Environment

Snowless Thanksgiving new norm in La Crosse

Published

10 hours ago

November 27, 2024

The historic odds are against getting any snow in La Crosse on Thanksgiving weekend.

The National Weather Service – La Crosse publishes statistics for weather at the holiday, dating back to 1872. Forecasters said there has been snow on the ground for Thanksgiving in La Crosse only four times in the past 30 years.

Measurable snow has fallen only once on the actual holiday during that period, happening in 2015. The recent snowless spell compares to the 37 percent of times when the city has had snow on the grass for Thanksgiving since the 1890s.

Snowfall on Thanksgiving Day through 2024 (GRAPHIC: National Weather Service – La Crosse)

During the 1990s, La Crosse saw three days with 3 or more inches on the ground by Thanksgiving.

That included 1991, when the region was hit by a blizzard on Halloween, and snow continued to pile up through November. The 15 inches of snow on the ground that Thanksgiving is still a La Crosse record for the holiday.

A year ago, La Crosse had a high of 39 when Thanksgiving fell on Nov. 23, and there was no snow on the ground.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.