Winter Storm Watch 2, NWS La Crosse, WI

Allamakee County, IA, Chickasaw County, IA, Clayton County, IA, Fayette County, IA, Floyd County, IA, Howard County, IA, Mitchell County, IA, Winneshiek County, IA, Dodge County, MN, Fillmore County, MN, Houston County, MN, Mower County, MN, Olmsted County, MN, Wabasha County, MN, Winona County, MN, Adams County, WI, Buffalo County, WI, Clark County, WI, Crawford County, WI, Grant County, WI, Jackson County, WI, Juneau County, WI, La Crosse County, WI, Monroe County, WI, Richland County, WI, Taylor County, WI, Trempealeau County, WI, Vernon County, WI

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1154 AM CST Wed Jan 15 2020

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 348 AM CST Wed Jan 15 2020

At 3 AM, low clouds were advancing into northeast Iowa. As these
low clouds move into the area, freezing drizzle will spread into
the area. The HREF and SREF show that this will occur between 4
and 7 AM in northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota and between 6
and 9 AM along Interstate 90. With Adams County seeing as much
icing as Juneau County, expanded the the Winter Weather Advisory
to include them. There is some concern that this advisory may be
have to be extended into the afternoon for central Wisconsin.
North of this area, snow totals were lowered a bit (1/2 to 2
inches) today. This was due to less of the moisture column being
located in the dendritic growth zone which in turn result in lower
snow to liquid ratios.

For tonight, low temperatures will be in the single digits above
and below zero. The combination of these temperatures and
southeast winds of 5 to 15 mph will produce wind chills of 10 to
30 below. The coldest winds chills be found in northeast Iowa and
southeast Minnesota between 3 AM and 9 AM. A Wind Chill Advisory
may be needed.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 348 AM CST Wed Jan 15 2020

From Friday into Saturday, it continues to look like a winter
storm will impact the region. Snow will spread into areas west of
the Mississippi River on Friday morning and across the entire area
from Friday afternoon into Friday night. This will be when the
snow rates will be the highest (potentially up to 1 inch per
hour). The 15.00z GEFS plumes continue to show QPF amounts ranging
from a half to 1 inch with a mean of 6 to 7 tenths of an inch. The
NBM snow to liquid ratios seemed a bit too high considering the
temperature profile, so the consensus was to head more toward WPC
which had snow to liquid ratios of 8-12 to 1. To further
complicate things, both the NAM and GFS suggest that there will be
a loss of ice in the clouds south of I-90 on Friday night. This
would allow the snow to mix with or change over to freezing rain
which could result in icing (from just a glaze to up to a tenth
of an inch). The IceProb grids were adjusted to account for this
possibility. If the NBM is correct, there is a potential that the
this mixed precipitation could be even further north. However,
there was not much support for this in the SREF grids. With all
this taken in account, it looks like snow totals could range from
4 to 9 inches. The highest totals look to be north of I-90.

On Saturday, the low pressure will move northeast into Lake Huron.
A tightening surface pressure gradient between this departing low
and an approaching 1043 mb high over the Canadian prairies will
result in sustained northwest winds of 15 to 30 mph and wind gusts
of 30 to 40 mph. This will result in blowing and drifting snow.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon)
Issued at 1154 AM CST Wed Jan 15 2020

A cold front accompanied by a band of snow is pushing eastward
through the area, having already made it through RST and just now
approaching LSE. Ceilings accompanying this snow will rapidly drop
to lower end MVFR, remaining MVFR into this evening. Skies will
eventually clear from west to east this evening into the overnight
with VFR conditions the remainder of the TAF period. Winds are
shifting to the NW behind the front and will become a tad gusty
(up to 20-25 knots possible) late this afternoon and evening
before diminishing overnight.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for WIZ041>044-
     053>055-061.

MN...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for MNZ094>096.

IA...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for IAZ008>011-018-
     019-029-030.

&&

SHORT TERM...Boyne
LONG TERM...Boyne
AVIATION...Kurz

Hazardous Weather Outlook...CORRECTED
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
105 PM CST Wed Jan 15 2020

MNZ079-086>088-WIZ017-029-032>034-161200-
Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-
Jackson-
105 PM CST Wed Jan 15 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast
Minnesota and north central and west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A few passing areas of snow will continue to bring light
accumulations this afternoon.

Wind chills will range from 15 to 30 below after midnight tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

It continues to like a winter storm could bring heavy snow to the
area from Friday into Saturday. Impacts to travel look likely.
Keep up to date with the latest forecasts.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snowfall reports would be appreciated today.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

A webinar has been scheduled for 2 PM Thursday to brief on
details for the Friday and Friday night winter storm.

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ094>096-WIZ041>044-053>055-061-
161200-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-Mower-Fillmore-Houston-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-
Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant-
105 PM CST Wed Jan 15 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
and northeast Iowa...southeast Minnesota...and from southwest
into central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Any freezing drizzle or patchy light snow will gradually end
this afternoon. There could be some minor accumulations.

Wind chills will range from 10 to 25 below after midnight
tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

It continues to like a winter storm could bring heavy snow or
wintry mix to the area from Friday into Saturday. Impacts to
travel look likely. Keep up to date with the latest forecasts.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snowfall and icing reports would be appreciated today.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

A webinar has been scheduled for 2 PM Thursday to brief on
details for the Friday and Friday night winter storm.

Boyne/Shea
nofwd

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1158 AM CST Wed Jan 15 2020

IAZ009>011-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ032-033-041-053-054-
152000-
Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Fayette-Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-
Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston-Buffalo-Trempealeau-La Crosse-
Vernon-Crawford-
Including the cities of Cresco, Decorah, Waukon, Oelwein,
Elkader, Wabasha, Dodge Center, Rochester, Winona, Austin,
Preston, Caledonia, Alma, Arcadia, Whitehall, La Crosse, Viroqua,
and Prairie Du Chien
1158 AM CST Wed Jan 15 2020

...Patchy Freezing Drizzle, Slippery Travel Continues...

Patchy freezing drizzle and light snow has resulted in some
slippery travel around the area. Conditions should gradually
improve this afternoon, but use caution if traveling and be aware
that wet surfaces may be icy. Bridges and overpasses could develop
a thin coating of ice if untreated.

Reduce your speed and exercise caution.

Shea

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1250 PM CST WED JAN 15 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 PM     SNOW             ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL 43.93N 92.47W
01/15/2020  M0.5 INCH        OLMSTED            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW TOTAL 6 AM - 12 PM.

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
215 PM CST WED JAN 15 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0215 PM     FREEZING RAIN    SINSINAWA               42.52N 90.53W
01/15/2020  M0.00 INCH       GRANT              WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1/8TH INCH OF GLAZING AT MOUND COMPLEX

&&

SHEA