Weather in La Crosse

Planning a trip or a walk around the city of La Crosse? In this section, you will find the most up-to-date information on weather conditions, as well as forecasts that will help you plan your day better.

The climate in La Crosse, USA, can be described as continental with four distinct seasons. Tourists should expect significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year. Winters here are cold, with average temperatures in January and February dropping to -5°C – -7°C, with minimum values reaching -10°C. Summer, on the other hand, is warm and pleasant, especially in July and August, when average temperatures stay above +21°C, and maximums can approach +28°C.

Spring and autumn in La Crosse are transitional seasons with more moderate temperatures. March and November bring coolness, while April, May, September, and October offer more comfortable conditions for outdoor activities. As for precipitation, it is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, but the total amount is small. A slight increase in the number of days with precipitation (up to 11-13 days per month) is observed from April to August, however, even in these months, the volume of falling moisture remains low. There is no pronounced rainy season; rather, one can speak of a period with slightly more frequent but insignificant precipitation. The main climatic feature of the city is the substantial contrast between the frosty winter and the warm summer.

The weather in La Crosse is characterized by distinct seasons with noticeable temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The hottest month is usually July, when the average temperature reaches 23.1°C, and daily maximums can rise on average to 27.8°C. The coldest period falls in January, with an average temperature of -6.7°C and nightly lows dropping on average to -10.7°C.

The summer months, from June to August, bring warmth and sometimes heat to La Crosse. Daytime temperatures during this period fluctuate on average from 26.5°C to 27.8°C, creating comfortable conditions for outdoor recreation. Nights remain relatively warm, with average minimum temperatures around 16.7°C - 18.4°C. The difference between day and night temperatures in summer is quite perceptible, often exceeding 9-10°C, which ensures pleasant coolness after a hot day.

Winter in La Crosse, covering the period from December to February, is quite frosty. Average daytime temperatures often stay around or below the freezing point (from -2.6°C in January to 0.8°C in December), and night frosts are a common occurrence, with temperatures dropping on average to -10.5°C – -10.7°C in January and February. Even in the winter months, daily temperature fluctuations are observed, averaging about 7-8°C, which means that even after a relatively "warm" winter day, the night can be significantly colder.

In the city of La Crosse, a relatively low level of precipitation is observed throughout the year. The greatest amount of precipitation, on average about 4 mm, falls in May, June, and August. These summer and late spring months are the "wettest" in terms of total volume. The driest month is January, when the average amount of precipitation is only 1 mm.

Speaking of the frequency of precipitation, the greatest number of days with precipitation falls on the spring months. Thus, in April and May, there are on average 13 days with precipitation each. The smallest number of "wet" days is usually recorded in November – about 6 days. In the warm period, from April to October, precipitation falls mainly in the form of rain. Given the small total volume, these can be both short-term downpours and periods of drizzling rain.

In the cold season, the character of precipitation changes. From December to February, when average temperatures drop significantly below zero (for example, in January the average temperature is -6.7°C), precipitation falls mainly in the form of snow. Transitional months, such as November (average temperature 2.8°C) and March (average temperature 2.5°C), can be characterized by mixed precipitation – both rain and snow. In general, there is no pronounced rainy season or drought period in La Crosse; precipitation is distributed throughout the year with a slight increase in its volume and frequency in late spring and summer.

When planning a trip to La Crosse, it is important to consider the significant seasonal weather fluctuations characteristic of this region of the USA. In winter (from December to February), it is quite cold here: average temperatures drop below -5°C, and minimums can reach -10°C. Therefore, your suitcase must include very warm items: thermal underwear, fleece jumpers, an insulated and windproof jacket or down coat, a hat, gloves, a scarf, and waterproof winter shoes. Summer (from June to August), on the contrary, is warm, with an average temperature of about 21-23°C and a maximum of up to 27-28°C. For this period, light breathable fabrics are suitable: T-shirts, shorts, dresses. Do not forget sunscreen, sunglasses, and headwear for sun protection, as well as a light jacket or sweater in case of a cool evening.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) in La Crosse are transitional seasons for which the principle of layering in clothing is ideal. In March and November, it can still be quite cool (average temperature about 2.5°C - 2.8°C), so warm sweaters and jackets will come in handy. April, May, September, and October will delight you with milder weather, but the variability of temperatures during the day makes layering the best choice. Considering that the number of days with precipitation varies from 6 to 13 per month throughout the year, and their greatest number falls on the spring-summer period, it is worth taking an umbrella or a light waterproof jacket with you, especially if your trip is planned for the period from April to October.

Regardless of the time of year, comfortable walking shoes are an absolute necessity for comfortably exploring La Crosse. For the winter months, protection from the cold and wind is of key importance, while in summer it is important to take care of sun protection. Even in the warm months, light precipitation is not excluded, so a compact raincoat or umbrella can prove to be very useful companions on your journey.