Blizzard Warning 3, NWS La Crosse, WI

714 
WWUS43 KARX 190245
WSWARX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
845 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

...LIGHT SNOW MOVING EAST, FLASH FROZEN ROADWAYS PRESENT...

.Snow showers are moving eastward into areas along the Mississippi 
River and points east into southwest and west central Wisconsin. As 
snow moves east, intensity of these snow showers has decreased, with 
visibility within the snow showers generally remaining at 1 mile or 
greater. However, for these areas farther east, flash frozen 
roadways exit in spots, particularly in central Wisconsin, where 
multiple accidents have occurred. Therefore, the Blizzard Warning 
for portions of southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa has been 
allowed to expire, while the Winter Weather Advisory for counties 
bordering the Mississippi and across southwest and west central 
Wisconsin continues.

IAZ008>010-018-019-029-MNZ086-087-094-095-190345-
/O.EXP.KARX.BZ.W.0003.000000T0000Z-251219T0300Z/
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-Dodge-Olmsted-
Mower-Fillmore-
Including the cities of Austin, Oelwein, Decorah, New Hampton,
Cresco, Charles City, Dodge Center, Osage, Preston, and Rochester
845 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

...BLIZZARD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM CST THIS EVENING...

While strong wind gusts, light snow showers, and some slick roads 
remain west of the Mississippi River valley, visibility is expected 
to continue to improve as snow showers reduce in intensity and 
depart to the east. Therefore, the Blizzard Warning will be allowed 
to expire at 9 PM this evening.

A Wind Advisory remains in effect until midnight tonight.

$$

IAZ011-030-MNZ079-088-096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-061-
190600-
/O.CON.KARX.WW.Y.0018.000000T0000Z-251219T0600Z/
Allamakee-Clayton-Wabasha-Winona-Houston-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-
Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-Crawford-
Richland-Grant-
Including the cities of Friendship, La Crosse, Whitehall,
Viroqua, Caledonia, Waukon, Medford, Black River Falls, Tomah,
Winona, Neillsville, Mauston, Platteville, Richland Center,
Arcadia, Alma, Elkader, Sparta, Wabasha, and Prairie Du Chien
845 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST 
TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations up to one inch. Winds 
  gusting as high as 40 mph. Flash frozen roadways.

* WHERE...Southwest and west central Wisconsin. In northeast Iowa, 
  Allamakee and Clayton Counties. In southeast Minnesota, Wabasha, 
  Winona, and Houston Counties.

* WHEN...Until midnight CST tonight.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. In Iowa, visit 511ia.org 
for road conditions. In Minnesota, visit 511mn.org for road 
conditions. In Wisconsin, visit 511wi.gov for road conditions.

&&

$$

Ferguson

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
202 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered to numerous snow showers with brief bursts of heavy
  snow are expected through evening hours (70-90%). Visibility
  could be rapidly reduced to 1 mile or less in the heaviest
  snow showers and travel could become slippery. Exercise
  caution if driving this afternoon and evening.

- Gusty winds continue through this evening with gusts up to 50
  mph expected west of the Mississippi River.

- A brief dry period is expected Friday before snow potential
  increases for areas along and north of I-94 (20-40%) Friday
  evening into Saturday morning.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 202 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

Snow Shower Potential This Afternoon

A cold front shifts eastward through the area this afternoon
and evening, currently extending from southern Minnesota into
northwest Wisconsin. This front is supported by a tropospheric
deep trough with the main surface low centered over northeast
Minnesota. Forcing associated with this boundary in the form of
925hPa frontogenesis has been supporting a band of heavy
snowfall across southern Minnesota that is expected to continue
eastward, but should begin to diminish as it moves east of the
Mississippi River. Visibilities of 1 mile or less have been
reported with this band, but overall impacts have been minimal.

In the wake of the front, strong cold air advection moves into
the region, steepening low level lapse rates. Lingering
saturation within a deep DGZ and ample forcing associated with
the wave overhead should provide for additional snow showers
through the evening hours. Snow showers are expected to dwindle
from west to east overnight as the frontal system shifts
eastward.

Overall, expect snow showers through the evening hours which
could provide brief bursts of heavy snow with accumulations
around 1/2 inch. Gusty winds are expected to blow the snow
around, enhancing visibility reductions. Roadways that become
wet from the snowfall could also become slippery and travel
could become hazardous. Exercise caution if driving this
afternoon and evening.

