textproduct: La Crosse

KEY MESSAGES

- Bitterly cold conditions return tonight with wind chills between -25 and -35F to occur. A Cold Weather Advisory is in place across the forecast area from midnight until noon Monday.

- Light snow returns to the area Monday night where areas along and north of I-94 could see up to a half inch of snow.

- Cold conditions remain through the week as highs generally stay in the upper single digits to mid teens and low temperatures mostly stay in the single digits below zero.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 122 PM CST Sun Jan 25 2026

Today-Monday: Bitter Cold returns Tonight into Monday Morning

A shortwave trough moves down into the Upper Midwest this evening bringing another shot at bitterly cold air. At the same time, the surface pressure gradient tightens up a little, increasing winds through the overnight. Sustained northwest winds will mostly range from 5 to 10 mph, with some locations west of the Mississippi . Low temperatures tonight get back down into the teens below zero with locations north of I-94 seeing lows into the low 20s below zero. Combining these temperatures with the winds, apparent temperatures tonight will drop into the 25 to 35 below zero range. Improvements in the wind chill begin by mid Monday morning as winds shift to the southwest and good warm air advection pushes into the region. This temperature advection will help to push temperatures into the low to mid teens for most locations.

Rest of Monday-Sunday: Cold Continues Through the Week, Periodic Low Snow Chances

Northwest flow aloft continues from Monday through much of the week. Being in this flow pattern allows the cold air to remain over the region, resulting in high temperatures in the single digits to mid teens and low temperatures in the single digits above and below zero. Heading into the weekend, some west to southwest flow returns which helps to raise highs into the upper teens on Saturday and low to mid 20s on Sunday. A few shortwaves move down into the Upper Midwest throughout the week giving some snow chances to the area. The first wave moves down Monday night and increases snow chances north of I-94 where up to 0.5" will be possible. Some flurries may reach as far south as I-90. A couple other waves pass through later this week but still some differences remain in timing and location resulting in PoPs under 10%. Saturday night into Sunday looks to have the best widespread chance for light snow to return to the whole CWA as the GFS, ECMWF, and CMC all show a clipper coming down into the Upper Midwest.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 524 PM CST Sun Jan 25 2026

An area of MVFR ceilings and visibilities (SN/HZ) seen over south-central Minnesota on satellite imagery shifting southeast are nearing the local forecast area, seen as far east as KACQ ~40 miles west of KTOB and ~60 miles west of KRST. While persistent forecast will locally impact KAUM and smaller airports in northeast Iowa (KCCY, KOLZ) eastern extent grazing and impacting KRST TAF site remains low confidence. Therefore, haven't included impacts at KRST over the next couple of hours but will be detail to monitor.

Local snowfall chances increase primarily at smaller airports in central Wisconsin near the end of 26.00Z TAF period. Expect MVFR-IFR visibilities and ceilings where snow falls, quickly advecting southeast Monday night. Can't rule out accompanying ceiling impacts at either TAF site with this passing wave.

ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Monday for WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-061. MN...Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Monday for MNZ079-086>088-094>096. IA...Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Monday for IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030.