Meteorological Spring 2021 Climate Summary

During the 2021 meteorological spring (March 1-May 31), temperatures averaged 1 to 3°F warmer-than-normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Seasonal average temperatures ranged from 42.7°F at Grand Meadow, MN to 51.1°F at Decorah, IA and La Crosse Regional Airport.   Normally, spring temperatures average 40°F to 45°F north of Interstate 94 and 45°F to 50°F across the remainder of the area.

Precipitation totals were up to 1” wetter-than-normal north of Wisconsin 29 in north-central Wisconsin.  Elsewhere, precipitation deficits were up to 4”.  Precipitation totals ranged from 3.80” near Oelwein, IA to 9.95” in Grand Marsh, WI. Normally, 8 to 11 inches of precipitation falls during meteorological spring.  Due to the spring precipitation deficits along with those over the winter, abnormally dry (D0) to moderate (D1) drought conditions developed across the La Crosse Hydrologic Service Area.

Snowfall was below-normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley.  Snow totals ranged from 1” at Sparta, WI to 10.8” near Mantorville, MN.  Normally snowfall ranges from around 5” across the northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin to 10” to 15” north of Interstate 94.

Temperature Anomalies	Precipitation ​Anomalies	Snowfall ​Anomalies

La Crosse, WI...
 

The meteorological spring of 2021 was warmer (2.6F warmer-than-normal) and drier-than-normal (2.55 inches drier-than-normal) at La Crosse Regional Airport.  It was the 8th warmest spring. 5 out 11 warmest springs have occurred since 2000. More details on these statistics can be found below.

Temperatures - 

From March 1st through May 31st, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 51.2F.  This was 2.6F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 48.6F. The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the spring of 2021.

        Spring 2021 Temperatures
             in La Crosse WI+

             Average       Departure
   Month   Temperature    from Normal
   -----   -----------    -----------
   March   42.2 degrees   +7.7 degrees - 7th Warmest 
   April   50.3 degrees   +1.7 degrees 
   May     60.8 degrees   -0.2 degrees 
 
   Spring  51.2 degrees   +2.6 degrees - 8th Warmest

+ March and April used 1981-2010 normals.  May and Spring used 1991-2020 normals. 

• The average high temperature was 62F.  This was 2.9F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 59.1F.  This was the 7th warmest. 7 out of the 15 warmest have occurred since 2000.
• The average low temperature was 40.5F.  This was 2.3F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 38.2F. This was 13th warmest. 6 out of the 18 warmest have occurred since 2000.
   
• The warmest high temperature was 91F on May 1.
• The coldest high temperature was 29F on March 1.
• The warmest low temperature was 70F on May 25.
• The coldest low temperature was 17F on March 1 & April 2.
   
• Maximum Temperature <= 32 on 1 Days
• Maximum Temperature >= 90 on 1 Days 
• Minimum Temperature <= 32 on 25 Days
• Minimum Temperature <=  0 on  0 Days

Precipitation - 

From March 1st through May 31st, La Crosse Regional Airport received 7.57 inches of precipitation.  This was 2.55 inches drier than the 1991-2020 spring normal of 10.12 inches. The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the spring of 2021.

        Spring 2021 Precipitation
             in La Crosse WI+

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
   March    1.51 inches   -0.53 inches
   April    1.32 inches   -2.02 inches
   May      4.74 inches   +0.41 inches
 
   Spring   7.57 inches   -2.55 inches

+ March and April used 1981-2010 normals.  May and Spring used 1991-2020 normals.

• The wettest day was May 23 when 1.16 inches of rain fell.
• Measurable precipitation fell on 26 days (28.3 percent) and trace amounts on another 15 days (16.3 percent).

Snowfall - 

From March 1st through May 31st, the snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport recorded 4.0 inches. This was 6.2 inches less than the 1991-2020 normal of 10.2 inches.  The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the spring of 2021.

          Spring 2021 Snowfall
             in La Crosse WI+

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
   March     4.0 inches   -3.1 inches 
   April       Trace      -1.7 inches
   May       0.0 inches    0.0 inches
 
   Spring    4.0 inches   -6.2 inches 

+ March and April used 1981-2010 normals.  May and Spring used 1991-2020 normals.

• The snowiest day was on March 15 when 3.9 inches of snow fell.
• Measurable snow fell on 2 days (2.2 percent) and trace amounts on another 2 days (2.2 percent).

Rochester, MN...
 

The meteorological spring of 2021 was warmer (2.6F warmer-than-normal) and drier-than-normal (2.10 inches drier-than-normal) at Rochester International Airport. This was the 14th warmest spring.  7 out of the 15 warmest springs have occurred since 2000.  More details on these statistics can be found below.

Temperatures - 

From March 1st through May 31st, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 47.4 degrees.  This was 2.6 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 44.8 degrees.  

The table below contains the monthly temperatures and their departures from normal for the spring of 2021.

        Spring 2021 Temperatures
             in Rochester MN+

             Average       Departure
   Month   Temperature    from Normal
   -----   -----------    -----------
   March   38.0 degrees   +5.6 degrees - 10th Warmest
   April   46.4 degrees   -0.3 degrees 
   May     57.6 degrees    0.0 degrees 
 
   Spring  47.4 degrees   +2.6 degrees - 14th Warmest

+ March and April used 1981-2010 normals.  May and Spring used 1991-2020 normals.

• The average high temperature was 57.4F.  This was 3F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 54.4F. This was the 19th warmest. 6 out of the 21 warmest have occurred since 2000.   
• The average low temperature was 37.5F.  This was 2.3F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 35.2F. This was the 11th warmest. 10 out of the 21 warmest have occurred since 2000.   
   
• The warmest high temperature was 91F on May 1.
• The coldest high temperature was 21F on March 1.
• The warmest low temperature was 66F on May 23.
• The coldest low temperature was 7F on March 1.
   
• Maximum Temperature <= 32 on 2 Days
• Maximum Temperature >= 90 on 1 Days 
• Minimum Temperature <= 32 on 32 Days
• Minimum Temperature <=  0 on  0 Days

Precipitation - 

From March 1st through May 31st, Rochester International Airport received 6.99 inches of precipitation.  This was 2.10 inches drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 9.89 inches.  The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the spring of 2021.

        Spring 2021 Precipitation
             in Rochester MN+

           Precipitation   Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
   March    2.08 inches   +0.20 inches
   April    0.81 inches   -2.43 inches - 4th Driest
   May      4.10 inches   -0.25 inches
 
   Spring   6.99 inches   -2.10 inches

+ March and April used 1981-2010 normals.  May and Spring used 1991-2020 normals.

• The wettest day was March 15th when 1.10 inches of rain fell.
• Measurable precipitation fell on 27 days (29.3 percent) and trace amounts fell on another 16 days (17.4 percent).

Snowfall - 

From March 1st through May 31st, the snow observer near Rochester International Airport recorded 8.9 inches of snow. This was 3.5 inch less than the 1991-2020 normal of 12.4 inches.  The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the spring of 2021.

          Spring 2021 Snowfall
             in Rochester MN+

             Snowfall      Departure
   Month       Total      from Normal
   -----   -------------  -----------
   March     8.9 inches   +0.2 inches 
   April       Trace      -3.3 inches 
   May       0.0 inches    0.0 inches
 
   Spring    8.9 inches   -3.5 inches 

+ March and April used 1981-2010 normals.  May and Spring used 1991-2020 normals.

• The snowiest day was on March 15 when 7.9 inches of snow fell.
• Measurable snow fell on 4 days (4.3 percent) and trace amounts fell on another 5 days (5.4 percent).