Wausau, Wisconsin – Winter could make a strong return to parts of Wisconsin during St. Patrick’s Day week as colder Canadian air and increased moisture raise the risk for heavy snow across central and northern sections of the state.
According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 day outlook, the period from March 15 through March 21 favors above-normal precipitation across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, while temperatures trend below seasonal averages across much of the region. The setup develops as a broad cold boundary stretches from the northern Plains through the Great Lakes and into the eastern United States.
That pattern could place Wausau, Green Bay, Rhinelander, Stevens Point, and Merrill in a corridor where storm systems interact with colder air, raising the potential for periods of heavy snow across central and northern Wisconsin. Northern counties near the Northwoods and Upper Peninsula border may see the highest snowfall potential if storm tracks align with the colder air mass.
Drivers along Interstate 39, U.S. Highway 51, U.S. Highway 41, and Highway 29 should monitor conditions if storms develop during the period. Heavy snow can quickly reduce visibility and create slick roadways, especially during overnight hours and early morning travel.
The timing stands out as daylight saving time begins this weekend, yet winterlike conditions could persist across the Upper Midwest even as the first day of spring arrives later that week.
Forecasters expect additional updates as the mid-March pattern becomes clearer, and winter weather advisories could be issued if snowfall potential increases across northern and central Wisconsin.
