NWS La Crosse, WI

Summer Records for La Crosse
(June - July - August)

Warmest	Coldest
1) 75.8 1995	1) 65.5 1915
2) 75.3 1988	2) 67.2 1992
3) 74.2 1980	3) 67.3 1924
4) 74.0 1955	4) 67.4 1917
1901	5) 67.6 1891
6) 73.9 1949	6) 67.7 1904
7) 73.8 1936	7) 67.8 1903
1931	8) 67.9 1945
9) 73.7 1983	9) 68.1 1965
1921	10) 68.2 1950
	1912
	1902

average temperature is 70.8 degrees

Wettest	Driest
1) 20.11 1990	1) 3.01 1894
2) 19.88 1993	2) 4.51 1976
3) 19.82 1981	3) 4.96 1887
4) 19.38 1899	4) 5.93 1921
5) 17.89 1953	5) 5.99 1948
6) 17.87 1952	6) 6.15 1982
7) 17.39 1978	7) 6.30 2003
8) 17.23 1924	8) 6.39 1910
9) 17.21 1998	9) 6.47 1961
10) 16.94 1885	10) 6.80 1893

average precipitation is 11.60 inches

Summer typically lasts about three months in La Crosse, extending from early June through the first week in September. After the very changeable spring weather, summer usually features consistently warm temperatures in this part of Wisconsin. The average high temperature is 80 degrees or above from the 14th of June through the 25th of August. There are normally 17 days when the mercury reaches the 90 degree mark during a La Crosse summer averaging 4 in June, 7 in July and 5 in August.

Summer temperatures in La Crosse average two to five degrees warmer than other cities in Wisconsin; including Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Eau Claire. This is partly due to the fact that La Crosse is closer to the warmer weather of the plains states and further away from the cooler Great Lakes. Afternoon temperatures at the airport and other river valley locations also tend to be warmer than on the surrounding ridge tops and higher elevations. This difference is most pronounced during the summer season.

Summer is normally the wettest of the seasons in La Crosse due to the increased frequency of thunderstorms. Each month from June through September averages just under four inches of precipitation with June, July and August each averaging between 7 and 8 days with thunderstorms.

Despite the greater precipitation, summer is still the sunniest season of the year in La Crosse with an average of about 10 clear days in each month and about 70% of the possible sunshine in July and August. Summer is also the least windy of the seasons with average speeds between 7 and 8 mph. The prevailing wind direction is from the south.

NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office