LA CROSSE, Wisconsin – A clear, cold dawn settled over the Mississippi River Valley, with La Crosse waking to a still 30°F under moonlit skies. The air was crisp, the kind that carries the scent of frost across open fields. By late morning, the November sun will break through, starting a brief but pleasant stretch before another round of rain moves in early next week.
The National Weather Service projects a quiet and sunny weekend for southwest Wisconsin. Highs will climb into the upper 40s and lower 50s through Sunday, offering a welcome break for outdoor cleanup, early Christmas decorating, or local travel ahead of Thanksgiving week. Saturday looks especially mild, topping out near 52°F under mostly sunny skies with calm winds.
However, the next system begins taking shape Monday afternoon. Clouds will thicken and rain chances rise late in the day, increasing to 80% by Monday night, with 0.25 to 0.5 inches possible before tapering early Tuesday. Temperatures will hold near 50°F before a cold front sweeps through, dropping highs into the 30s by midweek.
For now, travel around I-90 and Highway 53 should remain smooth through the weekend. But looking beyond, national patterns suggest colder, more wintry air spreading east after November 25. Some long-range models hint at heavy snow potential from the Rockies to the Great Lakes through early December — possibly aligning with the busiest Thanksgiving travel days of the season.
Five-Day Forecast for La Crosse, WI:
Fri: 47/26 – Sunny and calm.
Sat: 52/30 – Mostly sunny, light wind.
Sun: 53/35 – Bright skies, mild.
Mon: 51/41 – Clouds build, 0.5″ rain likely late.
Tue: 49/30 – Rain early, turning colder.
