August 2021: One of the warmest and wettest ever in La Crosse

It was a warm, wet August in La Crosse. One of the warmest and one of the wettest ever.

According to the National Weather Service — La Crosse, last month was the second-wettest August (third-wettest ever) and tied for the 11th hottest August.

Records date back to October 15, 1872, though the National Weather Service — La Crosse said there are sites that go back even further than that.

The average temperature was 74.3°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. That was 1.5°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 72.8°F.

That ties August 2021 with 1881 for the 11th warmest August. It’s also the warmest August since 2010 (75.8 degrees – 7th warmest).

The hottest temperature was 92°F on Aug. 20. The coldest temp. was 53°F on Aug. 22.

There were seven days with temperatures 90°F or warmer. Between 1991-2020, the normal was four days.

As for precipitation, a total of 11.78 inches of rain fell. This was 7.88 inches wetter than the 1991-2020, where the normal was 3.90 inches.

Not only was this the second-wettest August (only 2007 was wetter at 13.75 inches), but it was the third-wettest month.

Only August 2007 (13.73) and September 1900 (12.09) were wetter.

Much of this rain fell (83.9%) on just three days (Aug. 7 – 5.59 inches, Aug. 8 – 1.77 and Aug. 27 – 2.52).

The wettest day was Aug. 7 when 5.59 inches of rain fell. This not only set a record for the day, but it was also the wettest August and calendar days. Measurable rain fell on 12 days and trace amounts fell on two days.