textproduct: Milwaukee/Sullivan

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold and windy today; continued cold with chances (60-80%) for light accumulating snow tomorrow night.

- Cold temperatures continue into next week, with several additional chances for light snow showers.

UPDATE

Issued 940 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026

Only a half inch or less of snow fell across southern WI this morning, but it was enough to cause widespread travel impacts for the morning commute. What seemed to happen is that the snow fell on the warm roads, temperatures dropped rapidly behind the front as the snow fell with a decent rate, and then traffic caused additional melting and roads became very icy in the tire tracks. Gusty winds also caused reduced visibility and is exacerbating the icy road conditions. We issued a short- fused winter weather advisory to handle it and that will expire at 10AM. The WI 511 page is showing improvement to the traffic speeds now.

Light snow showers and flurries are lingering across southern WI in the wake of the Arctic front and main area of snow. This will taper off through early afternoon as drier air works into the region. Temperatures have already dropped into the upper teens to lower 20s and will remain there through the day. With the 40 mph winds, the wind chill values will only be in the single digits.

Cronce

SHORT TERM

Issued 239 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026

Today through Thursday Night:

The Arctic front is making quick progress southward early this morning, and should sweep across all of southern Wisconsin by 8 or 9 AM. An area of mainly snow showers (though with a few reports of rain right at onset) along and just behind the front will progress southward as well. Not expecting any meaningful accumulation from these snow showers, but rates may briefly be moderate in nature, causing a few slick spots as well as reduced visibility.

Temperatures will continue to fall through the mid morning hours, with temperatures holding steady in the upper teens and low 20s for a few hours, before falling again tonight. Northwest winds will gust to around 30 MPH for much of the day, keeping wind chills in the low single digits.

Once this morning's snow shower activity pushes south of the area, that should be it for precipitation through tonight, with any lake effect snow expected to remain offshore.

Winds will ease tonight as high pressure begins to push in from the west. Look for lows to fall into the single digits under clearing skies.

Temperatures will remain in the 20s for highs on Thursday, but it will be much less windy. By late Thursday afternoon and evening, warm advection ahead of the next shortwave should provide sufficient lift to generate light precipitation across the area, though there are some questions regarding the amount of moisture that will be available. This will not only affect the amount of QPF at the surface, but cloud ice issues may come into play if the moisture is not sufficiently deep. For now have snow in the forecast, with around a tenth of an inch of liquid equivalent resulting in an inch to inch and a half of snow. However, if the drier/more shallow moisture scenario plays out, some freezing drizzle could mix in at times Thursday evening.

Boxell

LONG TERM

Issued 239 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026

Friday through Tuesday:

A persistent stretch of deep cyclonic flow aloft takes hold Friday into next week. This will result in numerous shortwave passages and associated potential for snow showers through the weekend. Highs will briefly rebound into the low 30s on Friday, but much colder air aloft arrives Saturday, continuing into next week. This will favor highs in the teens and lows around zero (potentially lower depending on snowpack). Heavy snow is not expected during this period, but the scattered snow showers may collectively generate an inch or two of fresh snow through the weekend.

Boxell

AVIATION

Issued 940 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026

Ceilings are improving as snow showers taper off. Overall, cloud bases are above 3000 ft outside of the narrow snow bands. Northerly wind gusts up to 35 kt are expected through early afternoon and then will start diminishing.

Lighter winds and mostly clear skies are expected tonight into Thu morning, then southerly winds will develop in the afternoon. Light snow is expected by early Thursday evening with light accumulations.

Cronce

MARINE

Issued 239 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026

North gales to 40 knots are expected across the lake through the the evening hours today. Moderate to occasionally heavy freezing spray is also expected, particularly over the northern portion of the lake.

By late tonight, high pressure around 30.3 inches will build into the Plains, and eventually cross the Upper Great Lakes on Thursday. Low pressure around 29.4 inches will cross Lake Superior on Friday, and stall over the lower Great Lakes Saturday while weakening to around 29.5 inches. Colder air on the back side of the low will overspread Lake Michigan on gusty west winds on Saturday and Sunday. Freezing spray will remain a concern given the very cold temperatures.

Boxell

MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...Winter Weather Advisory...WIZ046-WIZ047-WIZ051-WIZ052-WIZ056- WIZ057-WIZ058-WIZ059-WIZ060-WIZ063-WIZ064-WIZ065-WIZ066- WIZ068-WIZ069-WIZ070-WIZ071-WIZ072 until 10 AM Wednesday.

LM...Gale Warning...LMZ080-LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563- LMZ565-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ777-LMZ779- LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878 until midnight Thursday.

Gale Warning...LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646 until 9 PM Wednesday.