Gale Warning 14, NWS Milwaukee, WI

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
913 PM CST Fri Feb 18 2022

.UPDATE...
(Issued 906 PM CST Fri Feb 18 2022)

Snow squalls will continue to diminish across far southeast
Wisconsin in next hour or so as the arctic front exits WI. Gusty
northwest winds will continue in the wake of the front overnight.
Many locations received between one half inch and two inches of
snow from the evening snow squalls. So some pockets of blowing and
drifting snow will likely linger overnight. Wind chills are still
expected to drop to 12 to 18 below by morning.

Kavinsky

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Issued 300 pm CST Fri Feb 18 2022)

Late This Afternoon through Saturday:

Initial push of snow showers ahead of arctic front located over
west central into central Wisconsin moving to the southeast.
Visibilities have dropped to 1/4 to 1/2sm in this area of shsn
over central WI. This area is just ahead of the arctic front which
is moving through the Twin Cities area attm. Scattered -shsn and
a few -shra have been trying to organize along the actual front,
and SPC mesoanalysis is showing increasing snow squall parameter
along the arctic front. Strong low level frontogenetical forcing
along the front will aid in rain and snow shower development
through the evening. Pavement temperatures have warmed to above
freezing across southern WI, but low level temperatures and the
pavement would cool quickly once a burst of moderate to heavy snow
occurred. Forecast soundings also favor any mix or light rain
changing quickly over to snow due to rapid low level evaporative
cooling. Some of these heavier snow showers may affect high
traffic corridors resulting in an increasing potential for a Snow
Squall Warning. In addition, the low level sloping frontogenesis
intersects some negative EPV aloft, adding to the potential for
snow squalls. Otherwise, strong winds will continue ahead and
behind the arctic front which will passing through this evening.
Wind Advisory remains in effect for gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Gusty,
strong winds will also accompany the stronger snow showers. The
shower threat ends quickly this evening as colder, drier air
settles in behind the front. Gusty winds will continue into
Saturday morning before gradually diminishing as high pressure
approaches. The gusty winds and dropping temperatures will send
Wind Chills into the teens below zero late tonight into early
Saturday.

Saturday Night and Sunday:

Increasing south winds on the backside of the departing high
pressure area will begin to usher warmer low level air into
southern WI Saturday night. Hence not expecting temperatures to
fall off all that much Saturday night with increasing winds and
high clouds. Another windy day is expected on Sunday with south
wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph. Warmer air will continue to get pulled
into southern WI on Sunday, with 925H temps warming to around 5C.
This should be good for daytime temps warming into the 40s across
most of the area.

Kavinsky

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Issued 300 pm CST Fri Feb 18 2022)

Sunday night through Tuesday Night:

850 baroclinic zone will be oriented east/west across the state. As
low pressure develops to our southwest we will see an uptick in the
isentropic lift across the area especially Monday afternoon into
Monday night.Initially some mixy precip not out of the question
though by and large it appears the column will be largely cold
enough for snow. Some break in the precip is possible later Monday
night before another round tied to the def zone works in for
Tuesday. The surface low will be tracking to our southeast which is
a favorable track for steadier snows here. Still some mix potential
in the south and southeast. The GFS is trending colder with the 850
thermal regime while the ECMWF has trended warmer implying more
mix/rain potential into the south. So still some uncertainty here
however the thermal orientation may end up favoring a
northwest/southeast snowfall gradient with the higher amounts in our
central and northern cwa. The NBM snow probs are showing a greater
potential in our northern areas as well. In addition the NBM showing
some ice accumulation potential in the south as well which ties
into a potential warmer 850 temp profile with colder surface temps.
Bufkit soundings even from the colder GFS show a distinct loss of
ice later Monday int Monday night which favors a more mixy scenario
with the soundings showing sleet and/or freezing rain possible. So
the thermal profile will need to be monitored as the next several
model runs arrive. Looks like things start to wrap up Tuesday night
as the surface low and influence of def zone shift east of the area.

Wednesday through Wednesday night:

Cold advection and the increasing influence of high pressure will
take hold this period.

Thursday through Friday:

Active pattern continues with another system from the southwest
proggd to swing up through the western Great Lakes and potentially
bring another round of snow to the area mainly Thursday and Thursday
night. At this point Friday would be looking on the drier side with
cold advection and high pressure nudging in from the Plains.

&&

.AVIATION...
(Issued 906 PM CST Fri Feb 18 2022)

Snow showers will continue to diminish across far southeast
Wisconsin the next hour or so. Visibilities and ceilings will
improve to VFR. However lingering gusty northwest winds will cause
pockets of blowing and drifting snow.

Kavinsky

&&

.MARINE...
(Issued 300 pm CST Fri Feb 18 2022)

Frequent Gale force south to southwest winds will turn to the
northwest this evening as an arctic cold front sweeps across Lake
Michigan. Even stronger winds are expected in the wake of the
front tonight into early Saturday. Hence a Gale Warning remains in
effect for all of Lake Michigan and the nearshore waters through
mid-morning Saturday. A few Storm force gusts will be possible,
especially across the northern open waters overnight. The gusty
northwest winds will pull colder air across Lake Michigan
increasing the threat for heavy freezing spray. Hence the Heavy
Freezing Spray Warning will remain in effect from this evening
through Saturday morning. The winds will diminish on Saturday as
weak high pressure moves through. Another in a series of fast-
moving low pressure systems will move across the northern Great
Lakes later Saturday night and Sunday. Another round of strong
south to southwest winds is expected ahead of this system Saturday
night into Sunday. There is a better chance for at least
occasional Storm force gusts across the northern Open Waters,
while gusts are expected to remain slightly lower to the south.
Hence wl be posting a new Storm Watch for the northern Open Waters
from Saturday evening through Sunday, with a Gale Watch to the
south. The dividing line will be Sheboygan WI to Pentwater MI.

