La Crosse, Wisconsin – Freezing rain and freezing drizzle are expected to create slick travel conditions across portions of central and west-central Wisconsin Thursday night into Friday morning, prompting multiple Winter Weather Advisories.
According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, advisories are in effect from 6 p.m. CST Thursday to 6 or 9 a.m. CST Friday, depending on location.
Counties under the advisory include Clark, Taylor, Adams, Juneau, Jackson, Monroe, and Trempealeau. Affected communities include Medford, Neillsville, Black River Falls, Tomah, Sparta, Mauston, Arcadia, Friendship, Whitehall, and Black River Falls.
Forecasters say freezing drizzle will overspread the area this evening, with freezing rain north of Highway 29 producing ice accumulations up to around one tenth of an inch. The National Weather Service notes that confidence in travel impacts is highest north of Highway 10, estimated at 60 to 80 percent.
Farther south, including areas near the Interstate 94 corridor, a period of freezing drizzle is still possible before sunrise Friday, though confidence in impacts there is lower, estimated at 20 to 40 percent, due to lighter precipitation and warming temperatures.
The primary concern is very slippery roads, bridges, overpasses, and sidewalks, particularly during the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes. Ice accumulation on elevated and untreated surfaces may develop quickly once precipitation begins.
Temperatures are expected to warm after midnight, allowing the icing threat to gradually end from southwest to northeast early Friday morning.
Motorists are urged to slow down, increase following distance, and use caution when traveling. Road conditions across Wisconsin can be checked by visiting 511wi.gov.
Winter Weather Advisories are issued when winter precipitation is expected to cause travel difficulties and minor disruptions, especially during peak travel periods.
