Weather
Wisconsin Weather Alert: 88° Today, Lows Near 25° by Friday Oct 16
La Crosse, WI – An extraordinary October temperature swing is developing across western Wisconsin, with record warmth pushing afternoon highs into the 80s Monday, October 12, before much colder air ar
By Sophie Caldwell · 2026-10-12T09:49:01.965Z
La Crosse, WI – An extraordinary October temperature swing is developing across western Wisconsin, with record warmth pushing afternoon highs into the 80s Monday, October 12, before much colder air arrives later this week, potentially bringing overnight temperatures below freezing by Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, record warmth will continue Monday across the region, with afternoon temperatures reaching 82 to 88 degrees. However, a significant cooling trend is expected through the remainder of the week.
The unusually warm conditions will not last long.
Showers could develop late Monday afternoon and continue overnight, particularly in areas north of Interstate 90. Additional showers are possible Tuesday evening across southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa.
By Tuesday, October 13, afternoon temperatures are expected to drop into the 66 to 77 degree range, marking the beginning of a noticeable transition toward more typical fall weather.
Wednesday brings another cooldown, with highs ranging from 62 to 69 degrees and overnight lows falling between 37 and 52 degrees.
Thursday temperatures will fall further, with highs reaching only 58 to 65 degrees. Overnight lows could dip into the middle 30s in colder locations.
The most dramatic change arrives Friday, October 16.
Afternoon temperatures are forecast to reach just 50 to 56 degrees across the region, while overnight lows could fall between 25 and 34 degrees.
Those temperatures could create freezing conditions in some communities, particularly colder rural and low lying areas.
Residents with sensitive outdoor plants should monitor the forecast as Friday approaches, especially where temperatures could drop below 32 degrees.
The National Weather Service expects temperatures to potentially fall below seasonal averages by the end of the week.