textproduct: La Crosse

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow and strong wind gusts of 45+ mph continue this morning with slippery travel, blowing snow, and reduced visibilities at times. Snow tapers to flurries southwest to northeast this afternoon into the evening. Snow amounts of 1-3" are expected for areas along and north of I-90, between 2-4" north of I-94.

- Cold temperatures arrive today, lingering through at least early next week with high temperatures struggling to reach above freezing.

- Quieter conditions are expected for Thanksgiving day, although some scattered snow showers are possible in the afternoon (10-20%) across western into central Wisconsin.

- Confidence continues to increase regarding another winter system impacting the region late Friday through Saturday, likely affecting post-Thanksgiving travel. Keep up-to-date on the forecast if traveling this weekend!

DISCUSSION

Issued at 350 AM CST Wed Nov 26 2025

Snow and Strong Wind Gusts This Morning

The impressive winter system situated over the Upper Midwest with the surface low pressure center currently located over northern Wisconsin remains the main driver of today's weather.

Snow continues for most through the morning hours with accumulations expected primarily along and north of I-90. Not much change regarding the expected amounts, with a general 1-3" expected for most with areas north of I-94 expected to receive 2-4". However, northern Taylor county could see upwards of 5" based on the 26.00z HREF LPMM when adjusted for expected snow ratios of ~15:1. Slippery travel is expected for areas that see accumulating snowfall through the morning hours.

The tight pressure gradient associated with the surface low has swung into our area early this morning with VWPs at ARX and MPX indicating 40-60kts of wind in the lowest 2kft. These winds are efficiently translating to the surface under 850hPa cold air advection as gusts upwards of 50mph have been observed along and west of the Mississippi River. With the gusty winds, blowing snow will reduce visibilities primarily in open areas.

Conditions begin to improve this afternoon into the evening hours as the low continues northeastward, with snowfall tapering off to flurries from southwest to northeast. However, winds remain breezy into the overnight hours as 925-850hPa winds of 30-40kts remain situated over the region. Steepened low level lapse rates should continue to translate this higher momentum to the surface with gusts of 30-40 mph possible, highlighted in the 26.00z HREF.

Cold Temperatures Through

Cold air advection on the backside of the system moving through the region will drop temperatures quickly this morning, falling below freezing for most. With northwest flow aloft situated over the Upper Midwest through the weekend with little in the way of ridging/warm air advection and additional shots of cold air, confidence is high in regards to temperatures remaining cold for the foreseeable future. The 26.01z NBM mean high temperatures struggle to reach above freezing across the upper Mississippi River Valley through the beginning of December.

Thanksgiving Day

Quieter conditions are expected across the region for Thanksgiving day as high pressure sinks southeastward across the central United States. High temperatures only reach the mid to upper 20s while breezy winds with gusts of 20-30mph remain possible as stronger low level winds remain overhead. This should lead to apparent temperatures topping out in the teens.

During the late morning into the afternoon hours, steepened 0-2km lapse rates combined with weak 0-3km instability and saturation into the DGZ across western into central Wisconsin should lead to the development of some scattered snow showers (10-20%), although snow amounts will be low, only a few tenths at most.

Another Winter System This Weekend

After today's winter system, attention turns towards the weekend as confidence continues to increase regarding another winter storm impacting Upper Midwest. A 500hPa shortwave trough traversing the intermountain west on Friday will promote surface cyclogenesis across the central Great Plains throughout the day. This surface low pressure system begins moving northward, reaching the Upper Midwest late Friday. Snow appears likely across our area with PoPs of 70-90% in the 26.01z NBM. Focusing on the 26.01z NBM, probabilities for impactful snowfall have been increasing over the past 24 hours. Current probabilities for 6+ and 9+ inches of snow across our area sit at 60-80% and 40-60%, respectively, an stark increase from 24 hours ago.

The main point of uncertainty regarding this system is what its track is ultimately going to be. This detail will impact where the heaviest snowfall eventually occurs. Given we're still a few days out, changes are likely to occur. However, wherever the heaviest snow does fall, impacts to post-Thanksgiving travel is expected, so make sure you stay up-to-date with the forecast over the next few days!

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1133 AM CST Wed Nov 26 2025

Light snow continues to fall primarily across western Wisconsin and is expected to linger into the early afternoon. Northwest winds sustained at 25 to 35 mph with gusts between 35 and 45 mph will continue through the afternoon. These winds will gradually diminish overnight, however will still be sustained between 10 and 20 mph for Thursday morning. Reduced visibilities due to the falling snow and blowing snow at times, will continue into the afternoon. These conditions along with low CIGS (between 1500 and 2500ft) continue to create lowered flight categories in the MVFR to IFR range. After the snow exits the area, MVFR CIGS are expected to hang around through most if not all of the TAF period.

ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...Wind Advisory until 3 PM CST this afternoon for WIZ032>034- 041>044-053>055-061. Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for WIZ032-033. Winter Weather Advisory until 2 PM CST this afternoon for WIZ017-029-034-041>044-053. MN...Wind Advisory until 3 PM CST this afternoon for MNZ079-086>088- 094>096. Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for MNZ088-096. IA...Wind Advisory until 3 PM CST this afternoon for IAZ008>011-018- 019-029-030.