Labor Day Climate

Labor Day occurs each year between September 1st and September 7th.  Below are some weather statistics for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN for this holiday.

La Crosse, WI:

The following statistics comprise 142 years of data. From 1882 through 1950, the data came from various locations in downtown La Crosse. Since 1950, the data has been gathered at La Crosse Regional Airport.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on Labor Day is 39.4% (56 out of 142).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 39 Labor Days (27.5%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") on 17 Labor Days (12%).  The last 3 Labor Days have been dry.

On Labor Day in 2023 (September 4), the high temperature was 98°F. This was tied with 1913 (September 1), for the hottest high temperature on Labor Day. The low temperature was 71°F. This was tied with 1897 (September 6), 1916 (September 4), and 1960 (September 5) for the 3rd warmest low temperature on Labor Day. Only the Labor Days of 1886 (September 6) and 1959 (September 7) were warmer with a low temperature of 73°F. The average temperature was 84.5°F. This was the hottest Labor Day. The previous record was 82°F in 1959 (September 7). No rain fell. This was the third Labor Day with no rain. The average wind speed was 10.8 mph. 

The average temperature for the 3-day Labor Day weekend was 98°F. This broke the previous record by 6.7°F. The previous record was 91.3°F in 1960 (September 3-5). The average low temperature of 69.7°F for the 3-day weekend was tied for 5th warmest with 1973 (September 1-3). The average temperature for the 3-day weekend was 83.8°F. This was the hottest average for a Labor Day weekend. The previous record was 81.7°F in 1960 (September 3-5). 

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 112 years of data. From 1887 through 1931, the data came from several cooperative observers in the Rochester area. Since 1932, the data has been gathered at Rochester International Airport. No data was taken on Labor Day in 1902 and from 1921 to 1928.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on Labor Day is 47.3% (52 out of 110.  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 41 Labor Days (37.3%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") on 11 Labor Days (10%).  

On Labor Day in 2023 (September 4), the high temperature was 93°F (tied for 3rd warmest with September 7, 1931, and September 5, 1960), the low temperature was 66°F (tied for the 6th warmest with September 4, 1916, September 1, 2008, and September 3, 2012). No rain fell, and the average wind speed was 11.5 mph.

The following weather events have occurred on Labor Day in southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and western Wisconsin:

• In 1913 (September 1), Grand Meadow MN had a high temperature of 100 degrees. This is still their hottest September temperature. This is still the hottest Labor Day in the following locations:  Decorah IA (100°F), Fayette IA (100°F), La Crosse WI (98°F), Red Wing MN (100°F), and Winona MN (101°F).
• In 1938 (September 5), Osage IA received 4.03" of rain. Also on this date, La Crosse WI started a streak of ten consecutive days with measurable rainfall. The streak ran through September 14th, with a total of 6.89" falling during the period.
• In 1939 (September 4), Mauston WI received 3.00" of rain.
• In 1964 (September 7), Rochester MN received 2.39" of rain.
• In 2002 (September 2), a tornado touched down about a mile northwest of Gilman WI, and moved southeast into the village a couple of minutes later. A few trees and homes were lightly damaged before the tornado hit the Gilman school. The roof was blown off the school gymnasium, where the high school football team had been seeking cover for a minute before moving into the hallways and interior rooms. Debris was blown from the school onto the nearby football field and into homes east of Gilman. The tornado kept tracking southeast into the Chequamegon National Forest, producing occasional house damage and knocking down hundreds of trees. The worst damage was found near the end of the path (along Sawyer Avenue) west of Medford WI where the top of a two-story house was sheared off. There were no reports of deaths or injuries. This was the first confirmed tornado in Taylor County, WI since 1977. This was the same day as the Ladysmith Tornado.
• In 2018 (September 3), both La Crosse and Rochester tied for their 10th warmest low temperature recorded on Labor Day.  The low temperature was 64°F at Rochester.  This was tied with 1912, 1913,1929,1973, and 1996. The low temperature was 67°F at La Crosse.  This was tied with 1889, 1894, and 1929.  In addition to the unusually warm low temperatures, 0.61" of rain fell at La Crosse Municipal Airport.  This made it the 6th wettest Labor Day.
• In 2019 (September 2), Rochester International Airport received 1.69" of rain. Which made it their 2nd second wettest Labor Day.  Only 1964 (September 7) was wetter with 2.39" of rain.
• In 2020 (September 7),  Rochester International Airport had a high temperature of 62°F.  This was the 6th coldest high for Labor Day and the coldest high on Labor Day since 1965 (coldest high temperature on Labor Day).
• In 2023 (September 4), high temperatures across the Upper Mississippi River were in the 90s. La Crosse Regional Airport tied its hottest high temperature (98°F) on Labor Day with 1913 (September 1). It also broke its daily average temperature (84.5°F) for Labor Day. The previous record was 82°F in 1959. Rochester International Airport's high temperature was 93°F (tied for 3rd warmest with September 7, 1931, and September 5, 1960), the low temperature was 66°F (tied for the 6th warmest with September 4, 1916, September 1, 2008, and September 3, 2012).