Local
This Date in 1997: Spring storm brought 20+ inches of snow to area
While many of us are outside enjoying the sunshine and warm weather, it wasn’t this nice 28 years ago.
Similar to today, the snow was gone in many parts of the area.
Then, according to the National Weather Service, a storm system developed in Texas that moved to the north through the Mississippi River Valley and into our are starting late on March 12, 1997.
On March 13-14, the storm system began dropping snow that didn’t stop until more than 20 inches of new snow fell on parts of the Coulee Region.
The heaviest snow fell in a narrow band that stretched from part of Winona County across the Mississippi River and into parts of La Crosse, Trempealeau, Jackson, Juneau, and Monroe counties.
North of Winona, Minnesota City had 21 inches of snow with 20 inches falling in Sparta and Viroqua.
The largest report was 22 inches in Mather in Juneau County.
La Crosse saw just over 19 inches from the storm.
In Houston and Winona counties, Winona had 17.8 inches, while La Crescent got 18 inches, Hokah 15.7, and Caledonia received 15.5 inches.
On the Wisconsin side, places such as Cashton and Hillsboro had 17 inches, Blair 15.6, and Alma getting 13.
The storm wasn’t as potent to the south of La Crosse. Lynxville received 5.5 inches and Prairie du Chien only got two inches of new snow.
The snow storm set new daily and monthly snowfall records in many parts of the area.
It also contributed to Rochester having its 1996-97 season as its snowiest on record.
