June 2023 Climate Summary

June 2023 was Mainly Warmer and Drier across the Upper Mississippi River Valley

Temperature

During June 2023, average temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley ranged from 64.7°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 72.8°F at La Crosse Regional Airport (ASOS). Temperature anomalies ranged from near normal to 3°F warmer than normal. La Crosse tied their 13th warmest June with 1911, 1921, and 2020. Rochester MN tied its 17th warmest June with with 1943 and 2020. The warmest temperature was 94°F at Boscobel Airport, WI (ASOS) on June 22. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was 29°F at Sparta Fort McCoy, WI (ASOS) on June 12.

Rainfall

Rainfall ranged from 0.39" at Elgin 2 SSW, MN (COOP) to 4.00" at Elkader 6.8 WSW, IA (CoCoRaHS). This rainfall ranged from 1" to 5" drier than normal. The following locations had one of their 6 driest Junes. Elgin, MN (COOP) had its driest June with 0.39". Their previous record was 0.46" in 1964. Their records date back to 1939. Theilman 1SSW, MN had their driest June with 0.65". Their previous record was 0.90" in 1964. Their records date back to 1939. Viroqua, WI (COOP) tied 1926 for their 2nd driest June. Only 1910 was drier with 0.25". Their records date back to 1893. Mather 3NW, WI (COOP) had its 3rd driest June. Their driest June occurred in 1910 when 0.30" fell. Their records date back to 1904. Rochester, MN had its 6th driest June. It was the driest June since 1976 (1.20"). Their driest June occurred in 1893 when 0.69" of rain fell. Their records date back to 1887.

The highest one-day precipitation was 3.25" at Grand Meadow, MN (COOP) from June 2-3. As expected with drought, severe weather was relatively quiet for June. There were only 5 warnings (all Severe Thunderstorm Warnings) during the month. This was the 7th least in June and the least since 1995 when there were only 4 warnings (again all Severe Thunderstorm Warnings). The least number of warnings in June was 1 warning (a Severe Thunderstorm Warning) in 1988. The 1997-2023 June averages are 28 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, 5 Tornado Warnings, and 6 Flash Flood Warnings.

Below are the June 2023 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN...

La Crosse, WI

June 2023 was Warmer and Drier than Normal for La Crosse, WI

June 2023 Highlights

Temperatures - Tied for 13th Warmest The average temperature was 72.8°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 1.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 average of 71.0°F. This was tied for the 13th warmest June with 1911, 1921, and 2020. 8 out of the last 10 Junes have been warmer than normal. 7 of these 10 Junes were among the 20 warmest Junes.

The table below contains the 20 warmest Junes for La Crosse, WI.

  20 Warmest Junes
  for La Crosse, WI
      1873-2023

Rank  Avg. Temp  Year
----  ---------  ----
  1     76.6°F   2021
  2     76.5°F   1933
  3     74.3°F   2005
        74.3°F   1991
  5     74.1°F   1934
  6     73.9°F   1873
  7     73.7°F   2018
        73.7°F   1931
  9     73.5°F   1995
 10     73.4°F   1988
 11     73.3°F   1956
 12     73.1°F   1921
 13     72.8°F   2023
        72.8°F   2020
        72.8°F   1987
        72.8°F   1911
 17     72.4°F   2017
        72.4°F   2012
 19     72.1°F   2014
        72.1°F   1971

• The average high temperature was 85.3°F. This was 3.6°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 81.7°F. This was tied for the 6th warmest with 1995. Only 1933 (88.7°F), 2021 (88.2°F), 1988 (87.5°F), 1934 (85.8°F), and 1991 (85.4°F) were hotter.
• The average low temperature was 60.3°F. This was 0.1°F colder than the 1991-2020 normal of 60.4°F.
• The hottest temperature was 93°F on June 1 and June 3.
• The coldest temperature was 43°F on June 12.
• The high temperature was 90°F or hotter on 10 days. 1991-2020 normal is 4 days. This is tied for the 6th most in June with 1956 and 1995. Only the Junes of 1933 (15 days), 2021 (14 days), 1988 (14 days), 1910 (14 days), and 1934 (11 days) have had more.

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

• A total of 2.40" of rain fell at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 2.68 inches drier than 1991-2020 normal of 5.08". June is typically the wettest month. 
• This was the third month in a row to be drier than normal. This was the second month to be over 2 inches drier than normal. During May and June, a total of 4.15" of rain fell. This was 5.26" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 9.41".
• This was the 9th driest May and June and the driest since 1992 (3.81" - 6th driest). The driest May and June occurred in 1887 when 1.48" fell. This dryness resulted in the rapid onset of moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought.
• Measurable rain fell on 7 days (23.3%) and trace amounts fell on just 1 day (3.3%). The wettest day was June 18 when 1.81" of rain fell. This was 75.4% of the June rainfall.

