textproduct: Milwaukee/Sullivan

KEY MESSAGES

- Brief period of light snow and flurries expected late this evening, with up to a half inch possible toward east central WI. Any accumulation on the cold roadways could create slippery conditions.

- Cold wind chills below zero will prevail through much of the week but remain above advisory criteria.

SHORT TERM

Issued 251 PM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Tonight through Tuesday night:

Low pressure will track across Lake Superior tonight. The associated trough/cold front will sweep through southern WI overnight. Expect gusty southwest winds to develop over southern WI by early evening ahead of this trough, then become west- northwest behind it late tonight. Gusts up to 30 mph are possible late this evening. A brief period of light snow or flurries is expected along the front, around the midnight timeframe.

The low level frontogenesis is pretty weak along this front, and there is a brief period late tonight where there is an uptick in the mid level fgen, but things are not coming together well enough to be confident in measurable snow over southern WI. Toward central WI, up to a half inch of dry, powdery snow looks possible, mainly between 10pm and 1am. Any accumulation on the cold roadways could create slippery conditions. Lower clouds may spread into southern WI around daybreak and then dissipate during the afternoon. Flurries are possible with these clouds, as they will be within the snow growth zone.

The brisk northwesterly winds and cold air advection Tuesday morning will keep temps steady in the single digits above zero. Wind chills will be in the negative teens. Lows Tue nt will be in the negative single digits with slightly lighter winds.

Cronce

LONG TERM

Issued 251 PM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Wednesday through Monday:

Cyclonic flow will continue across the Upper Great Lakes Wed through Fri. Subtle ripples in the mid levels (shortwaves) will bring us periods of mid level clouds and potentially low clouds at times. Cannot rule out periods of flurries, but timing those will be left to the short term. When a more amplified upper trough swings down through WI Thu nt, a lake effect snow band may brush southeast WI at times Friday through Saturday.

A trough of low pressure will bring our next chance of measurable snow on Sunday and Sunday night. Moisture looks limited with this system.

Cronce

AVIATION

Issued 251 PM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

VFR until around midnight. Period of low-end VFR with pockets of MVFR along and behind a weak cold front between midnight and 6 AM expected. Up to 4 hours of light snow or flurries is expected along this front, mainly north of Madison. There is slightly higher confidence in an hour or two of flurries for Milwaukee. Steadier snow is possible toward Fond du Lac and Sheboygan overnight, with up to a quarter inch of dry snow accumulation.

MVFR ceilings with bases around 2500 ft are possible Tuesday morning, along the gusty northwest winds. The TAFs currently hint at MVFR but have BKN035 for the ceiling. Flurries will be possible with any 2500ft cigs.

Cronce

MARINE

Issued 251 PM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Elevated waves and cold temperatures will support moderate to heavy freezing spray through Tuesday afternoon. A Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is in effect until 6 PM CST Tuesday.

The Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the nearshore areas adjacent to southeast Wisconsin through Tuesday afternoon.

A trough of low pressure will cross Lake Superior tonight. Gusty southwest winds will develop by early evening, veer to the west overnight, and to the northwest Tuesday morning. A 3 to 6 hour period of gale force gusts up to 35 kt is expected between 9 PM and 3 AM CST, mainly over the west half, then southern third. We held off issuing a gale warning due to the marginal and brief nature of this event.

Diminishing winds will trend west-northwesterly Tuesday afternoon and night as high pressure builds into the northern Great Plains. Winds will gradually taper Wednesday through Thursday as said area of high pressure moves into the upper Mississippi River Valley. Strong high pressure will set up over the Northern Plains on Friday and expand across the Upper Great Lakes over the weekend.

Cronce

MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...None. LM...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning...LMZ080-LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364- LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675- LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878 until 6 PM Tuesday.

Small Craft Advisory...LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646 until 6 PM Tuesday.