Valentine’s Day Climate Statistics and Weather History

Below are some Valentine’s Day weather statistics for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI:

The following statistics comprise 151 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 Valentine’s Day are 50.7% (77 out of 151).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 40 Valentine’s Days (26.5%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 37 Valentine’s Days (24.5%). 

Since 1897, it has snowed on 60 out of 127 (47.2%) Valentine’s Days.  Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 29 Valentine’s Days (22.8%) and trace amounts (less than 0.1") on 31 Valentine's Day (24.4%).  

Since 1893, residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 103 times (78.6%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 9 times (6.9%), and no snow 19 times (14.5%).

In 2023, the high temperature was 47°F (tied for 7th warmest with 1913, 1945, 1967, and 2018) and the low temperature was 37°F (tied with 1954 for the warmest).  The average temperature was 47°F (2nd warmest - only 1954 was warmer with an average of 46.5°F).  0.36" of precipitation (3rd wettest) and no snow fell.  There was no snow on the ground at 6 AM.  This was the first time since 2006. The average wind speed was 10.5 mph.

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 111 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 Valentine’s Day from 1890, 1891, 1908, 1909, from 1921 to 1928.

The odds of having any precipitation at all on Valentine’s Day are 48.1% (52 out of 108).  There has been measurable (0.01" or greater) precipitation on 28 Valentine’s Days (25.9%) and trace amounts (less than 0.01") of precipitation on 24 Valentine’s Days (22.2%). 

Since 1893, it has snowed on 46 out of 106 (43.4%) Valentine’s Days.  Measurable snow (0.1" or greater) has fallen on 23 Valentine’s Days (21.7%) and trace amounts (less than 0.1") on 23 Valentine's Days (21.7%).  

Since 1912, residents have woken up with measurable snow (1/2" or greater) on the ground 69 times (78.4%), trace amounts (less than a 1/2") 7 times (8%), and no snow 12 times (13.6%).

In 2023, the high temperature was 40°F (tied for the 10th warmest with 2005, 2006, and 2017) and the low temperature was 35°F (warmest - the previous record was 32°F was 1915 & 1918).  The average temperature was 37.5°F (3rd warmest).  0.66" of precipitation fell (2nd wettest - only 1911 was wetter with 0.80") and no snow fell.  There was 1" of snow on the ground.  The average wind speed was 16.8 mph.

Valentine’s Day Weather History

The following weather events affected northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin on Valentine’s Day:

• In 1896, a strong low pressure system moved through the region. The warm front associated with this system moved through Prairie du Chien, WI during the day.  As a result, the temperature climbed to 58 there.  However, a strong cold front soon followed a few hours later and by midnight, the temperature had fallen to -8.  This 66-degree diurnal temperature change is the greatest ever recorded there.
• In 1918, Medford, WI received 1.40" of precipitation.  This made it their wettest February day.
• In 1950, a low pressure system developed over north-central Texas during the afternoon of February 12th.  This storm moved slowly northeastward and later northward across northern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, Indiana, and Lower Michigan.  By the afternoon of February 14th, the low pressure area had reached the Straights of Mackinac.  This storm produced the heaviest snowfall of the winter in southern and central Wisconsin, and considerable drifting resulted because of the high winds.  The traffic on many highways was seriously impeded for about 12 hours.  The snowstorm produced the following snow totals:
  • In northeast Iowa:  Lansing (8") and Decorah (7.5").
  • In southeast Minnesota:  Elgin (8"), Grand Meadow (8"), La Crescent (8"), Winona (8"), and Caledonia (7.5").
  • In western Wisconsin:  Mauston (8.5"), Alma (8"), Muscoda (7.5"), West Salem (6.2"), and Steuben (6").
• In 2017, Rochester MN had a high temperature of 40°F.  This tied 2005 & 2006 for their tenth warmest Valentine's Day.
• In 2018, La Crosse, WI had a high temperature of 47°F.  This tied 1913, 1945, and 1967 for the 7th warmest Valentine's Day.
• In 2019, both La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN had an unusual amount of snow on the ground for Valentine's Day.   La Crosse WI had 14" which was tied with 1943 for the 6th greatest snow depth on Valentine's Day.  Rochester MN had 15" which was tied with 1997, 2004, and 2011 for the 5th greatest snow depth on Valentine's Day.
• In 2020, Valentine's morning started out with a near-record or record cold.  Rochester MN had a low temperature of -24°F.  This broke the previous record of -23°F in 1951.  La Crosse WI had a low temperature of -16°F which was just 1°F warmer than its record of -17°F in 1951.  Other locations that broke or tied their daily record low include Caledonia MN (-23°F), Winona Dam MN (-21°F), Minnesota City Dam MN (-20°F), New Hampton IA (-18°F - tied), Postville IA (-18°F), Viroqua WI (-17°F), La Crosse NWS (-16°F), Steuben 4SE WI (-16°F), Guttenberg Dam IA (-11°F), and La Crescent Dam MN (-10°F). 
  
  Wind chills ranged from -22 (McGregor) to -36°F (Charles City & Saratoga) in northeast Iowa, from -25 (Plainview) to -44°F (Rochester International Airport & Canton) in southeast Minnesota, and from -19 (Mauston & near Lublin) to -33°F (Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport) in western Wisconsin.
• In 2021, it was the second Valentine's Day in a row to see near-record or record cold.  The morning started with temperatures ranging from -11°F at Guttenberg, IA to -36F at Owen, WI.  Record lows were set at:  Guttenberg IA (-11°F), NWS La Crosse WI (-17°F), Boscobel WI (-18°F), Viroqua WI (-18°F), Theilman 1SSW MN (-28°F), and Owen 1E WI (-36°F).  Most locations stayed below 0°F throughout the day.  These temperatures were cold enough that record-cold highs were set across the region.  Wind Chill Warnings and Advisories were in effect throughout the day.  The coldest wind chills were -44°F at Canton MN, Dexter MN, and Kasson MN.
• In 2023, it was unusually warm and wet across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. High temperatures ranged from the upper 30s to the lower 50s. Winona Dam 5A  tied their record high of 46°F which was last set in 2017. La Crosse, WI tied their warmest low (37°F - last set in 1954) and Rochester, MN broke their warmest low (35­°F - the previous record was 32°F was 1915 & 1918). Rainfall totals ranged from 0.15" to just over an inch. La Crosse, WI had 0.36" which made it their 3rd wettest Valentine's Day and Rochester had 0.66" (only 1911 was wetter with 0.80").