Winter's Whimsy: A Mid-Season Snowfall Delivers a Crisp, Cold Hug to the Driftless

Ah, winter in the Driftless region! You know, the kind where one moment you’re wondering if spring decided to show up early, and the next, a blanket of white descends with an almost poetic flourish. That’s precisely what unfolded recently across the La Crosse area, honestly, bringing with it a hefty dose of that quintessential Midwestern charm, or perhaps, a bit of a chill, depending on your perspective.

We saw some pretty impressive snow totals, in truth. Some spots really got dumped on, with Caledonia, Minnesota, leading the charge with a truly remarkable 11 inches. Eleven! Imagine waking up to that! Closer to home, La Crosse proper clocked in with a respectable five inches, enough to make everything sparkle and, well, certainly enough to make the morning commute a bit more… adventurous, you could say. It wasn't just a dusting; this was a widespread event, painting the landscape beautifully, albeit with a touch of inconvenience.

The heaviest of it, curiously, seemed to favor the areas just east of the mighty Mississippi. Maybe the river itself acts as some sort of a magical barrier, or perhaps it's just how these weather systems decide to dance. But make no mistake, hazardous driving conditions were a real thing for a bit there, turning roads into slick canvases of white. And yes, a few school districts, quite rightly, opted for the cozy warmth of home, granting a snow day or two. Who doesn't love a snow day?

Looking ahead, it seems Old Man Winter isn't quite done with us yet. The mercury, oh, it’s going to hover stubbornly in the teens. And then you add in that wind chill—suddenly, those teens feel like single digits, maybe even dipping below zero. Brr. So, layers, friends, layers are the name of the game for the foreseeable future. And as for more snow? Well, there's a little clipper system eyeing us mid-week, perhaps bringing a dusting, a whisper of white, but nothing quite like the recent showstopper.

It’s funny, despite this rather significant snowfall, our seasonal totals are still trailing behind the usual average. One good storm, it turns out, doesn't quite make up for a milder stretch. But for now, we've had our moment, a beautiful, crisp reminder that winter is, indeed, still here, flexing its icy muscles and reminding us all to perhaps slow down a little, enjoy the quiet, and maybe, just maybe, go build a snowman.