New Year's Eve Climate

Below are some New Year's Eve weather statistics for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI:

The following statistics comprise 152 years of data. From 1873 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 New Year's Eve is 54.6% (83 out of 152).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 45 New Year's Eves (29.6%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 38 New Year's Eves (25%).  Precipitation has fallen on 11 of the last 14 New Year's Eves.  While that has been the case, the precipitation has been on the light side with precipitation totals ranging from just a trace to 0.08 inches (2018).

It has snowed on 66 out of 128 (51.6%) New Year's Eves.  Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 28 New Year's Eves (21.9%) and trace amounts on 38 New Year's Eves (29.7%).  Light snow (from a dusting to 0.9") has fallen on 9 out of the last 12 New Year's Eves.  

Since 1893, residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 91 times (70%), trace amounts 20 times (15.4%), and no snow 19 times (14.6%).

In 2023, the high temperature was 33°F and the low temperature was 28°F.  A total of 0.03" of precipitation and 0.2" of snow fell. There was a trace of snow on the ground at 6 AM, and the average wind speed was 11.4 mph.

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 111 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 New Year's Eve from 1890, 1891, 1908, 1909, from 1921 to 1928.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on New Year's Eve is 57.7% (64 out of 111). There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 26 New Year's Eves (23.4%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 38 New Year's Eves (34.2%).  Precipitation has fallen on 12 of the last 13 New Year's Eves.  While that has been the case, the precipitation has been on the light side with precipitation totals ranging from just a trace to 0.08 inches (2011).

It has snowed on 57 out of 108 (52.8%) New Year's Eve's.  Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 18 New Year's Eves (16.7%) and a trace of snow has fallen on 39 New Year's Eves (36.1%).  Snowfall has fallen on 11 out of the last 14 New Year's Eves.  While that has been the case, the snowfall has been on the light side with snow totals ranging from just a dusting (9 times) to 1.3 inches (2013).

Since 1893, residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 66 times (75%), no snow 9 times (10.2%), and trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 13 times (14.8%).

In 2023, the high temperature was 29°F and the low temperature was 22°F. There was 0.02" of precipitation and a trace of snow. There was no snow on the ground at 6 AM. This was the first time since 2006. The average wind speed was 13.9 mph.

The following weather events happened on New Year's Eve:

• In 1911, La Crosse, WI received 8" of snow.
• in 1923, snow began at La Crosse, WI during the afternoon of the 29th and continued to 3 PM on the 31st. Some snow totals include La Crosse (13", storm total), New Hampton, IA (6"), Viroqua, WI (6").
• In 1948, Lake City, MN received 7" of snow.
• In 1977, Rochester, MN received 7.3" of snow.
• In 1982, Lake City, MN received 7" of snow.
• In 2000, 3" of snow fell in Austin, MN increasing their snow depth to 32" on the ground. This is their greatest snow depth ever recorded.
• In 2017, the temperature failed to rise above zero at Rochester, MN.  The high temperature was -8°F which was tied with 1973 for the 2nd coldest high on New Year's Eve.
• In 2018, a 2 to 4" snow band fell across Allamakee County in northeast Iowa and 3 to 8 inches from Crawford and Vernon counties in southwest Wisconsin east northeast to the Green Bay area.  The highest snow totals in the local area were near La Farge, WI (7.8" in Monroe County) and Mauston (7.9" - Juneau County).  Much of this snow fell during the afternoon and early evening.  This precipitation started out as a brief wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet during the late morning.  A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect from 6 AM to midnight.
  
• In 2021, dense fog was seen across southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa during the early morning hours. This prompted a Dense Fog Advisory which lasted in some counties until 11 AM.
• In 2023, a trough of low pressure brought light snow to the area during the morning on New Year's Eve. Snow totals ranged from a dusting to 1.2" of snow just northwest of Hokah, MN. There was no snow on the ground at 6 AM for Rochester, MN. This was the first time since 2006