Winter Storm Warning 4, NWS La Crosse, WI

508 
WWUS43 KARX 011633
WSWARX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1133 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

...FREEZING RAIN IMPACTS THE AREA TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING...

.Freezing rain develops overnight and persists into Thursday 
morning, ending from south to north through the morning hours. 
Greatest ice accumulations are forecast along and north of 
Interstate 94 with icing amounts of a quarter to nearly half an inch 
possible in a few locations. Closer to Interstate 90, impacts vary 
more in space and time with ridge tops and bridges possibly seeing 
more impacts versus the valleys and ground.

WIZ017-029-020315-
/O.UPG.KARX.WS.W.0004.260402T0500Z-260402T1700Z/
/O.NEW.KARX.IS.W.0001.260402T0500Z-260402T1700Z/
Taylor-Clark-
Including the cities of Medford and Neillsville
1133 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CDT 
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Significant icing expected. Ice accumulations between two 
  tenths and half an inch with additional snow and sleet 
  accumulations around 1 inch. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...Clark and Taylor Counties.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. 
  Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions could 
  impact the Thursday morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Travel is strongly discouraged. If you must travel, keep an extra 
flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. 
Prepare for possible power outages. Visit 511wi.gov for road 
conditions.

&&

$$

WIZ034-020315-
/O.UPG.KARX.WW.Y.0014.260402T0500Z-260402T1500Z/
/O.NEW.KARX.IS.W.0001.260402T0500Z-260402T1500Z/
Jackson-
Including the cities of Black River Falls
1133 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM CDT 
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Significant icing expected. Ice accumulations between two 
  tenths and half an inch with additional snow and sleet 
  accumulations around 1 inch. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...Jackson County.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 10 AM CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. 
  Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions could 
  impact the Thursday morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Travel is strongly discouraged. If you must travel, keep an extra 
flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. 
Prepare for possible power outages. Visit 511wi.gov for road 
conditions.

&&

$$

MNZ088-095-096-020315-
/O.EXA.KARX.WW.Y.0014.260402T0300Z-260402T1500Z/
Winona-Fillmore-Houston-
Including the cities of Winona, Preston, and Caledonia
1133 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 
AM CDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Freezing rain expected. Total ice accumulations around one 
  to two tenths of an inch, locally higher amounts possible. Ice 
  amounts and impacts could vary significantly between ridge tops 
  and valleys.

* WHERE...Fillmore, Houston, and Winona Counties.

* WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Difficult travel conditions are possible. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. Prepare for possible 
power outages. Visit 511mn.org for road conditions.

&&

$$

WIZ041-053-020315-
/O.EXA.KARX.WW.Y.0014.260402T0500Z-260402T1500Z/
La Crosse-Vernon-
Including the cities of Viroqua and La Crosse
1133 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM 
CDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Freezing rain expected. Total ice accumulations around one 
  to two tenths of an inch, locally higher amounts possible. Ice 
  amounts and impacts could vary significantly between ridge tops 
  and valleys.

* WHERE...Vernon and La Crosse Counties.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 10 AM CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Difficult travel conditions are possible. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. Prepare for possible 
power outages. Visit 511wi.gov for road conditions.

&&

$$

MNZ079-086-087-WIZ032-020315-
/O.CON.KARX.WW.Y.0014.260402T0300Z-260402T1500Z/
Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Buffalo-
Including the cities of Wabasha, Rochester, Dodge Center, and
Alma
1133 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING 
TO 10 AM CDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Freezing rain expected. Total ice accumulations around one 
  to two tenths of an inch, locally higher amounts possible, with 
  additional snow and sleet accumulations around 1 inch. Ice amounts 
  and impacts could vary significantly between ridge tops and 
  valleys.

* WHERE...In Minnesota, Dodge, Olmsted, and Wabasha Counties. In 
  Wisconsin, Buffalo County.

* WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

WIZ033-042>044-020315-
/O.CON.KARX.WW.Y.0014.260402T0500Z-260402T1500Z/
Trempealeau-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-
Including the cities of Mauston, Arcadia, Sparta, Friendship,
Tomah, and Whitehall
1133 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT 
TO 10 AM CDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Freezing rain expected. Total ice accumulations around one 
  to two tenths of an inch, locally higher amounts possible, with 
  additional snow and sleet accumulations around 1 inch. Ice amounts 
  and impacts could vary significantly between ridge tops and 
  valleys.

