La Crosse experiencing wettest year since 1876

This is turning out to be La Crosse’s wettest year in almost a century and a half, at least through the end of March.

In the first 90 days of 2023, La Crosse has received 7.8 inches of precipitation from rain and snow. The only year on record that was wetter through the first three months on the calendar was 1876.

Last Friday, 1.6 inches of rain fell. Only three other March days have been wetter, in the last 150 years.

The Coulee Region is still warming up slowly as spring begins. Sunday was the first 60-degree day of the year in La Crosse. The high got up to 65, compared to the March high of 53, which was recorded on two days of the month.

Last year, La Crosse had already seen 70-degree temps before the start of April, and 70s are being forecast for late next week.

The weather service noted this March was colder than normal, with daytime highs about three degrees cooler than usual.

The 12 inches of snow in La Crosse during March was 5 inches above normal.