January 2026 Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary

Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary for January 2026:

Temperatures - Colder than Normal

During January 2026, average temperatures ranged from 8.4°F near Owen, WI (COOP) to 17.1°F at Guttenburg Lock & Dam 10, WI (COOP). Temperature anomalies ranged from 1°F to 5°F colder-than-normal. There was an 86°F difference between the warmest and coldest temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The warmest temperature was 54°F near Lancaster, WI (COOP) on January 9. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was -32°F near Owen, WI (COOP) on January 25.

Precipitation - Highly Variable

Precipitation totals varied from 0.58" at the Austin Waste Water Treatment Facility (COOP) to 2.72" at La Farge, WI (COOP).  Precipitation anomalies ranged from 0.8" drier than normal to 0.8" wetter than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 2.29" at La Farge from January 8 to January 9. Several locations had their wettest January day from January 8 to January 9. Friendship, WI - 1.66" - previous record 1.18" on January 14-15, 1930 Genoa Dam 8, WI - 1.42" - previous record 1.35" on January 5-6, 1946 Guttenberg L & D 10, IA - 2.00" - previous record 1.57" on January 28-29, 2013 Hillsboro 2SW, WI - 2.19" - previous record 0.78" on January 12-13, 2024 La Crosse 4NNW, WI - 1.24" - previous record 0.96" on January 23-24. 2010 La Farge, WI - 2.29" - previous record 1.22" on January 23-24, 2010 Lynxville Dam 9, WI - 1.70" - previouss record 1.28" on January 5-6, 1946 Mauston, WI - 1.92" - previous record 1.15" on January 15-16, 1980 Mather, WI - 1.32" - previous record 1.15" on January 19-20, 1988 Prairie du Chien, WI - previous record 1.73" on January 4-5, 1946 Ontario 3E, WI - 2.06" - previous record 0.95" on January 11-12, 1993 Strawberry Point, IA - 1.35" - previous record 0.93" on January 24-25, 1950 Stueben 4 SE, WI - 2.25" - previous record 1.75" on January 30-31, 1977 Viroqua, WI - 1.71" - previous record 1.60" on January 23-24, 1999
Snowfall - Less than Normal
Snowfall totals varied from 0.3" at the Austin Waste Water Treatment Facility, MN (COOP) to 12.7" near Viroqua, WI (CoCoRaHS). Snowfall anomalies were up to 8" below normal. The highest one-day snowfall was 3.5" at Viroqua, WI (COOP) and near Westby, WI (CoCoRaHS) from January 16 to January 17.

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

La Crosse, WI

January 2026 was Colder and Wetter than Normal in La Crosse WI

...January 2026 Highlights...

Temperatures - Colder than Normal

Precipitation - Slightly Wetter than Normal

• A total of 1.64" of precipitation fell during January. This was 0.39" wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.25". This was the wettest January since 2023 (2.17" - 17th wettest January).
• The wettest day was 0.96" on January 8. Only 5 January days have been wetter. They were January 5, 1946 (1.67"); January 24, 1967 (1.31"); January 4, 1922 (0.98"); and January 29, 1891 (0.98").
• Measurable precipitation has fallen 9 days and trace amounts have fallen on another 9 days.

Snowfall - Below Normal

• A total of 4.7" of snow was measured by the official snow observer near La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 7.1" below the 1991-2020 normal of 11.8".
• The snowiest days were 1.1" on January 16 and January 21.
• Measurable snow has fallen 6 days and trace amounts have fallen on another 8 days.

Snow Depth - Below Average

• The average snow depth was 2.4". This was 2.5" below the 1893-2026 average of 4.9". 
• The highest snow depth was 4" from January 22 to January 24.
•  The lowest snow depth was 0" on January 14 and January 15.

...Records...

Daily...

• January 8 - Precipitation - 0.96 inches - Previous Record 0.39 inches in 1937
• January 13 - Warm Low - 36°F - Previous Record 34°F in 1960.

...Looking ahead to February...

• The normal high temperature in La Crosse starts off at 28°F on February 1st and warms to 38°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature starts off at 10°F on the 1st and warms to 19°F by the end of the month. The warmest February temperature on record was 65°F on February 12, 1882, February 15, 1921, and February 19, 2017; and the coldest was -36°F on February 8, 1971.  
• The normal mean temperature for February is 23.3°F. La Crosse’s warmest February occurred in 1878 with an average temperature of 36.7°F, and their coldest February occurred in 1875 with an average temperature of 3.9°F. 
• The normal February precipitation is 1.19" (driest month). The wettest February occurred in 1922 with 4.04" of precipitation and the driest February occurred in 1969 with just 0.05". The wettest February day occurred on February 22, 1922, when 2.05" of precipitation fell. 
• The normal February snowfall is 9.7" (3rd snowiest month). The snowiest February occurred in 2019 with 31.1" of snow and the least snow was 0.5" in 1954. The snowiest February day occurred on February 28, 1939, when 10.9" of snow fell.

Rochester, MN
 

January 2026 was Colder and Drier than Normal in Rochester, MN

...January 2026 Highlights...

Temperatures - Colder than Normal

Precipitation - Slightly Drier than Normal

• A total of 0.81" of precipitation fell during January. This was 0.18" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 0.99". 
• The wettest day was 0.53" on January 8. 
• Measurable precipitation has fallen 8 days and trace amounts have fallen on another 10 days.

Snowfall - Tied for the 6th Least

• A total of 2.1" of snow was measured by the official snow observer near Rochester International Airport.
• This was 10.1" below the 1991-2020 normal of 12.2".
• This was tied for the 6th least with 1958 and 1974.
• The least amount of snow in January was 0.4" in 2025.
• The table below lists the 10 snowless Januarys in Rochester, MN.

 Least Snowfall in January
     in Rochester MN
        1893-2025

        Snowfall
Rank      Total       Year
----      -----       ----
  1    0.4 inches     2025
  2    0.8 inches     2006
  3    1.7 inches     1961
  4    1.9 inches     2013
  5    2.0 inches     1957
  6    2.1 inches     2026
       2.1 inches     1974
       2.1 inches     1958
  9    2.2 inches     1944
 10    2.3 inches     1948 

• The snowiest day was 0.5" on January 21.
• Measurable snow has fallen 6 days and trace amounts have fallen on another 10 days.

Snow Depth - Below Average

• The average snow depth was 1.7". This was 3.7" below the 1909-2026 average of 5.4". 
• The highest snow depth was 5" from January 1 to January 3. 
• The lowest snow depth was 0" on January 14 and January 15.

...Records...

Daily...

• None.

...Looking ahead to February...

• The normal high temperature in Rochester starts off at 23°F on February 1st and warms to 32°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature starts off at 7°F on the 1st and falls to 16°F by the end of the month. The warmest February temperature on record was 63°F on February 17, 1981, and the coldest was -35°F on February 2, 1996.  
• The normal mean temperature for February is 18.7°F (2nd coldest month). Rochester’s warmest February occurred in 1931 with an average temperature of 32°F, and its coldest February occurred in 1936 with an average temperature of 0.5°F. 
• The normal February precipitation is 1.02" (2nd driest month). The wettest February occurred in 2019 with 2.97" of precipitation and the driest February occurred in 1964 with just 0.04". The wettest February day occurred on February 20, 2014, when 1.12" of precipitation fell. 
• The normal February snowfall is 10.7" (3rd snowiest month). The snowiest February occurred in 2019 with 40" of snow and the least snow was 0.2" in 1930 and 1954. The snowiest February day occurred on February 27, 1893, when 13.5" of snow fell.