National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

On Tuesday, September 2nd, the high temperature in La Crosse hit 93 degrees which was the warmest so far in 2008.  This topped the previous warmest day of the year that was set ironically the day before (September 1st - 91 deg F).  In fact, La Crosse has only hit 90 deg F or warmer five (5) times this year.

• 93 deg F - Sept. 2
• 91 deg F - Sept. 1
• 90 deg F - Aug. 18
• 90 deg F - July 30
• 90 deg F - July 16

On average La Crosse hits 90 deg F or warmer each year about 18 times.

Below is a map of the departures from normal for September 2nd's high temperatures across the area. Image courtesy the Midwest Regional Climate Center.

Two days later, steady rain and low clouds from Hurricane Gustav remnants kept high temperatures some 15 to 20 degrees below normal across the area. The official high temperature at La Crosse hit 60 degrees on September 4th, making it the coldest high temperature for this day ever recorded. The previous record was 61 degrees in both 1920 and 1994.  Below is an image of the departure from the normal of the high temperatures on September 4th, again courtesy the Midwest Regional Climate Center.