textproduct: La Crosse

KEY MESSAGES

- Near to below freezing temperatures are occurring tonight and the first widespread freeze of the season is anticipated.

- Mainly dry conditions are forecast through much of next week with slowly rising temperatures.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1212 AM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

Today: Cold Start to the Day - Breezy Wind This Afternoon

Infrared satellite imagery depicts clear skies over the Upper Midwest and surface obs indicate very light winds around 10 mph or less are ongoing. These conditions will lead to continued radiational cooling with temperatures dropping down into the lower 30s to lower 20s. In fact, freezing to sub-freezing temperatures are already being observed for some locations across the area, most notably in the known cold spots of central Wisconsin. Most locations across the forecast area should fall to at least freezing this morning, which should essentially end the growing season for this year.

Surface high pressure will stay to the south and east of the region today and south to southwest wind should result over the Driftless Region. The sustained wind this afternoon is expected to increase up to 10-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph in response to the tightening surface pressure gradient. The south wind will begin to usher in warmer air, but due to the cold start to the day, afternoon highs will be below average once again today.

Sunday into Next Week: Dry Conditions with Increasing Temperatures

Upper level ridging will develop across much of the central CONUS by early next week. This pattern will be favorable for temperatures to rise back up above average and for mostly dry conditions to persist. Outside of the continued breezy southwest wind on Sunday, the wind should be light throughout the next work week. Overall, a very nice, late October week is forecast for the region. Afternoon highs have at least a medium chance (50% or higher) of reaching 70 degrees area- wide by Wednesday into Thursday. If these forecast high temperatures are to pan out, they would roughly be 10 degrees above average for this time of year. The next potential weather system to bring unsettled weather to the region may try to lift northeast from the Desert Southwest late next week or early next weekend.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1212 AM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

VFR conditions are expected throughout the TAF period with clear skies and light winds overnight. Winds will begin to increase from the southwest this afternoon to around 10-15 kts with gusts up to 20- 25 kts with mostly clear skies. Valley fog appears unlikely on the Mississippi River tonight given fairly large dewpoint depressions this evening and some stronger winds off the deck. However, will monitor for any changes in observational trends if radiational cooling can allow for temperatures to fall to their dewpoint faster.

ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...Freeze Warning until 9 AM CDT this morning for WIZ017-029- 032>034-041>044-053>055-061. MN...Freeze Warning until 9 AM CDT this morning for MNZ079-086>088- 094>096. IA...Freeze Warning until 9 AM CDT this morning for IAZ008>011-018- 019-029-030.