Tricky Travel for Some this Weekend
ALERT DAYS from tonight through Sunday for several rounds of precipitation, which could impact travel across parts of the area.
A WINTER STORM WATCH is in effect from Friday night into Saturday morning for the Eau Claire area. 6+ inches, along with a glaze of ice.
Happy Thanksgiving! We continue to watch a large storm system over the western United States. This system will send a couple of waves of energy across the area tonight and tomorrow before the main storm moves in Saturday and crosses the area Sunday. The result will be several periods of mixed precipitation, which include freezing rain, snow, mix of rain and snow and all rain. The type of precip you see will be highly dependent on temperatures in your area and conditions in the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere.
**It should be noted this is a very complicated forecast. You should check the forecast regularly as changes may need to be needed to keep up with changing conditions. This is especially true if you have travel plans over the next three days**
For tonight, expect areas of light snow and freezing drizzle to develop over the area. This could cause a light glaze of ice on area roads. Should the freezing drizzle become heavier than expected, a winter weather advisory may be needed for parts of the area. Look for lows to range from the upper 20s to near 30.
As we head into tomorrow, look for areas of freezing rain and snow to gradually change to mainly rain by mid-morning along and south of I-90 and by early afternoon north of I-90. Look for highs in the lower to middle 30s.
Tomorrow night, rain will mix with snow during the evening along and south of I-90, but change ot mainly rain after midnight as warmer air ahead of our storm system gets pulled northward. Farther north, toward the I-94 corridor, snow and freezing rain. Several inches of snow are possible around Eau Claire and points north. Should the warmer air make it that far north, we could see more of a rain or a mix of just rain and snow which would lower snow totals. Look for lows in the lower to middle 30s. It will be breezy, with southeast winds at 10 to 20 mph, with gusts between 25 and 35 mph.
We’ll start to feel the full effects of that storm system Saturday. Rain is expected to be the dominant form of precipitation for much of the area. The exception will be our far northern communities where a mix of rain and snow looks likely. Highs will range from the middle to upper 30s.
By Saturday night, colder air will start to wrap into the storm system. This will cause rain to gradually mix with snow late, then continue into Sunday morning. The mix should then transition to snow showers before ending Sunday. Some minor snow accumulations are possible at this time. Look for highs Sunday in the lower to middle 30s.
In a nutshell, it appears the areas most likely to the highest impacts this weekend will stay across northern Wisconsin, central Minnesota and the Dakotas. Mixed precipitation appears more likely over the Chippewa Valley, with rain being the most dominant form of precipitation farther south. Remember, that could change, so keep a close eye on that forecast.
Looking Ahead… Next Monday through Thursday is looking mainly dry at this point. We’ll pick up a slight chance of light snow Friday. Look for highs to hold in the lower to middle 30s, but cool into the 20s Friday.
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