Autumn 2025 Meteorological Climate Summary for the Upper Mississippi River Valley

Upper Mississippi River Valley Meteorological Autumn Summary...

Temperatures - Warmer than Normal

During the Meteorological Autumn of 2025 (September 1 through November 30), average temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley ranged from 47.7°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 54.4°F at Decorah, IA (COOP). Temperature anomalies ranged from 1°F to 5°F warmer than normal. The hottest temperature was 92°F at Oelwein, IA (COOP) on September 13. The coldest temperature was 3°F at Sparta Fort McCoy, WI (ASOS) on November 30.

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

Autumn precipitation was below normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Precipitation varied from 3.11" near Byron, MN (CoCoRaHS) to 9.21" near Warrens, WI (CoCoRaHS). Precipitation anomalies ranged from near normal to 5" drier than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 3.28" at Rochester International Airport on September 22.

Snowfall - Snowier than Normal

Autumn snowfall ranged from 3.5" at Alma Dam 4, WI to 13.7" near Oelwein, IA (COOP). Snowfall anomalies ranged from near normal to 12" snowier than normal. The snowiest day was 11" near Harpers Ferry, IA (CoCoRaHS) from 7 AM on November 29 to 7 AM on November 30.

The information below details meteorological autumn 2025 temperatures, precipitation, and snowfall for La Crosse WI, and Rochester MN.

La Crosse WI...
 

Meteorological Autumn of 2025 was much warmer (11th warmest) and drier than normal in La Crosse, WI. More details can be found below.

Temperatures - 11th Warmest

From September 1 through November 30, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 53.3°F. This was 1.9°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 51.4°F. This was the 11th warmest autumn. The table below lists the 20 warmest autumns for La Crosse, WI.

Twenty Warmest Autumns 
   in La Crosse, WI
       1873-2025

        Average
Rank  Temperature  Year
----  -----------  ----
  1     56.6°F     2016
  2     55.6°F     1931
  3     55.1°F     2024
        55.1°F     2015
  5     55.1°F     1963
  6     54.5°F     2021 
  7     54.3°F     1998
  8     54.2°F     1994
  9     53.6°F     2023
 10     53.4°F     1922
 11     53.3°F     2025
 12     53.2°F     2017
 13     53.0°F     1953
 14     52.8°F     2005
        52.8°F     1948
 16     52.7°F     2007
 17     52.5°F     2004
 18     52.2°F     1973
        52.2°F     1971 
        52.2°F     1899  

• 7 out of 12 warmest meteorological autumns have occurred since 2015.
• 10 out of the 17 warmest meteorological autumns have occurred since 2004.

The table below contains the monthly average temperatures and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2025. 

     Autumn 2025 Temperatures
          in La Crosse WI

              Average     Departure
 Month      Temperature  from Normal
 -----      -----------  -----------
September      66.8°F       +2.0°F - 20th warmest
October        54.9°F       +3.2°F  
November       38.3°F       +0.7°F 

Autumn         53.3°F       +1.9°F - 11th warmest

• The average high temperature was 62.9°F which was 2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 60.9°F. This was the 12th warmest. 
• The average low temperature was 43.7°F which was 1.9°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 41.8°F. This was the 19th warmest.
• The warmest high temperature was 90°F on October 3. 
• The coldest high temperature was 27°F on November 29.
• The warmest low temperature was 68°F on September 13 and September 15. 
• The coldest low temperature was 15°F on November 30.
• Temperatures averaged above normal on 53 days, below normal on 33 days, and normal on 5 days. 

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

• From September 1 through November 30, La Crosse Regional Airport received 6.50" of precipitation.
• This was 1.47" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 7.97". 

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2025.

     Autumn 2025 Precipitation
          in La Crosse WI

          Precipitation   Departure
 Month        Total      from Normal
 -----    -------------  -----------
September  3.72 inches  +0.09 inches
October    1.60 inches  -0.89 inches
November   1.18 inches  -0.67 inches 

Autumn     6.50 inches  -1.47 inches  

• The highest daily precipitation total was 1.70 inches on September 22.  
• Precipitation fell on 47 days (51.6%). Measurable rain fell on 32 days (35.2%), and trace amounts fell on another 15 days (16.5%). 

Breakdown by precipitation amounts

None              44 Days (48.4%)
Trace             15 Days (15.4%)
0.01-0.09 inches  20 Days (22.0%)
0.10-0.24 inches   2 Days ( 2.2%)
0.25-0.49 inches   8 Days ( 8.8%)
0.50-0.99 inches   1 Day  ( 1.1%)
1.00-1.99 inches   1 Day  ( 1.1%)

Snowfall - Above Normal

• From September 1 through November 30, the official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport received 8.2".
• This was 4.5" above the 1991-2020 normal of 3.7". 

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2025.

        Autumn 2025 Snowfall
          in La Crosse WI

             Snowfall     Departure
 Month        Total      from Normal
 -----    -------------  -----------
September   0.0 inches    0.0 inches
October     0.0 inches   -0.3 inches
November    8.2 inches   +4.1 inches 

Autumn      8.2 inches   +4.5 inches 

• The highest daily snowfall total was 5.2" on November 29.
• Snow fell on 6 days. Measurable snow fell on 2 days (2.2%) and a trace of snow fell on 4 days (4.4%).

