Martin Luther King Jr History & Climate Statistics

Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurs on the third Monday of January which means that it can occur anywhere from January 15th through January 21st.  Below are some Martin Luther King Jr. Day weather statistics for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI:

The following statistics comprise 37 years of data (1986-2023) from La Crosse Municipal Airport.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is 61.6% (23 out of 38).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 13 (34.2%) Martin Luther King Jr. Days and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 10 (26.3%) Martin Luther King Jr. Days.

It has snowed on 21 out of 38 (55.3%) Martin Luther King Jr. Days.  Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 9 (23.7%) of them and trace amounts (less than a tenth of an inch) fell on another 12 (31.6%) of them.

Residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 32 times (84.2%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 2 times (5.3%), and no snow 4 times (10.5%).

In 2023 (January 16), the high temperature was 40°F and the low temperature was 35°F (warmest).  A total of 0.41" of precipitation (2nd wettest) and a trace of snow fell.  There was 2" on the ground at 6 AM.  The average wind speed was 7 mph.

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 36 years of data (1986-2023) from Rochester International Airport.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is 55.3% (21 out of 38).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 10 (26.3%) Martin Luther King Jr. Days and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 11 (28.9%) Martin Luther King Jr. Days.

It has snowed on 19 out of 38 (50%) Martin Luther King Jr. Days.  Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 9 (23.7%) of them and trace amounts (less than a tenth of an inch) fell on another 10 (26.3%) of them.

Residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 34 times (89.5%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 1 time (2.6%), and no snow 3 times (7.9%).

In 2023 (January 16), the high temperature was 35°F (2nd warmest only 1990 was warmer with a high temperature of 49°F) and the low temperature was 32°F (warmest).  A total of 0.26" of precipitation (4th wettest) and a trace of snow fell.  There was 4" on the ground at 6 AM.  The average wind speed was 11.9 mph.

The following weather events affected southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and western Wisconsin on Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

• In 1994 (January 17), Mather, WI (7"), Westby, WI (6.3"), and Richland Center, WI (6") snow.  In addition, it was the coldest Martin Luther King Jr. Day at both Rochester (high temperature of just -9°F) and La Crosse (high temperature of just -4°F)
• In 2007 (January 15), a snowstorm that began on the afternoon of the 14th, ending on the morning of the 15th, brought the following snow totals: in MN: Hammond (8.0"), Mantorville (7.8"), Oronoco (7.1"), Byron (6.8"), Theilman (6.4"), Austin (6.0"). In WI: Big Flats (6.0"), Mather (6.0"), Mauston (6.0"), Mondovi (6.0"), and New Lisbon (6.0").
• In 2008 (January 21), a low pressure system moved from the southern Plains into Michigan on the 21st, bringing areas of snow to the region. The snow was of low water content, but accumulation rates of an inch per hour were common in the afternoon. Some amounts from this day ranged from...In IA: Waukon 7.8", Fayette 7.2", Edgewood 6.5", Elkader 6.5", Decorah 6.5", Waukon 6.3", and Calmar 6.2". In MN: La Crescent 8.2", Houston 8.0", Stewartville 6.8", Grand Meadow 6.5", and Spring Valley 6.0". In WI: West Salem 8.8", Cuba City 8.5", La Crosse 8.5", Holmen 8.2", Richland Center 8.0", De Soto 7.5", La Farge 7.2", Tomah 7.0", Stoddard 6.9", Muscoda 6.8", Lancaster 6.7", Ontario 6.5", Platteville 6.5", Gays Mills 6.3", and New Lisbon 6.3".
• In 2013 (January 21), it was bitterly cold across the region.  Rochester had a high temperature of just 1°F (tied with 2005 for 3rd coldest Martin Luther King Jr. Day).  La Crosse had a high temperature of 6°F (4th coldest Martin Luther King Jr. Day).
• In 2016 (January 18),  it was bitterly cold across the region.  Rochester had a high temperature of just -3°F (2nd coldest Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and  La Crosse had a high temperature of 0°F (2nd coldest Martin Luther King Jr. Day).
• In 2019 (January 21), the low temperature was -18°F (second coldest on Martin Luther King Jr. Day - only 1994 was colder when the low temperature was -22°F) at La Crosse WI and -15°F (5th coldest on Martin Luther King Jr. Day) at Rochester, MN.
• In 2020 (January 20), Rochester MN had its 9th coldest high (11°F) and low temperature (-4°F) on a Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• In 2022 (January 17), La Crosse, WI had an average temperature of 28.5°F. This tied 1995 and 2012 for the 6th warmest Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• In 2023 (January 16), La Crosse, WI had a high temperature of 40°F (3rd warmest) and a low temperature of 35°F (warmest). This produced an average temperature of 38°F (warmest). A total of 0.41" of rain fell (2nd wettest).  Rochester, MN had a high temperature of 35°F (2nd warmest - only 1990 was warmer with a high temperature of 49°F) and a low temperature of 32°F (warmest). This produced an average temperature of 34°F (2nd warmest - only 1990 was warmer with an average temperature of 35.5°F). A total of 0.26" of rain fell (4th wettest).