High temperatures average 84.5F in July and 23.5F in January. Low temperatures average 62.3F in July and 5.3F in January. Normal precipitation is 30.55 inches and average snowfall is 42.5 inches. Temperatures will exceed 100F during the hottest summers and will reach -30F during the coldest winters. Summertime temperatures tend to be slightly cooler in the higher terrain sounding the city, while wintertime temperatures are somewhat less severe on very cold nights in those locations.
Precipitation tends to be slightly greater in the higher terrain.
In an average winter, snow will cover the ground from mid-December until early March, though heavy snowfalls can occur from November through April. Fishing and recreational boating are extremely popular activities in the La Crosse area because of the Mississippi River and backwater basins. Ice fishing is also common, and several trout streams are available within 50 miles of the city. It is a three hour drive to northwest Wisconsin, where there are numerous lake resorts and cabins. Hunting is also very popular, as 40,000 to 50,000 deer are taken annually from a 4-county area surrounding La Crosse.