperatures
          in Rochester MN

              Average     Departure
 Month      Temperature  from Normal
 -----      -----------  -----------
September      66.3°F       +5.2°F  3rd Warmest
October        50.1°F       +2.2°F 
November       36.2°F       +2.6°F 

Autumn         50.9°F       +3.4°F 

• The average high temperature was 60.9°F which was 3.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 57.1°F. This was the 11th warmest.
• The average low temperature was 40.9°F which was 2.9°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 38.0°F. This was the 7th warmest.
• The warmest high temperature was 94°F on September 2 and September 3. This was the warmest high temperature during meteorological autumn since 95°F on September 7, 1978. The warmest temperature was 100°F on September 6, 1913.
• The coldest high temperature was 19°F on November 27.
• The warmest low temperature was 69°F on September 5.  
• The coldest low temperature was 0°F on November 28.
• Temperatures averaged above normal on 55 days, below normal on 30 days, and normal on 6 days.

Precipitation - Slightly Wetter than Normal

From September 1 through November 30, Rochester International Airport received 8.32 inches of precipitation. This was 0.49 inches wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 7.83 inches. 

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2023.

     Autumn 2023 Precipitation
          in Rochester, MN

          Precipitation   Departure
 Month        Total      from Normal
 -----    -------------  -----------
September  3.43 inches  -0.17 inches
October    4.78 inches  +2.35 inches 7th Wettest
November   0.11 inches  -1.69 inches  Tied for the 
                                      4th Driest with 1976

Autumn     8.32 inches  +0.49 inches 

• The highest daily precipitation total was 2.26 inches on October 24. Ironically this was the same date as last year's wettest autumn day. 
• Precipitation fell on 29 days (31.9%). Measurable rain fell on 29 days (31.9%) and trace amounts fell on another 12 days (13.2%).  

Breakdown by precipitation amounts

None              50 Days (52.3%)
Trace             12 Days (13.2%)
0.01-0.09 inches  19 Days (20.9%)
0.10-0.24 inches   4 Days ( 4.4%)
0.25-0.49 inches   1 Day  ( 1.1%)
0.50-0.99 inches   3 Days ( 3.3%)
1.00-1.99 inches   1 Day  ( 1.1%)
2.00-2.99 inches   1 Day  ( 1.1%)

Snowfall - Below Normal

From September 1 through November 30, the official snow observer near Rochester International Airport received 2.3 inches of snow. This was 3.1 inches below the 1991-2020 normal of 5.4 inches. 

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2023.

        Autumn 2023 Snowfall
          in Rochester MN

             Snowfall     Departure
 Month        Total      from Normal
 -----    -------------  -----------
September   0.0 inches    0.0 inches
October     1.6 inches   +0.7 inches
November    0.7 inches   -3.8 inches 

Autumn      2.3 inches   -3.1 inches 

• The highest daily snowfall total was 1.1 inches on October 31.
• Snow fell 6 days (6.6%). Measurable snow fell on 5 days (5.5%) and trace amounts fell on another day (1.1%). 

Breakdown by snowfall amounts

None              85 Days (93.4%)
Trace              1 Day  ( 1.1%)
0.1-0.9 inches     4 Days ( 4.4%)
1.0-2.9 inches     1 Day  ( 1.1%)

The greatest snow depth was 1 inch on October 31.

Sky...

• It was clear on 46 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 27 days.
• It was cloudy on 18 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.66 inches on November 24.
• Lowest was 29.53 inches on November 6.

Winds...

• Highest sustained wind was 44 mph from the southwest on November 16.
• Highest wind gust was 56 mph from the southwest on November 16.