LA CROSSE, Wis. — The Mississippi River glows under a pale sunrise this morning, the air crisp but calm — a quiet setup for one last mild November stretch before the chill returns. Western Wisconsin enjoys a brief warm-up Friday, then cooler air will sweep back in through the weekend, setting the stage for another frosty start to next week.
According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Friday will bring bright skies and light winds with highs reaching near 64°F — nearly 15 degrees above normal for mid-November. The day will feel unseasonably comfortable for outdoor work, late yard cleanup, or early holiday decorating. But by Friday night, clouds will increase and south winds will shift northwest, signaling the next change in the weather pattern.
Saturday will stay partly sunny but breezy, with highs near 59°F and gusts approaching 20 mph. A few sprinkles can’t be ruled out, but most areas stay dry. By Sunday, colder air filters in behind a passing front, dropping daytime highs to the upper 40s and bringing lows into the mid-20s by nightfall.
Looking ahead, early next week turns crisp and dry — the kind of cold that bites at dawn and coats fields in silver frost. No snow is expected yet, but forecasters note that colder air building across the northern Plains could reach the Upper Mississippi Valley before Thanksgiving, offering a possible winter tease for Wisconsin.
Five-Day Forecast for La Crosse, WI:
Fri: 64/49 – Sunny; light south wind.
Sat: 59/29 – Breezy; cooler air late.
Sun: 47/25 – Sunny; crisp and dry.
Mon: 42/27 – Mostly sunny; early frost.
Tue: 43/29 – Mostly clear; colder start.
