Election Day Climate

Below are some Election Day climate statistics for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI:

The following statistics comprise 152 years of data. From 1872 through 1950, the data came from various locations in downtown La Crosse. Since 1950, the data has been gathered at La Crosse Regional Airport. Due to the office being officially closed in 1985, no observation was available for this year.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on Election Day are 36.2% (55 out of 152).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 38 Election Days (25%)  and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 17 Election Days (11.2%). Precipitation has fallen on 9 out of the last 15 Election Days (4 measurable and 5 traces).

Since 1893, it has snowed on 23 of 127 (18.1%) Election Days.  Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has only fallen on 8 Election Days (6.3%) and trace (less than 0.1") amounts on another 15 Election Days (11.8%). The last time measurable snow fell on Election Day was back in 2002 when 1.9 inches of snow fell. This was the greatest ever on Election Day.

During last year's Election Day (2023 - November 7), the high temperature was 50°F, the low temperature was 42°F. No precipitation fell.  The average wind speed was 7.3 mph.

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 113 years of data. From 1887 through 1931, the data came from several cooperative observers in the Rochester area. Since 1932, the data has been gathered at Rochester International Airport. No data was taken on Election Day from 1889 to 1891, 1908, 1921 to 1928, and 1933.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on Election Day are 49.6% (56 out of 113).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 35 Election Days (31%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 21 Election Days (18.6%).

It has snowed on 20 of 104 (19.2%) Election Days. Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has only fallen on 9 Election Days (8.7%) and trace (less than 0.1") amounts on another 11 Election Days (10.6%). 

During last year's Election Day (2023 - November 7), the high temperature was 47°F and the low temperature was 37°F.  A total of 0.01" of rain fell. There was no snow on the ground and the average wind speed was 11.5 mph.

The following weather events occurred on Election Day in southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and western Wisconsin:

• In 1921 (November 8), seven inches of snow fell in Fayette, IA.
• In 1951 (November 6), residents woke up to a very cold Election Day.  Temperatures that morning ranged from -10 at Hatfield WI to 12 at Guttenberg IA. This was the coldest low temperature on Election Day at both La Crosse WI (-1) and Rochester MN (2).  Most locations only climbed to around freezing during the day.  Fortunately, the wind speeds were mainly less than 10 mph.
• In 1964 (November 3), Hillsboro, WI (75), Necedah, WI (75), Trempealeau, WI (75), and Genoa, WI (74) recorded their warmest November temperatures.
• In 2008 (November 4), both La Crosse WI (75) and Rochester MN (74) had their warmest Election Day.
• In 2013 (November 5), La Crosse WI received 1.07" of rain.  This made it their wettest Election Day.
• In 2019 (November 5), it was a cold Election Day for those that were west of the Mississippi River.  Rochester MN had a high temperature was 31°F (tied for 7th coldest in 1933 & 1995) and a low temperature was 19°F (tied for the 9th coldest in 1935 & 1995).  A total of 1.1" of snow fell (4th snowiest). This was the first measurable snow in Rochester on an Election Day since 2002 when 0.9" fell (5th snowiest).
• In 2020 (November 3), Rochester, MN had a high temperature of 74°F.  This tied 2008 for the warmest Election Day.  La Crosse, WI had a high temperature of 74°F.  This tied with 1964 for the 2nd warmest Election Day.  Only 2008 was warmer with a high temperature of 75°F.  
• In 2022 (November 8), Rochester, MN received 0.41" of rain. This made it the 4th wettest Election Day and the wettest since 2013 (0.98" - 2nd wettest).