June 2023 Records...

• None.

Looking ahead to July...

• The normal high temperature in La Crosse is 85.4°F and the normal low temperature is 64.5°F. The normal monthly mean temperature is 75.0°F.
• La Crosse’s hottest July occurred in 2012 with an average temperature of 79.6°F and their coldest July occurred in 1891 with an average temperature of 66.9°F.  For July, the hottest temperature ever recorded was 108°F (also the hottest temperature for any day of the year) on  July 14, 1936, and July 13, 1995, and the coldest temperature was 44°F on July 4, 1967.  There are typically 7 days with temperatures at or above 90°F.  
• The normal rainfall for July is 4.23". The wettest July occurred in 1883 when 11.03" of rain fell and the driest occurred in 1967 when 0.16" of rain fell. The wettest July day was 5.24" on July 27, 1987.  Normally, there are 7 days with thunderstorms.

Rochester, MN

June 2023 was Warmer and Much Drier than Normal for Rochester, MN

June 2023 Highlights...

Temperatures - Tied for 17th Warmest The average temperature was 69.9°F at Rochester International Airport. This was 2.4°F warmer than the 1991-2020 average of 67.5°F. This was tied with 1943 and 2020 for the 17th warmest June. 8 out of the last 10 Junes have been warmer than normal. 5 of these 10 Junes were among the 20 warmest Junes.

The table below contains the 20 warmest Junes for Rochester, MN.

  20 Warmest Junes
  for Rochester, MN
      1886-2023

Rank  Avg. Temp  Year
----  ---------  ----
  1     73.9°F   1933
  2     73.0°F   2021
  3     72.4°F   1931
  4     72.2°F   1991
  5     71.9°F   2005
        71.9°F   1956
        71.9°F   1934
  8     71.6°F   1949
  9     71.4°F   1976
 10     71.1°F   1911
 11     71.0°F   2012
 12     70.4°F   1988
 13     70.1°F   2018
        70.1°F   1913
 15     70.0°F   1987
        70.0°F   1954
 17     69.9°F   2023
        69.9°F   2020
        69.9°F   1943
 20     69.6°F   1887

• The average high temperature was 81.7°F. This was 4.1°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 77.6°F. This was the 14th warmest.
• The average low temperature was 58.2°F. This was 0.7°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 57.5°F.
• The hottest temperature was 89°F on June 23.
• The coldest temperature was 45°F on June 12 and June 16.

Precipitation - 6th Driest 

• A total of 1.34" of rain fell at Rochester International Airport. This was 4.01" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 5.35".
• June is typically the wettest month.
• This was the 6th driest June. It was the driest June since 1976 (1.20"). Their driest June occurred in 1893 when 0.69" of rain fell.

The table below contains the 10 driest Junes in Rochester.

      Driest Junes 
     in Rochester MN
         1887-2023

Rank    Rainfall    Year
----    --------    ----
  1   0.69 inches   1893
  2   0.94 inches   1985
  3   1.08 inches   1964
  4   1.11 inches   1972
  5   1.20 inches   1976
  6   1.34 inches   2023
  7   1.36 inches   1982
  8   1.46 inches   2021
  9   1.52 inches   1988
 10   1.53 inches   1965

• Measurable rain fell on 7 days (23.3%) and trace amounts fell on 3 days (10%).
• The wettest day was June 25 when 0.50" of rain fell. 

June 2023 Records...

• None.

Looking ahead to July...

• The normal high temperature in Rochester is 80.3°F and the normal low temperature is 60.8°F. The normal monthly mean temperature is 70.5°F.  Rochester’s hottest July occurred back in 1936 with an average temperature of 77.7°F, and its coldest July occurred in 1992 with an average temperature of 64.2°F.
• For July, the hottest temperature ever recorded was 108°F on July 14, 1936 (also the hottest temperature for any day of the year), and the coldest temperature was 40°F on July 17, 1911. There are typically 2 days with temperatures at or above 90°F. There are typically 2 days with temperatures at or above 90°F.
• The normal rainfall for July is 4.19". The wettest July occurred in 1978 when 12.33" of rain fell and the driest occurred in 1946 when 0.41" of rain fell. The wettest July day was 7.47" on July 11, 1981. Normally, there are 7 days with thunderstorms.