- Rain develops tonight with temperatures staying 10-15 degrees above normal
- Dramatic cold front on Sunday brings a 30-degree temperature drop
- Arctic blast Monday with dangerous wind chills
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – As we head into Thursday evening, southern Wisconsin is in for a stretch of unusually mild weather before a dramatic change arrives Sunday. Rain is likely across the area late tonight as temperatures remain well above normal through the weekend.
Tonight through Friday morning, expect light rain to develop across southern Wisconsin. Areas north of Madison may see a brief period of freezing drizzle early in the evening before temperatures warm above freezing. Any ice accumulation will be minimal and will melt quickly as temperatures rise. For Juneau, Adams, and counties north, a Winter Weather Advisory goes into effect this evening for the chance of freezing precipitation, leading to slick conditions on the roads through tomorrow morning.
Rain will continue through the overnight hours into Friday morning before clearing from west to east by early Friday afternoon. With mild temperatures and melting snow, some fog may develop before sunrise Friday, but breezy winds should prevent it from becoming dense.
Friday and Saturday will bring the warmest temperatures of the week, with many areas reaching the low to mid 40s. Saturday night temperatures will only drop into the mid to upper 30s.
Weekend Weather Shift…
Sunday starts mild but brings significant changes as a cold front moves through during the day. Those 30-degree readings at sunrise Sunday will be the warmest temperatures we see through at least the first half of next week.
The cold front timing has been shifting later, but Sunday will still feature falling temperatures throughout the day. There’s an increasing risk for accumulating snow with the front’s passage, though amounts don’t look too high given the system’s progressive nature.
Strong winds will accompany the cold air, with gusts reaching 35 to 45 mph. Combined with light snow and falling temperatures, travel conditions could become challenging Sunday evening.
Arctic Air Arrives…
The colder air floods south Sunday night, bringing single-digit lows and wind chills in the teens below zero Monday morning. Monday’s high temperatures will struggle to reach 20 degrees as a surface ridge moves through.
Temperatures will moderate by Tuesday and Wednesday, returning closer to average. However, there’s uncertainty about how much temperatures will rebound, as the region sits along the transition zone between two air masses.
Additional chances for light snow may develop Tuesday night into Wednesday, but nothing significant is expected at this range in the forecast.
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