Mother's Day Climate

Mother's Day is celebrated in the United States on the second Sunday in May. As a result, Mother's Day can fall anywhere from May 8th to May 14th. Below are some Mother's Day weather statistics for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI:

The following statistics comprise 116 years of data. From 1914 through 1950, the data came from the Observatory Building at the intersection of 5th and Cass in downtown La Crosse. Since 1950, the data has been gathered at the La Crosse Regional Airport.

The odds of having any precipitation on Mother's Day is 47.4% (55 out of 116).  Measurable rain (0.01" or greater) has fallen 40 times (34.5%) and a trace (less than 0.01") has fallen 15 times (12.9%).  A trace of snow fell on Mother's Day in 1960 (May 8).  This was the only time that snow has fallen on Mother's Day at the airport or at the office's downtown locations.  

In 2023 (May 14), the high temperature was 66° and the low temperature was 47°.  0.62" of precipitation fell (tied for 8th wettest with 1911) and the average wind speed was 7.5 mph.  

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 107 years of data. From 1914 through 1931, the data came from several cooperative observers in the Rochester area. Since 1932, the data has been gathered at the Rochester International Airport. No data was taken on Mother's Day from 1921 to 1928.

The odds of having any precipitation on Mother's Day is 50.5% (54 out of 107).  Measurable rain (0.01" or greater) has fallen 41 times (38.3%) and a trace (less than 0.01") has fallen 13 times (12.1%).  Snow has fallen on Mother's Day 4 times. The last one occurred in 2020 (trace).  Other traces of snow occurred in 1938, 1946, and 1952. 

In 2023 (May 14), the high temperature was 59° and the low temperature was 45°.  A total of 0.88" of precipitation fell (6th wettest) and the average wind speed was 13.8 mph.  

Mother's Day Weather History

The following weather events affected southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and western Wisconsin on Mother's Day:

• In 1953 (May 10th), 29 tornadoes occurred from Oklahoma and Arkansas northward into the Upper Mississippi River Valley. During this outbreak, four F4 tornadoes affected the area. One F4 tornado moved northeast from northeast of Fountain City, WI to Colburn, WI (Chippewa County). This tornado or tornado family struck about a hundred farms. Eight farms were hit in Glencoe Township, northeast of Fountain City. Total damage from this tornado was $1,000,000 and it caused 10 injuries. The second F4 tornado moved from 5 miles southwest of Chester, IA to 4 miles northeast of Chatfield, MN. Eleven farms were heavily damaged in northern Iowa before this tornado crossed into Fillmore County, MN. Twenty barns were damaged or destroyed in Minnesota and one man was killed as his barn was destroyed 1 mile southeast of Wykoff. A rural school was leveled 3 miles south of Chatfield as well. The only death occurred in Olmsted County. Six injuries occurred in Olmsted County and 2 injuries in Howard County, IA. The third F4 tornado moved northeast and passed about 2 miles northwest of St. Charles, MN. Farms were torn up all along the track. An infant was killed (Olmsted County) and 4 other people were injured in a car that was thrown 100 feet, about 1.5 miles west of St. Charles, IA. Four more injuries occurred in a barn, and three more in another car. Hundreds of trees were snapped at Whitewater State Park. Overall this tornado killed one person (Olmsted County) and injured 11 people (6 in Olmsted and 5 in Winona Counties). The final F4 tornado moved across Rusk, Price, and Taylor counties in Wisconsin. This storm tracked north-northeast to 7 miles north of Phillips (Price County), but the damage path was not continuous. One farmhouse was leveled and pieces of it were found 7 miles away. The tornado was most intense in Price County where F4 damage was witnessed for 12 miles. Over $150,000 worth of damage. An F3 tornado moved northeast across Clayton County, IA from 7 miles north northeast of Elkader to just northeast of Giard. Barns and silos were destroyed as the tornado struck 8 farms. At least 60 head of cattle were killed. A farmer was carried 700 feet, but suffered only minor injures. Damage estimates were $150,000. 
  
   
• In 1960 (May 8th), late-season snow fell across central and north-central Wisconsin. The following snow totals were recorded on this day: Curtiss (6"), Neillsville, Blair (1"), and Sparta (0.5").
• In 1961 (May 14th), an F2 tornado moved through the southeast part of La Crosse, WI during the afternoon. It wrecked several garages and sheds. Also, several trees were uprooted.
• In 1988 (May 8th), seven tornadoes touched down in Grant County, WI. These tornadoes caused $500,000 in damages. Small tornadoes damaged some farm buildings and trees near Beetown, Union, Boscobel, and Rockville. A tornado path over 7 miles long between Stitzer and Montfort damaged mainly trees along with a few farm buildings. A tornado around Mount Ida damaged 2 homes, destroyed farm buildings, and uprooted trees. Another tornado with a 10-mile long track between Mount Hope and Fennimore, WI damaged 4 homes, downed 2 barns, and several farm buildings and trees. In addition to the tornadoes in Grant County, an F2 tornado mainly crossed rural areas of the Monroe County, WI (1 mile northeast of Cashton to 5 miles west of Warrens). Several farms and barns were destroyed or heavily damaged. Another F2 tornado touched down initially southwest of Richland Center, WI and then tracked to half-mile east of Buck Creek before lifting just west of Cazenovia. Numerous barns, farm sheds, and trees were damaged in addition to 2 homes. There were also three F1 tornadoes reported in Juneau County. These tornadoes caused 2 injuries.
• In 2020 (May 10th), it was unseasonably cold across much of the eastern United States.  This included the Upper Mississippi River Valley.  The high temperature was only 46° (tied with 1952 for the 2nd coldest high on a Mother's Day) at Rochester, MN and 48° (tied with 1954 for the 4th coldest on a Mother's Day) at La Crosse, WI.  A half-inch of snow was reported at Rib Lake, WI (Taylor County).  A trace of snow was reported at Rochester, MN (tying 1938, 1946, and 1952 for the most snow on a Mother's Day) and at NWS La Crosse.
• In 2023 (May 14), La Crosse, WI received 0.62" of rain. This was the wettest Mother's Day since 1987 (0.68") and it was tied with 1911 for the 8th wettest Mother's Day. Rochester, MN received 0.88" of rain. This was the wettest Mother's Day since 1988 (1.44") and it was the 6th wettest Mother's Day.