Breakdown by snowfall amounts

None              85 Days (93.4%)
Trace              4 Days ( 4.4%)
0.1 to 0.9 inches  0 Days ( 0.0%)
1 to 2.9 inches    0 Days ( 0.0%)
3 to 5.9 inches    2 Days ( 2.2%)

• The greatest snow depth was 8" on November 30.

Sky...

• It was clear on 43 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 36 days.
• It was cloudy on 12 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.53 inches on November 30.
• Lowest was 29.47 inches on November 15.

Winds...

• Highest sustained wind was 37 mph on November 26 from the northwest.
• Highest wind gust was 50 mph on November 26 from the northwest.

Rochester MN...

Autumn of 2025 was drier and much warmer than normal (5th warmest) at Rochester, MN. More details can be found below.

Temperatures - 3rd Warmest

• From September 1 through November 30, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 51.1°F.
• This was 3.6°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 47.5°F.
• This made it the 5th warmest autumn. 

The table below lists the 10 warmest autumns for Rochester, MN.

  Ten Warmest Autumns 
    in Rochester MN
       1886-2025

        Average
Rank  Temperature  Year
----  -----------  ----
  1     53.1°F     2016
  2     52.6°F     1963
  3     52.4°F     2024
  4     52.0°F     2015
  5     51.1°F     2025
  6     50.9°F     2023
  7     50.7°F     2021
        50.7°F     2007
        50.7°F     2005
 10     50.5°F     1953

• 8 out of 10 warmest meteorological autumns have occurred since 2005.
• 16 out of 26 warmest meteorological autumns have occurred this century. . 

The table below contains the monthly average temperatures and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2025. 

     Autumn 2025 Temperatures
          in Rochester MN

              Average     Departure
 Month      Temperature  from Normal
 -----      -----------  -----------
September      64.4°F       +3.3°F - Tied for 10th Warmest
October        52.8°F       +4.9°F - Tied for 15th Warmest
November       36.2°F       +2.6°F 

Autumn         51.1°F       +3.6°F - 10th Warmest

• The average high temperature was 60.4°F which was 3.3°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 57.1°F. This was the 18th warmest.
• The average low temperature was 41.9°F which was 3.9°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 38.0°F. This was the 5th warmest.
• The warmest high temperature was 88°F on September 14, September 16, and October 3.
• The coldest high temperature was 22°F on November 30.
• The warmest low temperature was 67°F on September 15.  
• The coldest low temperature was 13°F on November 28.
• Temperatures averaged above normal on 64 days, below normal on 25 days, and normal on 2 days.

Precipitation - Below Normal

• From September 1 through November 30, Rochester International Airport received 6.82" of precipitation.
• This was 1.01" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 7.83".

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2025.

     Autumn 2025 Precipitation
          in Rochester, MN

          Precipitation   Departure
 Month        Total      from Normal
 -----    -------------  -----------
September  4.15 inches  +0.55 inches 
October    1.15 inches  -1.20 inches 
November   1.52 inches  -0.28 inches  

Autumn     6.82 inches  -1.01 inches  

• The highest daily precipitation total was 3.28" on September 22.
• Precipitation fell on 38 days (41.8%). Measurable rain fell on 30 days (33%) and trace amounts fell on another 8 days (8.8%).  

Breakdown by precipitation amounts

None              53 Days (58.2%)
Trace              8 Days ( 8.8%)
0.01-0.09 inches  19 Days (20.9%)
0.10-0.24 inches   4 Days ( 4.4%)
0.25-0.49 inches   5 Days ( 5.5%)
0.50-0.99 inches   1 Days ( 1.1%)
1.00-1.99 inches   0 Days ( 0.0%)
2.00-2.99 inches   0 Days ( 0.0%)
3.00-3.99 inches   1 Day  ( 1.1%)

Snowfall - Above Normal

• From September 1 through November 30, the official snow observer near Rochester International Airport received 9.7" of snow.
• This was 4.3" above the 1991-2020 normal of 5.4". 

The table below contains the monthly snowfall totals and their departures from normal for the autumn of 2025.

        Autumn 2025 Snowfall
          in Rochester MN

             Snowfall     Departure
 Month        Total      from Normal
 -----    -------------  -----------
September   0.0 inches    0.0 inches
October     0.0 inches   -0.9 inches
November    9.7 inches   +5.2 inches 

Autumn      9.7 inches   -4.3 inches 

• The highest daily snowfall total was 7.6" on November 29.
• Snow fell on 8 days (8.8%). Measurable snow fell on 6 days (6.6%) and trace amounts fell on another 2 days (2.2%). 

Breakdown by snowfall amounts

None              83 Days (91.2%)
Trace              2 Days ( 2.2%)
0.1-0.9 inches     5 Days ( 5.5%)
1 to 2.9 inches    0 Days ( 0.0%)
3 to 5.9 inches    0 Days ( 0.0%)
6 to 8.9 inches    1 Day  ( 1.1%)

• The greatest snow depth was 7" on November 30.

Sky...

• It was clear on 50 days.
• It was partly cloudy on 29 days.
• It was cloudy on 12 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

• Highest was 30.51 inches on November 30.
• Lowest was 29.48 inches on September 4.

Winds...

• Highest sustained wind was 39 mph on November 26 from the west northwest.
• Highest wind gust was 52 mph on November 26 from the northwest.