textproduct: Milwaukee/Sullivan

KEY MESSAGES

- Mild and windy today, with highs in the mid to upper 40s.

- Strong cold front brings gusty winds and much colder temperatures tonight into Wednesday. Scattered snow showers are expected late tonight.

- Much colder through the extended, with the exception of a slight moderation on Friday. Several chances for light snow through the remainder of the forecast period.

SHORT TERM

Issued 240 AM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Today and Tonight:

A mild day is expected across the region today, with continued warm advection along the south side of a strong shortwave, which is moving across northern Wisconsin this morning. A few rain showers are possible over central and east central Wisconsin this morning, but most of the area should remain dry during the daytime hours today. Look for highs to reach the mid to upper 40s, with a few spots near the Illinois state line approaching 50. West winds will gust to between 25 and 30 MPH at times.

Deepening low pressure over southern Ontario will push an initial cold front through the area early this evening, followed by a stronger Arctic front overnight. Temperatures will rapidly fall during the overnight hours, reaching the low to mid 20s by daybreak. Showery precipitation is expected overnight tonight as a strong shortwave pushes through the area. This will mainly be in the form of snow, though a few rain drops may briefly mix in at onset.

Boxell

LONG TERM

Issued 240 AM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Wednesday through Monday:

Scattered snow showers may continue into Wednesday morning, before ending by mid day/early afternoon. Overall very minor accumulations will be possible with probs showing a moderate confidence of a widespread dusting. Can't completely rule out some amounts around a couple tenths of an inch up to an inch of snow but this looks to be the outlier with a less than 10% chance of occuring.

The gusty north winds over Lake Michigan and the cold air over the warm lake will cause LES to develop. This would ideally create a nice north-south band of snow. Any single banded snowfall down the lake will be capable of producing some heavy snowfall, but thankfully due to the wind direction this is trending more over the central portion of the lake. While our lakeshore cities could get clipped by some snow, but should be left largely untouched by the heavier snowfall that is expected along the IL/IN border on the south side of Lake Michigan. Therefore, continued the low chances for some snow, but not expecting much if any impacts from it at this time.

By Thursday high pressure will move into the Mississippi Valley, then continue east into the Ohio River Valley by Friday. This will bring a return of southwesterly winds and milder temperatures for the end of the work week. Another trough is on the horizon for Thursday night into Friday, but there is a bit of uncertainty on timing and location here. Guidance does show a trough digging down from Canada, but there are multiple shortwaves within the upper level flow and slight differences in track would impact precipitation duration. So expect changes in timing and duration moving toward for this one. For the weekend and into early next week more north winds and CAA return for a chilly and dry forecast.

Patterson

AVIATION

Issued 240 AM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Gusty west winds are expected today, with mainly VFR conditions during the daytime hours. A few light rain showers are possible at Sheboygan, but should be of minimal impact. MVFR ceilings will build into the area tonight, followed by the arrival of gusty northwest winds and scattered snow showers after midnight. Brief reductions to IFR will be possible with the snow showers.

Boxell

MARINE

Issued 240 AM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Gusty west to southwest winds are expected across the lake today, as low pressure deepens across southwestern Ontario. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the nearshore. By tonight, that low will deepen to 29.1 inches and will push east into western Quebec.

As that low deepens and moves east it will push a strong, Arctic cold front down Lake Michigan this evening into tonight. Northwest winds will rapidly increase to gale force behind the front, with gales continuing into Wednesday evening. Gale Warnings are in effect for all of Lake Michigan, including the nearshore waters. Moderate to occasionally heavy freezing spray is expected during this time as well.

By late Wednesday night high pressure of 30.3 inches will build south across the upper Mississippi Valley, and will eventually move across the lake on Thursday, bringing lighter winds. Winds will briefly turn westerly to southwesterly Thursday evening and night, before another strong cold front sweeps across the region early Friday.

Boxell

MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...None. LM...Small Craft Advisory...LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646...6 AM Tuesday to 3 AM Wednesday.

Gale Warning...LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646...3 AM Wednesday to 9 PM Wednesday.

Gale Warning...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563- LMZ565...midnight Wednesday to midnight Thursday.

Gale Warning...LMZ080-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675- LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876- LMZ878...3 AM Wednesday to midnight Thursday.