Record-High Temperatures and a Rare High Wind Event Expected on Wednesday

Less than one week ago much of the Tri-State region was blanketed by a few inches of snow in some areas to as much as ten inches in parts of Winona county. Now, it’s on to a one-day spring fling!

High temperatures on Wednesday are expected to push into the 50s and even 60s for most which would not only break daily high temperature records, but shatter them by nearly double-digits in some areas. **The record high in La Crosse is 52 degrees set in 1923.

A very strong low pressure system will track from the plains into Minnesota putting the Tri-States in the “warm sector” of the storm. Moisture increase and southerly winds will lead to melting snow, areas of fog, low-clouds and pockets of drizzle throughout the day on Wednesday, and even bring the chance for showers and possibly a thunderstorm Wednesday night as a cold front slides through.

The other story is going to be the very strong winds. The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a **HIGH WIND WARNING** for all of the Tri-States region beginning Wednesday afternoon lasting until Thursday morning. The combination of the strengthening surface low pressure system and jet stream winds aloft will lead to very windy conditions. Sustained winds of 20-40 mph with gusts of 40-60+ mph will be likely.

In fact, a **HIGH WIND WARNING** is rare here, that only TEN have been issued by the National Weather Service in La Crosse since 2005 with the last being in 2019.

If you have any outdoor Christmas decorations, be sure to secure them tightly or if you can bring them indoors, that may be a better idea.

After the storm passes, it’s back to reality and more “December-like” weather with temperatures returning to the 30s on Thursday and Friday.

Follow the National Weather Service La Crosse on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

Cover photo: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File