textproduct: La Crosse

KEY MESSAGES

- Light snow moves in this morning with the morning commute affected, especially north and west of La Crosse. Snow onset will be near the end or after the morning commute east and south of La Crosse. Some freezing drizzle is possible near and north of I-94 where a Winter Weather Advisory continues until noon. 1-2 inches of snow is expected across the area. - More snow will occur north of Highway 10 in Wisconsin Thursday night and Friday morning with probabilities looking like 2-4" north of Highway 29. The area is on the southwest edge of the snow and some track uncertainty still exists.

- The strong system moving through the region Thursday night and Friday morning will bring strong winds as well as the snow north. Probabilities are high (60-85%) for 40+ mph gusts across the area, with parts of northeast Iowa having 25-35% chances for seeing a gust to 55 mph. Confidence is increasing on an impactful wind event coming.

- Speaking of impact, the weekend snow still looks on track for the area with variability still seen in the snow band. Confidence is high (80%) that the area will see a 6"+ band of snow Saturday night and Sunday...but the location is still uncertain...from Minneapolis eastward, to northeast Iowa into southern WI. Will use a broad brush to begin messaging this potential storm.

UPDATE

Issued at 549 AM CDT Wed Mar 11 2026

Frontogenetic snow band is slowly making way east into the area. Over the past hours we have seen the band decrease in intensity some with visibilities mainly in the 3-7SM range. Roads across southern MN appear wet to partially snow covered per the snow plow cams. Thus, the impact should be relatively minor on the commute from this band of snow and the forecast totals, even though lowered overnight slightly, may come in lower than forecast.

The freezing drizzle looks to be patchy on radar and the 511 wi pavement cameras showing some wetness. Traffic speeds appear to be fine as of 545 am. Again, minor impacts are expected and the freezing drizzle on I-94 and north should convert to snow in the next hours.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 220 AM CDT Wed Mar 11 2026

Light Snow Expected To Make The Commute Slick

A band of snow, currently extending from north-central Nebraska northeast into western Upper Michigan, will move southeast through the area today. With the lack of a seeder feeder mechanism initially, there will be brief period of drizzle or freezing drizzle early this morning before this snow band moves into the region. Temperatures support the freezing drizzle mainly near and north of I-94 in the Advisory area. Since 06Z, the KARX radar continues to indicate an increasing signal for drizzle and over the past hour, it has begun to drizzle here at the NWS. Temp reading is 29F but no icing is occurring. Snow totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected with the progressive snow band. Clearing skies are found behind the band for later this afternoon. There were no changes made to the Winter Weather Advisory for this morning.

Snow North, Strong Winds Areawide Thursday Night and Friday

The 10.00z deterministic models are in agreement that a northern stream shortwave trough will move east southeast through the region. The surface low will be rapidly deepening as it moves across northern Wisconsin into either Upper Michigan or northern Lower Michigan. Very strong winds will develop across the region on Thursday night and Friday morning. Soundings show 45 to 60 knots on top of the mixed layer which extends up to 800 mb with very steep lapse rates (9-10 C/km) below. The NBM wind gusts looked to be on the low side, so did a 50 50 blend of the NBM and NBM 90th percentile to increase them. It looks fairly likely that a Wind Advisory will be needed and maybe the consideration of a High Wind Watch/Warning. Probabilities are still quite low, but noon-zero (20-30%) for 58 mph+ in northeast Iowa per NBM v5.0. There continues to be plenty uncertainty on how far south the cold air will get with this system. Some models continue to suggest that the cold air might get as far south as Interstate 90 leading to snow or a wintry mix. While other models keep the colder air more over northern Wisconsin. It is currently looking like the highest totals will be primarily north of Wisconsin 29 where 2 to 4 inches will be possible.

Potential Weekend Snow Storm

On Saturday, some light snow will likely develop along a baroclinic zone extending southeast from the Dakotas into northern Indiana.

On Saturday night into Sunday a deepening shortwave trough will move into the Mid and Upper Mississippi River Valleys. Still quite a spread in the surface low track with tracks as far west as the Driftless Region to as far east as the eastern Great Lakes.

The ECMWF ensemble has a heavy snow band (6 inches or greater) along and north of the Interstate 94 corridor. The GEFS ensemble is much further south with its heavy snow band south of Interstate 90. The latest ECMWF AI places the heavy snow along I-90. Pick your flavor!

The Grand Ensemble (EC/GEFS/Canadian) has a 20-40 percent chance of 1 inch or greater liquid equivalent south of Interstate 90 in the GEFS and Canadian, and a 10 to 20 percent chance along and north of Interstate 94 in the EC. If this 1 inch liquid occurs, some places could see a 10"+ snow. It seems the region will have a band of heavy snow, the question is location.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 549 AM CDT Wed Mar 11 2026

An IFR light snow band is moving through the area this morning. There are a few hours of MVFR snow to begin with on the band with pockets or a period of time with IFR visibilities. Ceilings are right around or slightly below IFR.

Clearing skies should occur this afternoon after the band moves through.

ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM CDT this afternoon for WIZ017-029-034-042>044. MN...None. IA...None.