Kavinsky

&&

.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Wind Advisory...WIZ046-WIZ047-WIZ051-WIZ052-WIZ056-WIZ057-WIZ058-
     WIZ059-WIZ060-WIZ062-WIZ063-WIZ064-WIZ065-WIZ066-WIZ067-
     WIZ068-WIZ069-WIZ070-WIZ071-WIZ072 until 4 AM Saturday.

LM...Gale Warning...LMZ080-LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565-
     LMZ567-LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-
     LMZ675-LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-
     LMZ878 until 9 AM Saturday.

     Gale Watch...LMZ080-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ777-LMZ779-
     LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878...9 PM Saturday to 4 PM
     Sunday.

     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 noon Saturday.

     Storm Watch...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565-LMZ567-
     LMZ868...9 PM Saturday to 4 PM Sunday.

&&

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Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
743 PM CST Fri Feb 18 2022

WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072-200145-
Marquette-Green Lake-Fond du Lac-Sheboygan-Sauk-Columbia-Dodge-
Washington-Ozaukee-Iowa-Dane-Jefferson-Waukesha-Milwaukee-
Lafayette-Green-Rock-Walworth-Racine-Kenosha-
743 PM CST Fri Feb 18 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central Wisconsin,
south central Wisconsin and southeast Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Strong southwest winds gusting 45 to 50 mph are expected to turn
to the northwest and continue overnight. A Wind Advisory remains
in effect through late tonight.

Moderate to heavy snow showers will continue to move from south
central and east central Wisconsin into southeast Wisconsin this
evening. The snow showers will briefly reduce the visibility to as
low as 1/4 mile with rapid accumulations of snow, up to one inch.
The rapid snowfall and blowing and drifting snow due to the
persistent strong winds will result in hazardous travel and
slippery roads overnight. Be weather aware if you have to head
out this evening and slow down and try to avoid driving in the
snow as it moves through.

Strong winds and falling temperatures will cause wind chills to
drop into the negative teens tonight into Saturday morning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Friday

Accumulating snow and a wintry mix of precipitation may affect
the area Monday night through Tuesday night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed.

LMZ643>646-200145-
Sheboygan to Port Washington WI-
Port Washington to North Point Light WI-
North Point Light to Wind Point WI-
Wind Point WI to Winthrop Harbor IL-
743 PM CST Fri Feb 18 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the nearshore waters from
Sheboygan Wisconsin to Winthrop Harbor Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

South to southwest winds of 20 to 30 knots with occasional gale
force gusts to 40 knots are expected tonight. A Gale Warning
remains in effect. A few storm force gusts are possible as an
arctic front moves through this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Friday

Southwest gales will be possible again Saturday night into Sunday.
Northeast winds Monday into Tuesday may reach small craft advisory
levels.

LMZ080-261-362-364-366-563-565-567-669-671-673-675-777-779-868-
870-872-874-876-878-200145-
Lake Michigan Michigan City IN to St. Joseph MI 5 NM offshore to
mid-line of lake.-
Lake Michigan from Seul Choix Point to Rock Island Passage 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan South of a line from Seul Choix Point to the
Mackinac Bridge and North of a line from Charlevoix MI to South
Fox Island 5NM offshore-
Lake Michigan from Charlevoix to Point Betsie MI 5NM Offshore to
mid lake-
Lake Michigan from Point Betsie to Manistee MI 5NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Rock Island Passage to Sturgeon Bay WI 5NM
offshore to mid lake-
Lake Michigan from Sturgeon Bay to Two Rivers WI 5NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Two Rivers to Sheboygan WI 5NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from Sheboygan to Port Washington WI 5NM offshore
to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Port Washington to North Point Light WI 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from North Point Light to Wind Point WI 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Wind Point WI to Winthrop Harbor IL 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Wilmette Harbor to Michigan City in 5NM
offshore to Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Pentwater to Manistee MI 5NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from Whitehall to Pentwater MI 5NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from Grand Haven to Whitehall MI 5NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
Lake Michigan from Holland to Grand Haven MI 5NM offshore to Mid
Lake-
Lake Michigan from South Haven to Holland MI 5NM offshore to Mid
lake-
Lake Michigan from St Joseph to South Haven MI 5NM offshore to
Mid Lake-
743 PM CST Fri Feb 18 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the open waters of Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

South to southwest winds will frequently gust to 35 to 45 knots
through tonight and turn to the northwest. A Gale Warning remains
in effect for all Lake Michigan open waters. A few storm force
gusts are possible as the front moves through this evening.

There is also an increasing likelihood for heavy freezing spray
across Lake Michigan tonight through Saturday morning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Friday

Another round of gales appears likely Saturday night into Sunday
with the potential for storm force gusts over the northern half
of Lake Michigan. A Storm Watch is in effect for the northern Lake
Michigan open waters from Saturday evening through Sunday. A Gale
Watch is in effect for the southern open waters.

www.weather.gov/mkx

Kavinsky

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1149 PM CST FRI FEB 18 2022

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

1147 PM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SSW JANESVILLE        42.62N 89.04W
02/18/2022  U0.0 INCH        ROCK               WI   AWOS

            DELAYED REPORT. SNOW SQUALL. VISIBILITIES TO
            1/4 MILE AND WIND GUST TO 41 MPH.

&&

JA