* WHERE...Adams, Juneau, Monroe, and Trempealeau Counties.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 10 AM CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

Skow

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1243 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Wintry impacts are expected Wednesday night and Thursday,
  especially near and north of I-94. Confidence is increasing
  there, with snow and sleet (1-3 inches), and ice up to one-
  quarter inch in the forecast. Further south some minor icing
  accumulations could occur to I-90, but warmer temperatures
  have pushed ice accumulations north. Rainfall of 1-2" is
  expected with river rises. Some severe storms may be possible
  Thursday afternoon as the area warms.

- Late week, another system is moving through the area bringing
  additional rainfall and more wintry weather possibly. Some
  wintry precipitation could occur in the northern areas. Rivers
  will be on the rise and this system could cause further rises,
  increasing flooding threats.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 150 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

Midweek System Brings Most Impacts North of I-94

A complex storm moves into the area later Wednesday afternoon
lasting into Thursday. This brings wintry weather on the front end,
transitioning to rain, and severe thunderstorm potential by Thursday
afternoon for some. Since yesterday, the storm has trended further
northwest with the track, placing the area in a warmer temperature
regime. The ECMWF ensembles for the past few runs have become
more clustered in a low track near or west of La Crosse and more
tightly clustered than the GEFS. The 31.06Z GEFS low pressure
centers track (mostly) near or east of La Crosse which is a
colder solution. The probabilities for icing have likewise
shifted north of the I-90 corridor, with rain falling under
warmer temperatures.

The forecast problem for icing is really about surface temperatures
as the warm layer aloft is rather large with a MaxT of 5-10C. Wet-
bulb temperature becomes a key ingredient to ice accumulation
and with the surface ridge building in overnight and easterly
flow Wednesday, north-central WI has the lowest dewpoints and
wetbulb temperatures (in the 20s) at freezing rain onset. Thus,
the main threat area for icing is still more apparent and of
higher confidence northeast of I-94. The 31.00Z GEFS and GEPS
probabilities for 1/4 inch plus of ice are in the 40-50% range
there, increasing eastward. These are also about a county north
since yesterday. The ECMWF ens has a substantial period of
freezing rain dominant in the membership as well Wed night
through about noon Thu. That area will see some front end
snow/sleet (1-2" in the latest forecast) before transitioning to
freezing rain after Thu 12 am. During that period, model mean
liquid equivalent precipitation is around 1 inch. Thus, a Winter
Storm Watch for Clark and Taylor counties has been issued for
the potential of 0.25" of ice. Sometimes in April, ground warmth
can cause greater damage to trees - limbs away from that
warm source.

Further south of Clark and Taylor counties, roughly to about the I-
90 corridor, temperatures near the surface are forecast to be right
near or above freezing. River valleys should have little to no ice
accumulation with above freezing temperatures. But, some light ice
accumulation could occur Wednesday night prior to the warming
especially heading north away from I-90 and on higher terrain
(where it is colder). By noon Thursday, even areas north of
I-94 convert to rain. This will lessen the overall impacts of
prolonged ice...any icing from Wed night and Thu morning should
melt Thursday.

Overall, the Grand Ensemble has shifted the max precip band
northwest from central and southwest WI to now through the center of
the local area: Waterloo IA to Wausau WI, with 30-40%
probabilities of over 1.50" totals in the max band. This
incoming air mass is impressive with near climatology maxes for
the precipitable water inflow. Strong forcing signals are seen
in this negatively tiled system with moderately strong 850 mb
moisture transport convergence surges Wed night and Thursday.
Many of the river basins should be able to tolerate 2" of rain.
See the Hydrology section for more.

The warm sector surge into northeast IA through central WI and south
Thursday afternoon seems to indicate, per model soundings, the
potential for possibly severe thunderstorms southwest though
east of La Crosse. ML CAPE is on the order of 500-1000 J/Kg in
the warm sector in a small region feeding into the low center
approximately near La Crosse 4 pm Thursday. These storms could
be surface-based and would have ample wind shear. However, the
low-level curvature is in question as it seems once parcels
become surface-based, some surface wind backing occurs creating
more of a straight-line hodograph. Will have to continue to
monitor this tricky lower CAPE, higher wind shear situation for
possible discrete, rotating storms in the warm sector.

