After a couple mild days, temperatures took a downward turn for the front half of February. Temperatures were at or below normal for 10 of the first 14 days, with a string of below zero lows for the 10^th through 13^th. The second half would see a return of the milder conditions as highs cracked 40 degrees 8 times. The max for the month of 62 on the 27^th was the 10^th earliest first occurrence of a 60 degree day in a year for La Crosse. Normally this occurs around March 23^rd.

Lows were at or above 30 degrees 21% of the time, well above the average of 9%. There were less days of measurable snowfall in February compared to January (5 to 8), but February more than doubled January’s total. A snow storm over the 2^nd and 3^rd accounted for most of the month’s accumulation with 8.4 inches falling on these two days. That said, only trace amounts fell after the 14^th.

It would be a mild March for La Crosse in 2016 with its 41.3 degree average tying it for the 7^th warmest on record. The bulk of the warmth came during the front half. The stretch from the 6^th through 17^th recorded highs of at least 50 degrees or warmer, with lows mostly in the 40s (closer to the normal highs rather than lows). The first 70 degree day of the year came on the 8^th (72), which was the 3^rd quickest 70 degree or warmer temperature in a year for La Crosse (average is around April 9^th). Along with being very mild, March was a wet month. Measurable precipitation fell on 12 days with over ½ inch of precipitation on 3 of those. The 3.61 inch total made it the 9^th wettest March on record. A lot of that came as snowfall with 12.3 falling through the month (well above the 7.1 inch normal). That said, the mild air made sure that when it snowed it did not stick around long. March harbored one of the windiest days of 2016. The 16^th averaged 21.1 mph for the day and recorded a peak wind gust of 51 mph.  

April experienced a lot of fluctuation when it came to temperatures, typical for this spring month. There were 10 days when highs could not climb to 50 degrees, while 8 days warmed above 70  – with a 3 day stretch of 80s from the 16^th-18^th. The biggest swing in temperatures came at the start of the month with a high of 38^th on the 2^nd, jumping to 75 on the 3^rd, then falling back to earth for a chilly 44 on the 4^th. The 3^rd also has an impressive spread in the high and low for the day, with a morning low of 33 degrees, rocketing up 42 degrees by the afternoon.  April was a dry month, finishing over 2 inches below its normal. There were 14 days with measurable precipitation, but 12 of those recorded less than 1/10 of an inch. The last measurable snow of the winter season fell on the 2^nd with 0.6 inches.

Temperatures and precipitation were just about on par for May, finishing a bit above normal in both areas. Temperatures did experience a lot of swings over the first half of the month, illustrated by a high of 91 on the 6^th and a chilly 51 on the 14^th. The 90 degree day was the first of the year and about a month earlier than normal. The latter half of the month settled into highs in the lower 80s and lows near 60. While a bit above normal for rainfall, there was an 11 day stretch of dry conditions at mid month (14^th through 24^th). The only blemish was a meager 0.01” on the 16^th.  May did finish wet with measurable precipitation over the last 7 days – accounting for nearly 2/3rds of the monthly total.

The average temperature of 50.7 degrees for the March, April and May made it the 9^th warmest spring on record for La Crosse.

August continued the string of warm but wet summer months, finishing above normal for both temperatures and rainfall. Temperatures reached 80 degrees or warmer on 26 of the days, well above the average of 19 for such occurrences. The average of 74.2 tied it for the 12^th warmest August on record for La Crosse. There were 11 days with measurable rain in August, right around what typically occurs. However, over ½ inch of rain fell on 6 of those days with an inch or more on 3 of them.

It was a warm and wet summer in La Crosse. The average temperature of 73.6 degrees for June, July and August tied it for the 12^th warmest on record. Meanwhile, the 18.24 inches made it the 7^th wettest summer for La Crosse, exceeding the normal by over 8 inches. 

The wet summer would give way to an even soggier September. The 10.46 inch total made it the 3^rd wettest September on record for La Crosse, and 8^th wettest for any month. There were 7 days with over ½ inch of rainfall, 4 of those exceeded an inch. The most for the month and year fell on the 21^st with 3.17”. Not only did this set a record for the day, but it was the 22^nd wettest day on record. In addition, it was just the 28^th time that rainfall of 3 inches or greater has fallen in a day at La Crosse. Despite all the wet weather, the warmth continued. The 67.7 degree average made it the 7^th warmest September on record.

The stretch from June through September was the 3^rd wettest 4 month period for La Crosse with 27.96 inches. For comparison, the normal rainfall for the entire year is 33.06 inches. So, 84% of the yearly normal fell during these 4 months

The mild conditions remained firmly entrenched across the region in November. The average temperature of 46.2 degrees in La Crosse was over 10 degrees above its normal, making it the second warmest on record. There were 4 days when highs reached or exceeded 70 degrees (tied for the most on record) and 15 days with highs of 60 or greater (also a record). It took until November 9^th to record the first freezing temperature of the season – a record for latest in the season and well after the average of October 10^th. Precipitation was sparse by November standards. It took until the 18^th for the first measurable precipitation, which also happened to be the first day with a trace of snowfall. That said, there was no measurable snow for the month, and in normal year the first measurable snow of the season usually occurs during the 2^nd week of November. 

The fall months of September, October and November finished as the warmest fall on record for La Crosse at 56.6 degrees (besting the previous record by a full degree). There were the most 60 degree or warmer days this fall (69) and the least amount of freezing days (only 10). The fall was also the 7^th wettest on record with 13.85 inches, mostly thanks to the very wet September.

December ended 2016 on a relatively warm and wet note. Temperatures were above normal for the start and end of the month, with a cold stretch coming in the middle. Even then, it wasn’t significantly cold by December standards - the coldest day was on the 18^th (high of 1 with a low of -16, coldest temperature for 2016). December finished close to an inch above normal for precipitation. Out of the 9 days that received measurable precipitation, 5 of those recorded ¼ inch or greater (one off the record for a December). It was a snowy month too, with the 20.8 inches just missing the top 10 for snowiest (it was number 11). The big snow maker was a winter storm that dropped 9.8 inches over the 10^th and 11^th. While there was snow on the ground Christmas morning in La Crosse, it didn’t necessarily feel like Christmas. Highs warmed to 40 just before midnight with over ½ inch of rain falling during the day.