textproduct: La Crosse

KEY MESSAGES

- Low precipitation chances (20-40%) tonight through Sunday, mainly rain. Some light snow may occur in central Wisconsin late tonight into Sunday morning.

- More seasonable temperatures through next week with low potential (20-30%) for precipitation, mainly Wednesday and Thursday night into Friday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 121 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026

Light precipitation possible tonight into Sunday

Tonight, a cold front pushes south through the CWA. Following the frontal passage, a few disturbances aloft may help generate a few showers as marginal moisture will eventually be present around 850- 875mb. However, this moisture is transient and not particularly deep in any case, so have kept mentions to a slight chance (20%) or less. Precipitation, if any, will mainly be rain outside of some locations in central WI early Sunday when light snow could occur instead.

Seasonable temperatures and some shots at precip next week

West northwesterly flow aloft looks to be predominant over the next week. Retreat of the upper ridge that has led to our much warmer than normal conditions means more seasonable temperatures for Sunday and Monday in the wake of tonight's front. As the ridge build again, temperatures respond accordingly with mid 50s favored Tuesday and Wednesday, albeit with some uncertainty (~15 degree interquartile ranges in the 21.13z NBM) due to uncertainty about the strength and placement of said ridge. As an upper low deepens over Hudson Bay, temperatures trend back downward to round out the week.

As for precipitation, given flow pattern, multiple disturbances aloft eject downstream and could give us a chance for light precip with odds favoring (relatively) Wednesday (20%) and Thursday night into Friday (20-30%). While the overall chance for precip is still low, period to watch for potential impacts looks to be that Thursday night into Friday period as the upper wave kicking off this precip looks to pack a bit more punch, albeit very likely without enough moisture for concerns. Indeed, 21.00z LREF probability to reach 1" in total precip at any point in the next week is less than 10% and the highest chance for any snow at all is about 20-30% in Clark/Taylor Counties Wednesday night into Thursday.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 737 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026

Light precipitation mostly remains along and east of the local forecast area in central Wisconsin tonight into Sunday morning. Although, aviation impacts from MVFR-IFR ceilings will be widespread Sunday morning. Ceilings expected to lift through Sunday.

ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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