A warm surprise in March: how one weekend changed the season

Last weekend felt more like spring had already arrived, with temperatures jumping well above normal for this time of year across Wisconsin. In Eau Claire, the thermometer hit 75 degrees, the first time it’s crossed 70 since last fall. That break in warmth came unusually late in the year, after a stretch of cooler weather kept winter hanging on much longer than usual. La Crosse had an even bigger surprise, smashing an old record by reaching 83 degrees. That wasn’t just a small jump—it crushed a mark set over a century ago. The last time the area had seen temperatures this high was earlier in the fall, making this weekend feel like an early summer preview. Both cities saw their earliest highs in years, showing how unpredictable spring weather has become.After such a warm burst, reality set in quickly. A cold front moved in overnight, sending temperatures sliding back into the 30s and 40s. Today won’t even climb out of the low 40s, a sharp turnaround from just 24 hours ago. The chilly trend is expected to last a few more days, with only a slow climb back into the 50s by midweek. It’s a reminder of how quickly weather can shift when seasons are in transition.