Gusty Winds Through This Evening

A tightening pressure gradient on the backside the
aforementioned wave will result in an increasing low level wind
field across the Upper Midwest as it shifts eastward. The VAD
Wind Profile from KFSD has indicated 40-45kts winds exist at
2000ft. These winds which combined with the steepening lapse
rates have resulted in surface winds gusting to 35-50mph across
southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. These gusty winds will
continue spreading eastward this afternoon and evening, with
gusts of 30-40mph expected across the region, up to 50mph for
those west of the Mississippi River. The pressure gradient
begins to relax after midnight as the wave departs, resulting in
decreasing winds through the overnight hours.

Brief Dry Period Friday Then Increasing Snow Potential

Looking past this afternoon and evening, surface to 850hPa
ridging quickly slides eastward through the region on Friday,
leading to a dry period and clearing skies from the mid-morning
through the early afternoon. This window of quiet weather will
be short-lived for those along and north of I-94 though as
another 500hPa surface wave deepens over southern Canada
associated with the left exit region of a strengthening jet
streak. Confidence is high (60-80%) that this wave primarily
shifts eastward across southern Canada with little southward
movement as a little variation in placement exists amongst the
18.12z GEFS/EPS/GEPS given upper level ridging in place.

Despite the northward trajectory of this wave, the Upper
Midwest will not be spared from its influence. Southerly flow
returns Friday afternoon, allowing for saturation in the mid to
upper level. Forcing associated with this saturation in the form
of isentropic ascent on the 290-300K surface should prove
enough to provide some light snow to areas along and north of
I-94 (20-40%), although dry air in the sub-cloud layer between
900-700hPa may hinder the overall amount of precipitation that
is realized at the surface. Additional snowfall is then possible
(10-30%) as the cold front moves into the region, but less
confident in this solution with increased variation amongst the
ensemble guidance.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1159 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

Brief VFR conditions for portions of northeast Iowa and
southwestern Wisconsin into the early afternoon. Light snow
expected for the afternoon and evening with brief bursts of
moderate to heavy snow at times. Visibility reductions due to
snow intensity combining with strong northwest winds gusting 35
to 45 mph, with the stronger gusts west of the Mississippi
River, could cause flight categories to dip into the IFR and
LIFR range. At the same time, MVFR to IFR CIGS, roughly 1000 to
2500 ft, move in with the light snow for the afternoon and
linger through much of the overnight. The strong winds continue
into the evening before gradually letting up, with sustained
winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts of 25 to 35 mph, for the
overnight period. By the mid to late morning winds shift to the
southwest.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for WIZ032-
     033.
MN...Wind Advisory until midnight CST tonight for MNZ086-087-094-
     095.
     Winter Weather Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for MNZ079-
     086>088-094>096.
IA...Wind Advisory until midnight CST tonight for IAZ008>010-018-
     019-029-030.
     Winter Weather Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for
     IAZ008>010-018-019.

&&

DISCUSSION...Falkinham
AVIATION...Cecava

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
159 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

IAZ008>010-018-019-029-030-MNZ086-087-094-095-191100-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-Clayton-Dodge-
Olmsted-Mower-Fillmore-
159 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is the potential (30-50%) for a flash freeze and/or snow
squalls this afternoon.

West and northwest winds will gust into the 30 to 45 mph range
from this afternoon through this evening. A Wind Advisory is in
effect from noon through midnight tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

IAZ011-MNZ079-088-096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-061-
191100-
Allamakee-Wabasha-Winona-Houston-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-
Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-
Grant-
159 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is the potential (30-50%) for a flash freeze and/or snow
squalls this afternoon.

West and northwest winds will gust into the 30 to 40 mph range
from this afternoon through this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

Boyne

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
243 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

IAZ011-029-030-WIZ053>055-061-182300-
Allamakee-Fayette-Clayton-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant-
Including the cities of Waukon, Oelwein, Elkader, Viroqua,
Prairie Du Chien, Richland Center, and Platteville
243 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

...Periods of Intense Snow Showers this Afternoon...

A band of heavy snow moving through southeast Minnesota and
northern Iowa will impact portions of northeast Iowa and southwest
Wisconsin this afternoon. Visibilities of 1/2 to 1 mile are
possible and slippery travel may develop. Additional snow showers
will persist through the evening hours resulting in additional
bursts of heavy snow and visibility reductions.