There is still some uncertainty seen in the ensembles on the
track, but overall we feel this is stabilizing a bit.

Weekend Storm Could Bring More Impacts

Closed upper level low tracks across the Northern Plains and Great
Lakes Region mainly Friday evening into the weekend. Much of the
area will see rain...with a few storms Friday evening. With cooler
temps over the area Friday night...the northern parts of the
forecast area could see a wintry mix. Some snow could also mix in
for the rest of the area on Saturday as colder air filters in on the
backside of the upper level closed low. Total precipitation amounts
at this time look to be up to an inch in a few locations with this
system. Another possibility (20-30 percent) of rain or snow is
expected early next week as a weak shortwave embedded in the
northwesterly flow aloft moves over the Great Lakes region.
Temperatures will be near or slightly below normal through the
forecast period.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1242 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

Mostly dry and VFR conditions expected through the afternoon
and early evening hours. Rain begins to move into most locations
during the early evening with light snow for Taylor and Clark
counties and a wintry mix for locations north of I-90. Northeast
winds shift to more east to east-southeast winds by the
afternoon. Winds increase during the afternoon and evening with
sustained winds of 10 to 20 mph and gusts of 20 to 30 mph
expected. CIGS stay around 15kft to 25kft through much of the
afternoon until the precipitation approaches. This is when CIGS
drop below 10kft, during the later afternoon, and eventually
lower into MVFR to IFR range during the evening. Visibility's
will also drop as precipitation rates increase with MVFR to IFR
visibilities expected tonight.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 150 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

Probabilities indicate much of the area will see 1-2 inches of rain
with the Wed night and Thu system. Many of the river basins should
be able to tolerate 2" of rain with within bank rises per the River
Forecast Center river ensemble output. However, should more than
2 inches of rainfall (15-25% chance), minor flood stage could
be reached on multiple river systems including the Kickapoo,
Trempealeau, and Yellow. 3 inch rain totals would bring flooding
to the Turkey river...but these 3 inch probabilities are near
0%.

The second storm on Friday night and Saturday could bring more
flooding however with rising river levels after the first storm.
We dont have details but that far yet, but will be able to get
a better handle on the flooding potential for the weekend on
Thursday.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Winter Storm Watch from late tonight through Thursday morning
     for WIZ017-029.
MN...None.
IA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Baumgardt/Cecava/JAR
AVIATION...Cecava
HYDROLOGY...Baumgardt

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
412 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ094>096-WIZ053>055-061-011100-
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-Mower-Fillmore-Houston-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant-
412 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are likely (70-90%) Wednesday
night and Thursday and would cause river and stream rises by the
end of the week. Another inch of rain could fall this weekend,
possibly bringing rivers to flood.

On Thursday afternoon, a few severe thunderstorms may occur as a
cold front moves through. It is too early to determine the exact
threats at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

A webinar is scheduled for 130 PM Wednesday.

MNZ079-086>088-WIZ032>034-041>044-011100-
Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-
La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-
412 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

A period of freezing rain and rain is expected Wednesday night
before turning to all rain Thursday. Light ice accumulations of
less than one-tenth of an inch are possible. This may impact
travel.

Rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are likely (70-90%) Wednesday
night and Thursday and would cause river and stream rises by the
end of the week. Another inch of rain could fall this weekend,
possibly bringing rivers to flood.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

A webinar is scheduled for 130 PM Wednesday.

WIZ017-029-011100-
Taylor-Clark-
412 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northcentral
Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

A period of snow and sleet, changing to all freezing rain is
expected Wednesday night. The freezing rain will continue
Thursday before becoming rain in the afternoon. Ice accumulations
could be near or over a quarter of an inch. Snow and sleet
accumulations of 1-2 inches are expected. Impacts to trees, power
lines and travel are all possible.

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 12 am to 12 pm Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

No action needed.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

A webinar is scheduled for 130 PM Wednesday.

Boyne