Snow Possible Across Parts Of Wisconsin Over Thanksgiving Weekend, Forecast Says

A storm system is expected to affect Wisconsin over Thanksgiving Weekend, but the exact placement of snow remains uncertain, according to the National Weather Service in Milwaukee.

Forecast scenarios show that the storm track will determine where snow sets up. A northern track would bring a mix of rain and snow into southern Wisconsin from Sunday into Monday, with the heaviest snow likely in northern Wisconsin.

A southern track would keep the main snowfall band south of the state, with the bulk of the accumulation falling in Illinois.

Early projections through Thursday morning show very light amounts across Wisconsin. Most of the area is forecast to receive a trace to one-half inch at most.

Cities including Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam, West Bend, Montello, Berlin, Mauston, Portage, and the Wisconsin Dells sit in the 0 to one half-inch range. Milwaukee, Waukesha, Madison, Janesville, Kenosha, Racine, Beloit, Darlington, Dodgeville, Monroe, and Burlington are all currently in the zero-to-trace zone.

The probability map mirrors these trends.

Northern and central portions of the area have the highest chance of seeing at least one tenth of an inch of snow, including Tomah (85 percent), Mauston (62 percent), Montello (51 percent), Fond du Lac (51 percent), Beaver Dam (53 percent), Portage (42 percent), Sauk City (42 percent), and West Bend (42 percent).

Probabilities drop sharply the farther south you go, with Milwaukee at 16 percent, Waukesha at 37 percent, Madison at 36 percent, Janesville at 12 percent, Burlington at 16 percent, Kenosha at 10 percent, and Monroe at 6 percent.

Before the potential weekend system arrives, unsettled weather will continue early in the week. Light rain, low clouds, and patchy fog develop Monday and continue into Tuesday, with highs near 50. A cold front Tuesday night will pull in gusty winds and much colder air, sending Thanksgiving Day highs into the upper 20s and low 30s.

Here's the full NWS forecast from the Milwaukee Airport:

Today: A 20 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of rain. Patchy fog before 7pm, then patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 43. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Tuesday: A chance of rain before noon, then a chance of rain after 3pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: Rain likely before 3am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Windy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thanksgiving Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Saturday: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night: Snow likely, possibly mixed with rain. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Chance of precipitation is 40%.