St. Patrick's Day Climate Statistics & Weather History

Below are some St. Patrick's Day climate statistics for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN, and weather history for northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin.

La Crosse, WI:

The following statistics comprise 154 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 St. Patrick's Day is 46.8% (72 out of 154).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 43 (27.9%) St. Patrick's Days and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 29 (18.8%) St. Patrick's Days. 

Since 1897, it has snowed on 48 out of 130 (36.9%) St. Patrick's Days. Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 20 (15.4%) St. Patrick's Days and trace amounts on 28 (21.5%) St. Patrick's Days. 

Since 1893, residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 43 times (32.1%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 19 times (14.2%), and no snow 72 times (53.7%).

In 2026, the high temperature was 21°F (8th coldest) and the low temperature was 3°F (tied for the 9th coldest with 1993).  0.08" of precipitation and 0.7" snow fell. There was 9" snow on the ground at 7 AM.  The average wind speed was 8.4 mph.

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 114 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 St. Patrick’s Day from 1889 to 1891, 1908, and 1921 to 1928.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on St. Patrick's Day is 43.3% (47 out of 112).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 28 (25%) St. Patrick's Days and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 21 (18.8%) St. Patrick's Days. 

It has snowed on 34 out of 109 (31.2%) St. Patrick's Days. Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 21 (19.3%) St. Patrick's Days and trace amounts on 13 (11.9%) St. Patrick's Days. 

Residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 61 times (70.1%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 24 times (27.6%), and no snow 24 times (27.6%).

In 2026, the high temperature was 19°F (10th coldest) and the low temperature was -3°F (5th coldest).  A total of 0.02" of precipitation and 0.2" snow fell. There was 11" of snow on the ground at 7 AM.  The average wind speed was 12.2 mph.

St. Patrick's Day Weather History

In 1942, Grand Meadow, MN received 11" of snow.

In 1965, blizzard conditions were seen across Wisconsin and all but the extreme northwest section of Minnesota from early on St. Patrick’s Day and continued through mid-day on March 18th. In Minnesota, the snow drifted so high on Highway 60 between Mankato and St. James that officials considered the use of dynamite to break up high banks. Drifting snow closed some secondary roads for such a long period that many dairy farms were forced to dump milk. At Sturgeon Lake, a man lost his way in the storm and froze to death. Most schools, universities, and colleges were closed across both Wisconsin and Minnesota. The following are snow reports from southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin: La Crosse, WI (8.4"), Mauston, WI (8"), Richland Center, WI (8"), Cashton, WI (7.5"), Spring Grove, MN (7.5"), Platteville, WI (7.3"), Elgin, MN (6"), Mondovi, WI (6"), Prairie du Chien, WI (6"), and Preston, MN (6"), Rochester, MN (4").

In 1989, a mixture of freezing rain and snow fell across most of northern Iowa from 8 AM through 6 PM. The precipitation was light, but road surfaces quickly iced over causing numerous accidents. In Wisconsin, a late winter storm affected the southern two-thirds of the state. In the southern portions of the state, where snow amounts were less, sleet and freezing rain fell. This caused icy conditions. Traffic was snarled, and schools and businesses were closed. Scores of accidents were reported including a 13-car pile-up in Marathon County. The following snow amounts were reported: Green Lake (10"), Fond du Lac (9"), Wausau (9"), Mather (6"), and Mondovi (6").

In 2012, record warmth was found across the region.  There were a total of 50 high temperature and 42 warmest low temperature records set on this date.  The high temperatures for this date ranged from 72°F at Medford, WI to 85°F at Boscobel, WI. 

In 2026, La Crosse, WI had a high temperature of 21°F (8th coldest) and low temperature of 3°F (tied for the 9th coldest with 1993). Rochester, MN had a high temperature was 19°F (10th coldest) and the low temperature was -3°F (5th coldest).