La Crosse, Wisconsin – A prolonged stretch of accumulating snow is set to return to the Upper Mississippi Valley late Friday night, bringing steady, travel-disrupting snowfall across southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and southwest Wisconsin through Saturday night.
According to the National Weather Service La Crosse, a Winter Storm Watch covers La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, Crawford, Richland, Grant, Winona, Houston, Olmsted, Dodge, Mower, Fillmore, Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Fayette, Clayton, Floyd, and Chickasaw counties. Probabilities for more than six inches of snow range from 70 to 90 percent, highest along and south of Interstate 90 from Austin and Rochester to La Crosse and Prairie du Chien. Light snow may begin before dawn Saturday, with intensity increasing through the morning.
According to forecasters, the system will deliver a long duration of light to moderate snow rather than short, intense bursts. Still, steady accumulation could slick highways including I-90, US-14, and WI-35. DOT crews expect persistent plowing needs Saturday as pavement temperatures cool. Visibility may drop sharply in heavier bands near the Mississippi River bluffs.
According to emergency management, the timing could hinder post-Thanksgiving travel. Drivers heading toward Rochester, Decorah, and Platteville should plan additional time and avoid unnecessary trips during peak accumulation. Officials urge motorists to carry emergency kits, keep phones charged, and allow extra stopping distance on rural roads. Residents should shovel gradually to prevent strain and ensure pets have shelter as temperatures fall into the 20s.
