Winter storm warnings posted for large part of Wisconsin; storm could bring up to 12 inches of snow; rain, thunder likely in Milwaukee

Joe Taschler, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·3 min read
Snow, some of it heavy, is expected across a large portion of Wisconsin beginning Friday and continuing into Saturday.
Snow, some of it heavy, is expected across a large portion of Wisconsin beginning Friday and continuing into Saturday.

A powerful winter storm is set to arrive in Wisconsin on Friday, dropping as much as a foot of snow across western and central parts of the state while bringing rain -- along with the potential for thunder and lightning -- to Milwaukee, forecasters say.

Winter storm warnings have been posted for Friday along and north of a diagonal line from LaCrosse to just north of Green Bay. Cities included in the winter storm warning include Wausau, Stevens Point, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, LaCrosse, Rhinelander, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Rice Lake and Black River Falls.

Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are posted for Wisconsin along and north of a line from Green Bay to LaCrosse. A foot of snow could fall across some areas of the state.
Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are posted for Wisconsin along and north of a line from Green Bay to LaCrosse. A foot of snow could fall across some areas of the state.

"A significant winter storm will bring a swath of heavy snow to much of north central, central and northeast Wisconsin from late Friday afternoon through Saturday morning," the National Weather Service said in a statement.

At least 6 to 8 inches of snow are forecast. But, some spots are likely to see more. "There will be bands of heavy snow within the warned area where snow totals could be as high as 12 inches," the weather service said in a statement.

Heavy snow is expected across central Wisconsin beginning Friday and continuing into Saturday.
Heavy snow is expected across central Wisconsin beginning Friday and continuing into Saturday.

Winter weather advisories are in effect for areas immediately surrounding the winter storm warning areas.

Some of the cities under winter weather advisories include Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha and Sturgeon Bay. Those areas could see 3 to 5 inches of snow, according to the weather service.

Mixed precipitation is expected from Wautoma to Green Bay to Door County and will result in less snow accumulation, with potential for minor ice accumulations.

A swath of heavy snow is expected to arrive Friday across central and western Wisconsin.
A swath of heavy snow is expected to arrive Friday across central and western Wisconsin.

The storm is expected to intensify Friday as it heads toward Wisconsin.

The storm will be packing plenty of energy.

"In the Milwaukee area we're just expecting rain and we'll probably see a few thunderstorms as well, especially as we go through the evening hours," on Friday, said J.J. Wood, a weather service meteorologist in Sullivan. "We'll probably see some thunder and lightning with some of these storms and people should not be surprised to see that, especially in the southeast part of the state."

The National Weather Service in LaCrosse is warning of the potential for heavy snow, with pockets of whiteout conditions in some areas, as a powerful winter storm approaches Wisconsin on Friday.
The National Weather Service in LaCrosse is warning of the potential for heavy snow, with pockets of whiteout conditions in some areas, as a powerful winter storm approaches Wisconsin on Friday.

There might be up to a half-inch of snow on Saturday morning in northern parts of the Milwaukee metro as colder air wraps in around the back side of the storm, Wood said.

"There will be quite a difference in snowfall totals as you go north and west in Wisconsin," Wood said. Exactly where the heaviest snow falls will depend on the track of the storm. As of Friday morning, the heaviest snow was forecast to occur somewhere in the area north of a LaCrosse to Green Bay line.

Far southeast Wisconsin, including the Milwaukee metro will see mostly rain Friday into Saturday while areas to the northwest will see snow, some of it heavy at times.
Far southeast Wisconsin, including the Milwaukee metro will see mostly rain Friday into Saturday while areas to the northwest will see snow, some of it heavy at times.

Forecasters during the day on Friday will be fine-tuning the forecast and trying to pinpoint where the heaviest snow will fall.

Timing-wise, the snow is forecast to begin falling heavily Friday afternoon in west central Wisconsin and then move eastward into the nighttime hours.

"This will be heavy, wet snow that is difficult to shovel," Wood said. "The worst of it is going to be Friday night into early Saturday morning."

This freeway camera image, captured just before noon on Friday, shows snow falling along I-94 near Black River Falls in west-central Wisconsin.
This freeway camera image, captured just before noon on Friday, shows snow falling along I-94 near Black River Falls in west-central Wisconsin.

The storm is not unusual for December in Wisconsin.

"It's that time of the year," Wood said. "This is the first real heavy snowstorm across a good part of the state."

Bottom line, keep an eye on the forecast, "Especially if you're headed north this weekend," Wood said. "Travel conditions will be difficult."

To the south of Wisconsin, a severe weather outbreak is possible on Friday night, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

"A few strong tornadoes, damaging gusts, and large hail are all expected beginning this evening across Arkansas and Missouri, with the greatest tornado threat close to the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers," the storm center said in a statement issued Friday.

Contact Joe Taschler at (414) 224-2554 or jtaschler@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeTaschler or Facebook at facebook.com/joe.taschler.1.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin weather: Storm could bring a foot of snow to part of state