Blizzard Warning 1, NWS La Crosse, WI

214 
WWUS43 KARX 212315
WSWARX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
515 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...BLOWING SNOW AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED...

.As snow moves through the forecast area this evening, winds are 
increasing from central Iowa through central Minnesota. Strongest 
winds locally expected in select counties of northeast Iowa causing 
blowing snow and blizzard conditions into tonight. Strong winds 
elsewhere will cause areas of blowing snow. Highest additional 
accumulations locally expected in Grant County as the band of higher 
snowfall rates continues east-southeast through the evening hours.

IAZ008-018-019-220415-
/O.CON.KARX.BZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260122T0500Z/
Mitchell-Floyd-Chickasaw-
Including the cities of New Hampton, Osage, and Charles City
515 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations up to 
  one inch. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Floyd, Mitchell, and Chickasaw Counties.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM CST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions and whiteout 
  conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the evening 
  commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, 
have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with 
your vehicle. Visit 511ia.org for road conditions.

&&

$$

IAZ009-010-MNZ086-094-220415-
/O.CON.KARX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260122T0500Z/
Howard-Winneshiek-Dodge-Mower-
Including the cities of Dodge Center, Austin, Decorah, and Cresco
515 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS 
EVENING...

* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations up to one inch. Winds 
  gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...In Iowa, Howard and Winneshiek Counties. In Minnesota, 
  Dodge and Mower Counties.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM CST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the evening commute. Gusty winds could 
  bring down tree branches.

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.

&&

$$

IAZ029-030-220415-
/O.CON.KARX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260122T0500Z/
Fayette-Clayton-
Including the cities of Oelwein and Elkader
515 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS 
EVENING...

* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations up to one inch. Winds 
  gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Clayton and Fayette Counties.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM CST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the evening commute. Gusty winds could 
  bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. Visit 511ia.org for road 
conditions.

&&

$$

WIZ061-220415-
/O.CON.KARX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260122T0500Z/
Grant-
Including the cities of Platteville
515 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS 
EVENING...

* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations of 1" or more. Winds 
  gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Grant County.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM CST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous 
  conditions will impact the evening commute. Gusty winds could 
  bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. Visit 511wi.gov for road 
conditions.

&&

$$

JAR

807 
WWUS43 KARX 220108
WSWARX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
708 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...ONGOING SNOWFALL & PATCHY BLOWING SNOW...

.Strongest winds have mostly subsided, decreasing widespread 
blizzard conditions with only patchy visibility reductions being 
reported. Therefore, a Winter Weather Advisory will replace the 
previous Blizzard Warning as patchy blowing and drifting snow will 
continue in spots this evening. Persistent stronger winds closer to 
the Mississippi River Valley perpetuate areas of blowing snow, 
continuing ongoing Winter Weather Advisory.

IAZ008-018-019-220215-
/O.CAN.KARX.BZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260122T0500Z/
/O.EXB.KARX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260122T0200Z/
Mitchell-Floyd-Chickasaw-
Including the cities of New Hampton, Osage, and Charles City
708 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...Patchy Blowing and Drifting Snow Causing Visibility 
  Reductions. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Floyd, Mitchell, and Chickasaw Counties.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM CST this evening.

* IMPACTS...The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday 
  evening commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. Visit 511ia.org for road 
conditions.

&&

$$

IAZ009-MNZ086-094-220215-
/O.EXT.KARX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260122T0200Z/
Howard-Dodge-Mower-
Including the cities of Austin, Dodge Center, and Cresco
708 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS 
EVENING...

* WHAT...Patchy Blowing and Drifting Snow Causing Visibility 
  Reductions. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...In Iowa, Howard County. In Minnesota, Dodge and Mower 
  Counties.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM CST this evening.

* IMPACTS...The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday 
  evening commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.

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.

&&

$$

IAZ010-029-030-220215-
/O.CON.KARX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260122T0500Z/
Winneshiek-Fayette-Clayton-
Including the cities of Oelwein, Elkader, and Decorah
708 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS 
EVENING...

* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations up to one inch. Winds 
  gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Clayton, Fayette, and Winneshiek Counties.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM CST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the Wednesday evening commute. Gusty winds 
  could bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. Visit 511ia.org for road 
conditions.

&&

$$

WIZ061-220215-
/O.CON.KARX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260122T0500Z/
Grant-
Including the cities of Platteville
708 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS 
EVENING...

* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations up to one inch. Winds 
  gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Grant County.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM CST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the Wednesday evening commute. Gusty winds 
  could bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. Visit 511wi.gov for road 
conditions.

&&

$$

JAR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
549 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...
- A quick hitting round of snow showers is expected this
  afternoon with snow amounts around 1". Increasing winds
  Wednesday afternoon and evening could result in blowing snow
  and reduced visibility, especially in portions of northeast
  Iowa, where more fresh snow is present and the strongest winds
  to 45 mph are expected.

- Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills settle across
  the region Thursday night and last into the weekend with
  morning wind chill values of -30 to -45.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 418 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

Snow showers this afternoon, potential blowing snow.

Another shot of snow is expected this afternoon as a shortwave
within the northwesterly flow aloft drops out of Alberta. Cold
temperatures aloft with this wave along (highly relative) warm
surface temperatures should lead to sfc-850mb lapse rates around 8-9
C/km. With a decent amount of mid-level moisture in place, as
evidenced by ongoing cloudiness, should (75-100%) get some snow
showers as the wave moves through. Given quick movement of the wave,
this period should be short, limiting accumulation to around 1".
Main concern with the snow showers is the potential for strong wind
gusts and reduced visibility to occur with them as 21.00z HREF
depicts 35-45 knot winds at 850mb across northeast Iowa and far
southwest Wisconsin. Progged strongest 850mb winds are generally
along and south of an Albert Lea MN to Platteville WI line. Given
that this includes locations that received the most snow Tuesday, am
concerned that strong gusts will lead to blowing snow as new snow
falls, reducing visibility to as low as a 1/2 mile. Have therefore
issued a Winter Weather Advisory for portions of NE IA where
strongest winds and new snow are best co-located, leaving out
Clayton/Grant Counties due to less favorable terrain and tree cover
characteristics. This Advisory area also covers where  Will need to
closely monitor conditions extending northward into
Dodge/Olmsted/Mower/Fillmore counties in MN as gusts to 40 mph may
(50% per 21.00z HREF) occur there as well and snow cover
characteristics are less certain.

Dangerous cold arriving Thursday night

Forecast remains on track for a seasonable but statistically
anomalous cold outbreak starting Thursday night, when a sub 500dam
500mb upper low churns southeast over Ontario. With the surface high
in the wake of this feature building over ND, surface pressure
gradient on Friday morning should be enough for winds around 10-15
mph out of the northwest to persist as air temperatures plunge well
below zero (60-100% chance to drop to -10 or lower). Widespread wind
chills under 35 below (probability approaching 100% per 21.00z LREF)
areawide appear very likely. Needless to say, the Extreme Cold Watch
remains in effect and will likely move to a Warning soon given these
probabilities.

Of lower certainty is how long this highly dangerous cold persists.
Air temperatures bottom out Saturday morning as the aforementioned
high looks to be centered in or near our CWA and clearing skies and
light winds occur as a result. Given the light winds, wind chills
reaching -25 are very likely (80-95%) but -35 will be tougher
outside of our northern counties (15-60% south of I-94). Approach of
an upper trough Saturday night may lead to a period of (relative)
warm advection at 850mb and mid-level cloudiness, holding low
temperatures to the single digits below zero. Given this
uncertainty, have elected to not extend the Extreme Cold Watch in
time beyond noon Saturday at this time.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 548 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

Another round of snow arrives this afternoon bringing widespread
MVFR to IFR visibility. Potential for LIFR also exists due to
blowing snow but confidence in exact timing and if LIFR will
affect RST/LSE means this has been left out of the TAFs.
Lingering gusty northwesterly winds after snow ends will cause
visibility to continue to be reduces as snow crystals are lofted
into the air. As winds decrease, VFR should return to the
region.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Extreme Cold Watch from late Thursday night through Saturday
     morning for WIZ041>044-053>055-061.
     Extreme Cold Watch from Thursday evening through Saturday
     morning for WIZ017-029-032>034.
MN...Extreme Cold Watch from late Thursday night through Saturday
     morning for MNZ096.
     Extreme Cold Watch from Thursday evening through Saturday
     morning for MNZ079-086>088-094-095.
IA...Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to 11 PM CST this
     evening for IAZ008-018-019-029.
     Extreme Cold Watch from late Thursday night through Saturday
     morning for IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030.

&&

DISCUSSION...Ferguson
AVIATION...Ferguson

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
307 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

IAZ009>011-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-
053>055-061-221315-
Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-
Mower-Fillmore-Houston-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-
La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant-
307 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

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

Snow showers with potential for a short burst of greatly reduced
visibilities may occur this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Dangerously cold conditions return to the region Thursday night
through Sunday morning with wind chills of 20 to 40 degrees below
zero. An Extreme Cold Watch is in effect.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snowfall reports are appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

IAZ008-018-019-029-221315-
Mitchell-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
307 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Snow showers are expected this afternoon along with wind gusts as
high as 45 mph. With new snow on the ground from recent snowfall,
the combination of snowfall, strong winds, and blowing snow will
lead to visibility as low as a half mile this afternoon and
evening. Therefore, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from
Noon today through the evening hours.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Dangerously cold conditions return to the region Thursday night
through Sunday morning with wind chills of 20 to 40 degrees below
zero. An Extreme Cold Watch is in effect.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snowfall reports are appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

APF