NWS-Milwaukee/Sullivan Forecast Discussion

 

						FXUS63 KMKX 242346 AAA
AFDMKX

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
546 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- One band of quick-moving moderate snow is exiting far
  southeast Wisconsin, with a second band shifting east
  southeast through the area. This should exit to the east by 8
  PM CST. Wet, slushy accumulations of up to one half inch may
  occur toward Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, with little to no snow
  accumulations for Madison and Milwaukee south/southwest. Slick
  spots may occur into the evening commute.

- A dusting of snow is possible in the northern counties on
  Thursday.

- Mild and breezy conditions are expected for Friday.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued 546 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026

The first band of moderate snow is exiting far southeast
Wisconsin, with a second band shifting east southeast across the
northeast to central parts of the area. This second area should
exit to the east by 8 PM CST at the latest. Wet, slushy
accumulations up to one half inch may occur toward Fond du Lac
and Sheboygan, where the heaviest snow rates and lowest
visibility values were expected.

Little to no snow accumulations are expected from Madison and
Milwaukee south, as there is drier air there and web cameras are
not showing much if any snow accumulations. Slick spots may
occur into the evening commute for northeast and northern
portions of the area.

Once this activity exits to the east by middle evening, there
may be some scattering out of the low clouds into the overnight
hours. Some broken cloud cover may linger during this time.
Gusty west northwest winds are expected tonight, with some cold
air advection dropping lows into the teens.

Wood

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued 1245 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026

Tonight through Wednesday night:

A shortwave and associated cold front will push through
southern Wisconsin mid to late afternoon today. A quick round of
precip is expected with this system, mainly in the form of snow
north towards the Fond du Lac and Sheboygan areas. Farther south
on the tail end of the line of precip towards the I-94
corridor, the snow may mix with or change over to freezing
drizzle for a time. This is due to the better forcing combining
with pockets of drier air and thus a lack of ice crystals. There
have been reports of a light glaze in spots upstream in
southern Minnesota, so will continue to monitor the line of
precip as it approaches the forecast area. Where the precip does
remain snow, totals of around a half an inch are likely, with
up to an inch not out of the question. The timing of the light
snow accums and possible light glaze will correspond with
afternoon commute traffic, as the band should slide through
northwest to southeast between 2 and 6 pm.

Dry weather is expected tonight and Wednesday behind the
departing shortwave and ahead of approaching high pressure. A
colder airmass will move in behind the cold front tonight, with
lows in the teens again most places and below normal highs
tomorrow in the mid 20s to around 30.

DDV

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued 1245 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026

Thursday through Tuesday:

Some sunshine is expected to start the day Thursday under
surface high pressure, with increasing clouds late morning into
the afternoon as a weak shortwave moves through. Kept a slight
chance (<30%) of snow north of I-94 with this shortwave, with a
mix of model solutions on whether or not this wave will produce
precip in the forecast area.

A brief warmup is likely Friday as southerly low level flow
increases ahead of a low pressure system passing by well to the
north. Should be enough sunshine to combine with the mild south
winds for well above normal highs in the mid 50s most places.
The cold front associated with the low will move through Friday
evening, resulting in temps returning to around normal for
Friday night and Saturday.

Another shortwave sliding through late Saturday into Saturday
night will bring a reinforcing shot of colder air along with a
chance for a dusting of snow. Highs Sunday behind this shortwave
will likely only top out in the mid 20s to around 30.

Temperatures early next week are expected to gradually return to
around or just above normal, with the active shortwave pattern
brining more precip chances at times.

DDV

&&

.AVIATION...
Issued 546 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026

The first band of light to sometimes moderate snow with 2 to 4
mile visibility is exiting far southeast Wisconsin, with a
second band shifting east southeast across the northeast to
central parts of the area. This second area should exit to the
east by 8 PM CST at the latest, with visibility of 2 to 4 miles
possible.

Wet, slushy accumulations up to one half inch may occur toward
Sheboygan, with snow rates up to one quarter inch per hour and
the lowest visibility values were expected. Little to no snow
accumulations are expected from Madison and Milwaukee south, as
there is drier air there and web cameras are not showing much if
any snow accumulations.

Once this activity exits to the east by middle evening, there
may be some scattering out of the ceilings around 2500 to 3500
feet AGL into the overnight hours. Some broken cloud cover may
linger during this time. Mainly scattered clouds are expected by
Wednesday afternoon. Gusty west northwest winds are expected
tonight into Wednesday, weakening by later Wednesday afternoon.

Wood

&&

.MARINE...
Issued 1245 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026

Southerly gales will continue across the open waters this
afternoon as low pressure of 29.2 inches just north of Lake
Superior continues eastward. Winds will become west to
northwest behind the associated cold front this evening and
overnight, while remaining breezy (though below gale force).
The Small Craft Advisory continues into mid-morning Wednesday.

Lighter winds are expected Wednesday night into Thursday, as
high pressure of 30.0 inches moves into the area. South to
southwest winds will then pick up later Thursday into Friday
ahead of an approaching low and the departing high. A Small
Craft Advisory may be needed for this period, with a few gales
not of question across northern portions of the lake.

DDV

&&

.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
LM...Gale Warning...LMZ080-LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-
     LMZ565-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ777-LMZ779-
     LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878 until 6 PM
     Tuesday.

     Small Craft Advisory...LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646 until 10 AM
     Wednesday.

&&

$$

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