The very mild conditions would continue for February with only 2 days recording below normal temperatures. There were 12 days with temperatures at or above 50 degrees, well above the average of 1 and a record for February. In addition, highs warmed into the 60s on 3 days (tied for 3^rd most in a February). The 62-degree high on the 22^nd was the 7^th earliest 60-degree temperature in a year for La Crosse. In addition, there were no days where temperatures chilled into the single digits or lower – tying it with 5 other years for the least of such days in a February. Conversely, lows were recorded at 20 degrees or warmer on 23 days – tying 2024 for 4^th most in a February and well above the average of 10. A mild February by any measure and the 35.4 average temp made it the 2^nd warmest on record for La Crosse.  As for precipitation, it was a very dry month. Measurable precipitation fell on only 4 days (average is 8) for a total of only 0.28 inches (almost 1” below normal). With the mild conditions, most of that fell as rain. There were only 2 days of measurable snowfall (tied for 2^nd least in a February) while the 1.3” monthly total making it the 8^th least snowy February on record for La Crosse.

Checking in on the 3 winter months of December 2023 through February or 2024, the average temperature was 31.5 degrees – making it the 2^nd warmest on record.

The mild conditions continued moving through the first half of March with above normal temperatures recorded through the first 16 days. This stretch was the 2^nd warmest of its kind for La Crosse.  Temperatures reached or exceed 70 degrees 4 times during this period. The 74-degree high on the 3^rd is the earliest 70 degree or warmer temperature in a year for La Crosse.  Temps took a downturn starting the 17^th with below normal readings through the 29^th. The month’s average temperature would still finish above normal (+4.1 degrees) despite the stark differences between the first and second halves. Precipitation was closer to normal for March compared to the dry February. 4 days recorded ¼” or more of liquid precipitation. Some of the precipitation did come in the form of snow with the most (4.4”) dropping on the 24^th.

April was more of “mixed bag” when it came to temperatures with several day stretches both above and below normal but only a few days where temps were significantly warmer or colder compared to a typical April. On the whole, April rounded out nearly right on its normal. After the dry start to the year “April showers’ were a welcome sight to most. There were 14 days with measurable precipitation (average is 11) with 7 of those recording ¼” or more (tied for 8^th most in an April). While the total for the month did not set any records, it was 1/2” above normal and the first month to record a surplus of precipitation since October of 2023. The last measurable snow for the 2023-24 season would fall on the 2^nd with 1.1”.

Looking back at the 2023-24 snowfall season, only 26.0” fell – making it the 11^th least snowy season on record for La Crosse.

May saw temperatures hover plus/minus 5 degrees around the daily normals on most days. There were nearly as many days with highs in the 80s (5) as there were in the 60s (6). Overall the month finished a bit above normal (1 ½ degrees). The wet conditions of April persisted for May with 12 days of measurable rainfall (average for a May). 6 of those saw ½ or more of rain drop, tying it for 7^th most in a May. The 6.71” total fell just outside the top 10 for soggiest May, coming in at 12^th.

Looking at the spring months (March-April-May), the average temperature was a mild 50.6 degrees – tied for 12^th warmest on record. The 12.83” precipitation was also 12^th most for a spring in La Crosse.

August was about as “normal” as they come with the average monthly temperature nearly “dead-on” a typical August. August did record the warmest day of the year for La Crosse, clocking in at 97 degrees on the 26^th.  Meanwhile, while precipitation for the month was also almost exactly at its normal, it was anything but. Like July, August rainfall was confined to just a few days. There were only 7 days of measurable rainfall (average is 10) with 3 of those days (5^th, 15^th and 29^th) accounting for 92% monthly total. There were also 8 and 12 day stretches where only a trace of rain fell. So, while the monthly precipitation total paints one picture, daily rainfall amounts paint a different one.

September traditionally marks the start of fall, but this year it felt more like a continuation of summer. The first week was a bit cool with every day but one averaging below normal. Milder to warm air settled in after that with the month on the whole averaging 68.0, over 3 degrees above normal and also marking it as the 9^th warmest September on record for La Crosse. There were 20 days with 80 degree or warmer temperatures, tying it with 1908 for most ever in a September (average is only 8 days). The last 90 degree day of 2024 came on the 15^th (90 degrees). September was a dry month. There were only 4 days with measurable rainfall, tying it with many other years for 2^nd least in a September. 72% of the monthly total fell on one day – with 1.40” on the 19^th.

October experienced up’s and down’s for temps for the first 2 weeks, oscillating between a bit above or a bit below average. Thermostats turned up for the second half of the month, however, with temps from the 17^th through month’s end averaging around 10 degrees above normal. This late month warm up averaged 57.8 degrees and made it the 4^th warmest of its kind for an October. 5 days reached or topped 80 degrees – tied for 6^th most in an October. The last 80 degree day for 2024 fell on the 29^th, tied for 3^rd latest occurrence in a year for La Crosse (average is Oct 2^nd). Overall, the month finished at 56.4 degrees for an average, over 4 ½ degrees above normal and 13^th warmest on record.  Precipitation for October was right around its normal, but very misleading. There was no measurable rainfall for the first 23 days and the 1.69” that fell on the 30^th accounted for over 70% of the month’s total.  There was only 1 other year on record that would match the meager trace of precipitation that fell through the 23^rd – back  in 1889. In fact, there had not been any measurable rainfall dating back to the 22^nd of September – essentially an entire month with only a trace of precipitation. This 32 day period is tied for the 3^rd driest stretch of consecutive days on record for La Crosse. 

November continued the mild fall trend but it wasn’t excessively warm despite averaging over 3 degrees above normal. Most days were within 5 to 10 degrees of the daily normal, but did top 60 degrees on the 4^th and 19^th. Cooler air moved in for the end of the month. Highs didn’t warm out of the 20s for the 28^th through 30^th while lows sat in the teens for the 29^th and 39^th. Precipitation was above normal for a change – first time since July. The precipitation was spread throughout the month with 5 days the longest stretch between measurable rain. The 3.36” total was 1 ½” above normal and made it the 14^th wettest November on record. The first snowflakes of the 2024-25 winter season flew on the 20^th, but no measurable snowfall was recorded during the month.

The fall months of September through November averaged 55.1 degrees, tying it with 2015 for the 4^th warmest fall on record in La Crosse, There were 25 days where temps reached or exceeded 80 degrees, a record for the fall, as was the 45 days with 70 degrees or warmer

December finished off the year on a mild note, becoming the 9^th month of 2024 to average above normal temperatures. There were some “ups and downs” when it came to temperatures though, with a colder start and a mild finish to the month. Highs in the 50s on the 7^th through 9^th were followed by below zero lows on the 12^th and 13^th. Precipitation was around normal for a typical December but highlighted by 2 events. First, almost 8” of snow fell over the 19^th and 20^th, with the snow cover lasting through the Christmas holiday. This would be the bulk of December’s snowfall, however, with only 2 other days recording measurable snow – and those amounted to less than ½”. The other event was the nearly ¾” of rain that fell on the 27^th and 28^th.  Not only did this rain help melt the remaining snow cover away, but it also served to saturate the atmosphere such that several days of widespread fog settled across La Crosse.