textproduct: La Crosse

KEY MESSAGES

- Low widespread precipitation chances (15 to 30%) for Thursday as a cold front moves through the area with higher chances (50 to 75%) for precipitation in north central Wisconsin and far southwest Wisconsin.

- Fluctuating temperatures into the weekend with highs in the 60s to low 70s today, then the 50s for Thursday, upper 30s to low 40s for Friday, then rebounding into the 50s and 60s for next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 140 PM CDT Wed Mar 25 2026

Precipitation Chances through Early Next Week

A cold front will move through the area Thursday morning and afternoon. Ahead of this cold front, warm air advection pushes moisture northward as dewpoints approach the upper 40s to near 50F Thursday morning. Despite there being a small signal for moisture transport into northeast Iowa and far southwestern Wisconsin Thursday morning, the lower level are quite dry, so precipitation is not likely during the morning hours. It isn't until the surface front moves through the forecast area Thursday afternoon that precipitation chances become more widespread. Outside of north central Wisconsin and far southwestern Wisconsin, there are low precipitation chances (15 to 30%). In the other two previously mentioned areas, precipitation chances are higher, more towards the 50 to 75% ranges. North central Wisconsin will see their best chance Thursday morning while far southwest Wisconsin will see their later Thursday afternoon. Not much rain is expected Thursday as the latest HREF has a 30 to 50% chance of at least 0.1" in far southwest Wisconsin and a 40 to 65% chance for at least 0.1" in Clark and Taylor Counties.

The next precipitation chance is on Friday as a trailing shortwave impacts portions of northeast Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. This wave will bring about light snow chances (15 to 30%) for areas north of I-94. After Friday, the upper level pattern shifts more zonal allowing for minimal precipitation chances over the weekend. By early next week the pattern shifts with southwest flow overtaking the zonal flow. This will help in bringing a few shortwave troughs into the Upper Midwest. Ensembles support this shift as many of the GEFS and EPS members have measurable precipitation for much of next week.

Fluctuating Temperatures through the Weekend

With warm southwest flow overhead today, temperatures rise into the upper 60s to low 70s today. As a cold front passes through Thursday, temperatures will dip into the mid 50s to mid 60s for Thursday then the coolest day of the forecast period arrives on Friday. On Friday, northwest flow returns bringing cooler air that results in temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s. Southwest flow returns this weekend in the low to mid levels with zonal flow in the upper levels. As a result warm air advection pushes into the region warming us back up into the low 50s for Saturday and the low to mid 60s for Sunday. Mild temperatures are then expected through midweek as the southwest flow remains over the area.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 624 PM CDT Wed Mar 25 2026

VFR conditions currently present across the area. Lower stratus will begin to move in tomorrow morning as a cold front moves through the region and brings some light showers along with it. Current probabilities for precipitation at the terminals are too low to go prevailing but have included a PROB30 at KLSE for late tomorrow morning/early afternoon when probabilities near 30 percent. Some scattered MVFR CIGs will be possible by late in the period behind the front but most locations should return to low-end VFR by 00Z Friday. Winds will become light and variable overnight before quickly turning to the north and picking up to between 10-20 kts sustained behind the front tomorrow morning. Gusts between 20-30 kts could materialize at the terminals tomorrow afternoon but should gradually decrease after 00Z Friday.

HYDROLOGY

Issued at 140 PM CDT Wed Mar 25 2026

A few rivers are still seeing rises or are still running at elevated levels due to the rapid snow melt. Currently the Black River at Galesville and the Yellow River at Necedah are seeing these elevated levels. Both of these sites are in the minor flood stage. These levels will gradually decrease over the next few days as minimal rain is expected on Thursday.

ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...None. MN...None. IA...None.