textproduct: La Crosse

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler and dry through midweek with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.

- Patchy to areas of frost possible in north-central and central Wisconsin tonight and Wednesday night.

- Periodic shower and storms chances from Friday into early next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 247 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

Showers and Storms Through Early This Morning

Showers and storms continue ahead a cold front that will move through in the early morning hours. With the better instability and low-level shear to our south, not much if any severe weather is expected. Some gusty winds and small hail will be the main threats. There looks to be a small break in between the storms ahead of the cold front and the cold front itself, which would have a line of light to moderate rain moving through the forecast area between 09 and 14Z.

Cooler and Dry for the Rest of Today Through Thursday

After the cold front moves through, surface high pressure builds in and remains over the area through Thursday. This will keep the CWA under dry conditions and with the Upper Midwest on the edge of a longwave trough, temperatures will be on the cooler side with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. Low temperatures tonight and Wednesday night get down into the upper 30s to potentially the mid 30s for portions of Clark and Taylor counties. There could be some patchy areas of frost with these low temperatures. There is a shortwave that pushes north from the Plains into the Upper Midwest, however uncertainty exists on if we get any precipitation from it. Currently the LREF gives a 30 to 50% chance for measurable rainfall to occur.

Periodic Shower and Storm Chances From Friday into Early Next Week

Deterministic and ensemble forecasts both favor the upper-level pattern remaining in the zonal to southwest flow. During this same time period there are a few disturbances that move into the Upper Midwest that increase precipitation chances. Heading into early next week, temperatures warm back up into the low 80s as some southwest flow returns.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 546 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

IFR ceilings west of the Mississippi River Valley expected to become widespread through the early morning, eventually lifting through the early afternoon. Confidence in KLSE dropping below MVFR is low given the lower elevation and will be detail to monitor as it may fluctuate below MVFR through late morning. Low level cold air advection will keep stronger northwest winds through the daytime hours.

ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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