April 2026 Climate Summary

Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary for April 2026:

Temperatures - Warmer than Normal

During April 2026, average temperatures ranged from 42.5°F at Preston, MN (COOP) to 50.4°F at Decorah, IA (COOP). Temperature anomalies ranged from 3°F to 10°F above normal. There was a 73°F difference between the warmest and coldest temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The warmest temperature was 84°F at Northeast Iowa Regional Airport on April 21; near Elkader, IA on April 22; and at Sparta Fort/McCoy Airport, WI on April 23. The coldest temperature was 11°F at Sparta Fort/McCoy Airport, WI on April 7.

Precipitation - Near- to Wetter than Normal

Precipitation totals varied from 3.10" at New Hampton, IA (COOP) to 13.10" near Muscoda, WI (CoCoRaHS). Precipitation anomalies ranged from 1" drier than normal to 2.5" wetter than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 4.46" near Decorah, IA (CoCoRaHS) from April 3 through April 4.

Snowfall - Near- to Below-Normal 

Snowfall varied from no snow at numerous locations to 1.3" near Medford, WI. Snowfall anomalies ranged from near-normal to 5" below-normal. The highest one-day snowfall was 1.1" near Medford, WI from April 2 to April 3.

Severe Weather - Very Active to Record Breaking

Severe Thunderstorm Warnngs - 58 Warnings  Most ever in April (58 warnings) - Previous record was 50 in 2002 7th most in any calendar month - Greatest since July 2008 (70 warnings - 3rd most) - Most ever was 110 warnings in June 1998
Tornado Warnings - 36 Warnings Most Tornado Warnings on a Calendar Day - April 17 (26 warnings) - Previous record was 19 warnings on June 7, 2008 Most ever in April (36 warnings) - Previous record was 7 in 2011 and 2022 Most ever in a month - Previous record was 28 in June 1998 Only 1 year (40 in 1998) had more Tornado Warnings than this April.
Combined Severe Thunderstorm & Tornado Warnings - 94 Warnings 4th largest outbreak on a calendar day - April 17 (35 warnings) - Greatest since May 17, 2017 (3rd most) - Most 48 warnings on April 18, 2002 Most ever in April (94 warnings) - Previous record was 53 in 2002 2nd most ever in a month - Only June 1998 had more with 138 warnings.
Daily Breakdown of Severe Weather in April 2026 - 6 days April 17 - 35 warnings (9 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings & 26 Tornado Warnings) April 13 - 30 warnings (24 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings & 6 Tornado Warnings) April 14 - 21 warnings (18 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and 3 Tornado Warnings) April 23 -  4 warnings (4 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings) April 15 -  2 warnings (2 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings) April 27 -  2 warnings (1 Severe Thunderstorm Warning & 1 Tornado Warning)   This April had the 2nd most calendar days (6) with severe weather. Only April 2001 had more with 7 calendar days There was 3 consecutive days with severe weather (Apri 13-15). This tied April 2004 (April 16-18) for the most consecutive days in April with severe weather.
Tornadoes Most April tornadoes - 13 tornadoes have been verified in April 2026 (with a potential of 14 tornadoes). Previous record was 9 in 2022. 6th most tornadoes in a month (potentially could be tied with July 1994 and May 2024 for the 4th most) Tied with May 8, 1988 and May 21, 2024 for the 3rd largest tornado outbreak in the local area. Only December 15, 2021 (27 tornadoes) and June 8, 1993 (13 tornadoes) had more tornadoes. Here are the tornado tracks for April 2026 April 14 - 1 tornado April 17 - 12 tornadoes (number will likely increase)

River Flooding

• Minor to major flooding occurred on many of the Wisconsin Rivers.
• Major flooding occurred on the Wisconsin River at Castle Rock Dam near Mauston, WI; and Yellow River near Necedah, WI.

Below are the April 2026 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI

April 2026 was Warmer and Wetter than Normal for La Crosse, WI

...April 2026 Highlights...

Temperatures - Warmer than Normal

• During April 2026, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 51.2°F. This was 2.2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 49°F.
• The average high temperature was 61.4°F. This was 1.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 59.6°F.
• The average low temperature was 41°F. This was 2.6°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 38.4°F.
• The warmest temperature was 81°F on April 23 and the coldest temperature was 22°F on April 7.
• The low temperature was below freezing on 5 days. The long-term average is 9 days.

Precipitation - 13th Wettest

• A total of 5.32" of precipitation fell at La Crosse Regional Airport.
• This was 1.57" wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 3.75".
• This was the 13th wettest April. Below are the 20 wettest Aprils in La Crosse.

Wettest Aprils in La Crosse WI
          1873-2026

        Precipitation
Rank        Total        Year
----    -------------    ----
  1      7.31 inches     1973
  2      7.03 inches     2014
  3      6.79 inches     1954
  4      6.74 inches     2008
  5      6.51 inches     1994
  6      6.07 inches     1975
  7      6.02 inches     1999
  8      5.96 inches     1991
         5.96 inches     1909
 10      5.92 inches     2013
 11      5.84 inches     1896
 12      5.78 inches     1993
 13      5.32 inches     2026
 14      5.20 inches     2025
 15      5.14 inches     2011
 16      5.12 inches     1951
 17      4.87 inches     2017
         4.87 inches     1965
 19      4.81 inches     1903
 20      4.78 inches     2006      

• 8 out of the 20 wettest Aprils have occurred since 2006.
• The wettest April day occurred on April 3rd when 1.29 inches of rain fell.
• Measurable precipitation fell on 15 days and trace amounts fell on another 5 days.

