St. Patrick’s Day Climate Statistics & Weather History

Below are some St. Patrick's Day climate statistics for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN, and weather history for northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin.

La Crosse, WI:

The following statistics comprise 151 years of data. From 1873 through 1950, the data came from various locations in downtown La Crosse. Since 1950, the data has been gathered at La Crosse Regional Airport.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on St. Patrick's Day is 46.4% (70 out of 151).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 42 (27.8%) St. Patrick's Days and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 28 (18.5%) St. Patrick's Days. The last time measurable snow fell on St. Patrick's Day was back in 2017 when 0.02" of precipitation fell.

Since 1897, it has snowed on 45 out of 127 (35.7%) St. Patrick's Days. Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 19 (15%) St. Patrick's Days and trace amounts on 27 (21.3%) St. Patrick's Days. The last time measurable snow fell on St. Patrick's Day was back in 2005 when a 1/2" of snow fell.

Since 1893, residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 42 times (32.1%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 19 times (14.5%), and no snow 70 times (53.4%).

In 2023, the high temperature was 28°F and the low temperature was 9°F.  A trace of precipitation and snow fell. There was no snow on the ground at 7 AM.  The average wind speed was 20 mph.

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 111 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 St. Patrick’s Day from 1889 to 1891, 1908, and 1921 to 1928.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on St. Patrick's Day is 43.1% (47 out of 109).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 27 (24.8%) St. Patrick's Days and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 20 (18.3%) St. Patrick's Days. 

It has snowed on 32 out of 106 (30.2%) St. Patrick's Days. Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 20 (18.9%) St. Patrick's Days and trace amounts on 12 (11.3%) St. Patrick's Days. 

Residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 60 times (71.4%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 24 times (28.6%), and no snow 23 times (28.6%).

In 2023, the high temperature was 21°F and the low temperature was 4°F.  A trace of precipitation and snow fell. There was a trace of snow on the ground at 7 AM.  The average wind speed was 26.4 mph.

St. Patrick's Day Weather History

In 1942, Grand Meadow, MN received 11" of snow.

In 1965, blizzard conditions were seen across Wisconsin and all but the extreme northwest section of Minnesota from early on St. Patrick’s Day and continued through mid-day on March 18th. In Minnesota, the snow drifted so high on Highway 60 between Mankato and St. James that officials considered the use of dynamite to break up high banks. Drifting snow closed some secondary roads for such a long period that many dairy farms were forced to dump milk. At Sturgeon Lake, a man lost his way in the storm and froze to death. Most schools, universities, and colleges were closed across both Wisconsin and Minnesota. The following are snow reports from southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin: La Crosse, WI (8.4"), Mauston, WI (8"), Richland Center, WI (8"), Cashton, WI (7.5"), Spring Grove, MN (7.5"), Platteville, WI (7.3"), Elgin, MN (6"), Mondovi, WI (6"), Prairie du Chien, WI (6"), and Preston, MN (6"), Rochester, MN (4").

In 1989, a mixture of freezing rain and snow fell across most of northern Iowa from 8 AM through 6 PM. The precipitation was light, but road surfaces quickly iced over causing numerous accidents. In Wisconsin, a late winter storm affected the southern two-thirds of the state. In the southern portions of the state, where snow amounts were less, sleet and freezing rain fell. This caused icy conditions. Traffic was snarled, and schools and businesses were closed. Scores of accidents were reported including a 13-car pile-up in Marathon County. The following snow amounts were reported: Green Lake (10"), Fond du Lac (9"), Wausau (9"), Mather (6"), and Mondovi (6").

In 2012, record warmth was found across the region.  There were a total of 50 high temperature and 42 warmest low temperature records set on this date.  The high temperatures for this date ranged from 72°F at Medford, WI to 85°F at Boscobel, WI.