LA CROSSE, WI – The Mississippi River shimmers under a cool morning haze as western Wisconsin wakes to calm skies that won’t stay quiet for long. A stretch of unsettled fall weather is on the move, bringing showers, gusty winds, and the first real taste of pre-winter chill by midweek.
According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, rain develops later today, becoming more widespread by late afternoon as a weak cold front sweeps east. Gusts near 30 mph will kick up along I-90 and Highway 53, making travel gusty and at times slick under scattered showers. Rain chances linger through Tuesday before much cooler air moves in Wednesday, dropping highs from the mid-60s to near 50 °F.
By midweek, skies clear and temperatures plummet—setting up ideal conditions for patchy frost late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Rural valleys near Onalaska, Viroqua, and Black River Falls may dip into the low 30s before sunrise. Sensitive plants and late garden crops should be protected, as forecasters say this could mark the region’s first frost of the season.
Thursday turns sunny and crisp with highs near 56 °F, followed by a calm, cool stretch through the weekend. By Saturday, warmer southerly flow returns, with highs in the low 60s and pleasant fall afternoons. But the broader trend hints at another cold snap arriving just before Halloween—an early reminder that winter is waiting just beyond the ridge.
Five-Day Forecast for La Crosse, WI:
Mon: 65/41 – Showers late; breezy with gusts to 30 mph.
Tue: 47/39 – Scattered showers; brisk northwest wind.
Wed: 50/32 – Partly sunny; colder, frost late.
Thu: 56/33 – Sunny and calm; patchy frost early.
Fri: 60/44 – Mostly sunny; cool and pleasant.
