La Crosse, Wisconsin – A fast-developing band of moderate to heavy snow will move across northeast Iowa into southwest Wisconsin this evening, producing rapidly changing travel conditions along I-90, U.S. 53, Highway 35 and U.S. 14. The system will intensify between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m., with snowfall rates exceeding 1 inch per hour at times and quick transitions from wet pavement to snow-covered roadways.
According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, the heaviest snow totals—generally 1–4 inches—will fall within a narrow corridor where small shifts in the band’s placement may dramatically alter amounts. Areas northwest of the main axis, including stretches near U.S. 61, may see abrupt drops in accumulation over short distances. Reduced visibility and drifting snow in open terrain will make overnight travel increasingly hazardous.
Communities from Decorah to Viroqua and into the La Crosse metro should expect slick conditions on bridges and elevated segments of I-90 as temperatures fall and snow begins to stick. Winds overnight may lift loose, powdery snow across rural highways, especially north of the river where exposed fields allow blowing snow to develop quickly.
Emergency officials urge drivers to reconsider late-evening travel and to monitor updates closely. Those who must be on the road should slow down, avoid sudden lane changes and maintain extended following distance as plows work to keep primary corridors passable.
Snow will taper near sunrise Friday, but lingering slick spots may persist into the morning commute. Additional advisories may be issued if the snow band shifts or intensifies beyond current projections.