Snowfall - Below Normal

• During April, the snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport reported a trace of snow.
• This was 2.9" lower than the 1991-2020 normal of 2.9".
• The snowiest day was April 19 when a trace of snow fell. This was the only snow during April.

Mississippi River at La Crosse, WI - Below Normal

• Average April 7 am stage was 7.23 feet.
• This was 1.11 feet below the 1937-2026 average of 8.33 feet.
• The lowest 7 am stage was 6.34 feet on April 26. The lowest April 7 am stage was 4.26 feet on April 1, 1944.
• The highest 7 am stage was 9.02 feet on April 18. The highest April 7 am stage was 17.68 feet on April 22, 1965.

...Records...

• April 2 - Rainfall - 1.12" - Previous Record 1.04" in 1940
• April 23 - Rainfall - 0.85" - Previous Record 0.77" in 1896

...Looking Ahead to May...

• The normal high temperature in La Crosse rises from 66°F on May 1st to 77°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature warms from 45°F on the 1st to 56°F by the end of the month. The normal mean temperature for the month is 61°F. La Crosse's warmest May occurred in 1934 with an average temperature of 68°F, and their coldest May occurred in 1907 with an average temperature of 50.8°F.
• During May, the hottest temperature recorded was 107°F on May 31, 1934, and the coldest temperature was 26°F on May 2, 1911, May 3, 1971, and May 6, 1989.
• The average precipitation for May is 4.33". There are normally 5 days with thunderstorms during May in La Crosse. The wettest May occurred in 2004 with 9.73" of precipitation, while the driest was in 1887 with 0.50". The wettest May day was 3.06" on May 19, 1912.
• Normally, there are 5 days with thunderstorms.
• The normal snowfall for May is 0". The snowiest May occurred in 1935 when 7.2" of snow fell. Only 8 Mays since 1873 have had measurable snow.

Rochester, MN
 

April 2026 was Warmer and Wetter than Normal for Rochester MN

...April 2026 Highlights...

Temperatures - Warmer than Normal

• During April 2026, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 48°F. This was 2.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 45.2°F.
• The average high temperature was 58.1°F. This was 2.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 55.3°F.
• The average low temperature was 37.8°F. This was 2.7°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 35.1°F. This was the 16th warmest.
• The warmest temperature was 82°F on April 22 and the coldest temperature was 19°F on April 7.
• The low temperature was below freezing on 11 days. The long-term average is 13 days.

Precipitation - Tied for 16th Wettest wuth 1919

• A total of 4.44" of precipitation fell at Rochester International Airport.
• This was 0.92" wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 3.52".
• This April was tied with 1919 for the 16th wettest. Below are the 20 wettest Aprils in Rochester.

Wettest Aprils in Rochester MN
          1886-2026

        Precipitation
Rank        Total        Year
----    -------------    ----
  1      7.30 inches     2001
  2      6.83 inches     2022
  3      6.79 inches     2013
  4      6.47 inches     1999
         6.47 inches     1990
  6      5.64 inches     2014
  7      5.51 inches     2006
  8      5.25 inches     1991
  9      4.95 inches     1994
 10      4.93 inches     1994
 11      4.85 inches     2025
 12      4.68 inches     1954
 13      4.56 inches     1993
 14      4.55 inches     2017
 15      4.54 inches     1945
 16      4.44 inches     2026
         4.44 inches     1919
 18      4.26 inches     1973
 19      4.17 inches     2008
         4.17 inches     1930      

• 9 out of the 20 wettest Aprils have occurred since 2001.
• The wettest April day occurred on April 3rd when 1.24" of rain fell.
• Measurable precipitation fell on 15 days and trace amounts fell on another 1 day.

Snowfall - Below Normal

• During April, the snow observer near Rochester International Airport reported a trace of snow.
• This was 3.3" lower than the 1991-2020 normal of 3.3".
• The snowiest days were April 4 and April 19 when a trace of snow fell. This was the only snow during April.

Tornadoes

• There were 4 tornadoes in Olmsted County on April 17, 2026.
• This was the most on a calendar day for Olmsted County. Previous record was 3 tornadoes on April 29, 1981 and June 28, 2017.

...Records...

• April 3 - Rainfall - 1.24" - Previous Record 1.21" in 1934

...Looking Ahead to May...

• The normal high temperature in Rochester rises from 62°F on May 1st to 74°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature rises from 41°F on the 1st to 53°F by the end of the month. The normal mean temperature for the month is 57.6°F. Rochester’s warmest May occurred in 1934 with an average temperature of 66.2°F, and their coldest May occurred in 1888 with an average of only 49.6°F.
• During May, the hottest temperature was 106°F on May 31, 1934, and the coldest temperature was 21°F on May 3 in 1910, and 1967.  Normally, there is only 1 day with temperatures at or above 90°F. 
• The average precipitation for May is 4.35". The wettest May occurred in 2013 with 12.26" of precipitation. While the driest was in 1934 with 0.40". The wettest May day was 4.02" on May 17, 2000.
• Normally, there are 5 days with thunderstorms.
• The normal snowfall for May is 0.5". The snowiest May occurred in 2013 when 14.5" of snow fell. Only 10 Mays since 1886 have had measurable snow.