By Justin Poublon

February 22, 2018 - 8:45 AM CST | 50   0

Impacts map created at 8:15AM Thurs 2/22. Sorry about the orange. Working with an old tool.

Wintry weather will return to Wisconsin overnight through Friday morning.

Light scattered snow/rain showing up on radar across southern Wisconsin already this morning but much of it not hitting the ground. The main event arrives tonight. 4-6" of snow across northern Wisconsin, locally higher amounts possible in the snow belt. In central Wisconsin a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain could lead to difficult driving/walking conditions for the Friday morning commute. Rain showers in the far south.

The best chance for precipitation is between 6 PM Thursday and 9 AM Friday. Light snow flurries may linger close to noon in the north. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for everyone except southeast Wisconsin where scattered rain showers are anticipated. There is another system coming in this weekend.

Radar and watches at 8:45AM Thurs 2/22

Impacts

• 4-6" of snow north. This includes places such as Minneapolis, Rice Lake, Hayward, Ashland, and Mincoqua Locally higher amounts in Sawyer, Price, Ashland, Iron counties. Snow totals will decrease sharply south of a Eau Clair/Iron Mountain line.

• 0.01-0.25" of ice accumulation in central Wisconsin. Precipitation may start as snow then switch-over. Locations such as Wisconsin Rapids, Waupaca, and Shawano have the greatest chance for freezing rain. Models disagree on the exact amount of freezing rain and I think it could go either high or low on the range. 50/50 chance. Surface temperatures quickly warm above freezing Friday morning which will begin to melt any ice accumulation, therefore not expecting travel to be impacted for very long.

• Minor sleet accumulation possible somewhere between snow north and mix in central Wisconsin.

• Rain showers in southeast Wisconsin.

Notes

• Storm has trended stronger in the last 24 hours.

• Overnight timing is key to freezing rain threat. Helps keep surface temperatures down.

• Wasn't confident enough to go 4-7" for snow in the north. Think the 6"+ amounts will be limited should they occur.

• Mixed precipitation is difficult to forecast.

Important Links

For the latest radar, click here

For the latest warnings & storm reports, click here

For storm chaser video of the storm, click here

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