La Crosse, Wis. – Drivers across western Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota could encounter slick stretches on I-90 and Highway 53 before 9 a.m. Tuesday as light freezing drizzle creates patchy ice during the morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, light precipitation continues early Tuesday, with some locations reporting drizzle while others see freezing drizzle. Localized surface temperatures near 32 degrees will determine where moisture freezes on contact, making conditions highly variable from one neighborhood to the next.
A light glaze of up to 0.05 inches is possible in spots, especially on untreated roads, bridges and overpasses. Elevated surfaces along I-90 near Onalaska and Holmen, as well as Highway 35 along the Mississippi River, may become slick first. Conditions also extend west into southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa, affecting US-61 and surrounding rural routes.
Because precipitation remains light, widespread impacts are not expected. However, even a thin layer of ice can lead to spinouts and fender benders during peak travel hours. School buses and early freight traffic face the greatest concern through about 8 a.m.
Motorists should slow down, increase following distance and avoid sudden braking. Use low-beam headlights in drizzle and check local road condition reports before heading out.
Temperatures are expected to gradually rise later this morning, allowing freezing drizzle to transition to plain rain and improving travel conditions by mid to late morning. Additional updates will be issued if icing becomes more widespread than anticipated.
