textproduct: La Crosse

KEY MESSAGES

- With temperatures in the mid 20s to low 30s, little cloud cover, and light winds, a Freeze Warning is in effect for the entire forecast area

- Temperatures warm up into early next week with highs in the 60s for Sunday and upper 60s to mid 70s for Monday.

- Periodic rain chances continue through midweek. The next widespread rain chance is Sunday morning and again Monday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 244 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

Warming into Early Next Week:

The trough axis from the longwave trough situated over the Great Lakes swings through tonight bringing another round of colder temperatures. Low temperatures tonight will more than likely be the coldest compared to the last couple of nights. We have widespread temperatures in the 20s for western and central Wisconsin, with areas around the cranberry bogs getting down into the low 20s. Low temperatures along and west of the Mississippi River are forecasted to be between 28 and 32F. With minimal cloud cover and light wind, these temperatures could drop a few more degrees. As a result of these conditions, we have gone ahead and issued a CWA wide Freeze Warning for tonight.

While northwest flow will remain in place through the forecast period, Saturday into Monday will have low level southwest flow return. This will help to warm temperatures back up into the 60s for Sunday and upper 60s to mid 70s for Monday. A cold front sweeps across the Upper Midwest on Monday bringing back northwest flow aloft and lowering temperatures back down into the 50s for midweek. This will also bring back the frost and freeze potential, especially Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Precipitation Chances:

With northwest flow present for much of the forecast period, outside of early next week, this pattern will bring periodic waves and impulses that increase rain chances. The first wave comes through Saturday night and brings some light rain chances (15 to 25%) for the CWA. Other chances for light rain in this flow regime occur during the afternoon of Wednesday through Friday. The next best widespread rain chance (30 to 50%) occurs Monday as a cold front sweeps through the Upper Midwest. There remains some uncertainty between deterministic and ensemble guidance for when and where shower initiation occurs. With a few hundred joules of MUCAPE building in for Monday, thunderstorms will certainly be possible.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 620 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

VFR expected through the 02.00Z TAF period. Widespread MVFR ceilings possible (<15%) with showers near the end or after the 02.00Z TAF period sliding from northwest to southeast through the local forecast area.

ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 8 AM CDT Saturday for WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-061. MN...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 8 AM CDT Saturday for MNZ079-086>088-094>096. IA...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 8 AM CDT Saturday for IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030.