Wisconsin – Air stings exposed skin, light snow streaks sideways, and the Mississippi River Valley feels locked in deep winter as the day unfolds. MLK Day begins with brutal cold, patchy blowing snow, and conditions that can turn hazardous quickly across western Wisconsin.
According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, a Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect through midday as wind chills plunge between 25 and 35 below zero. Actual temperatures sit near zero, with steady northwest winds pushing gusts past 30 mph. Patchy blowing snow is reducing visibility at times, especially in open areas and along rural roads.
La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, and surrounding communities across La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, and Trempealeau counties are seeing slick stretches develop despite limited snowfall. Highways like I-90 and Highway 53 are vulnerable to sudden visibility drops and flash freezing, particularly where snow briefly melts under daylight before refreezing.
Cold holds firm into Tuesday, though winds ease slightly. Clouds increase by Tuesday evening as snow becomes more likely, with one to three inches possible into early Wednesday. That system could snarl midweek travel, especially south of I-90, before colder air returns late week. By Friday and Saturday, daytime highs drop back toward zero, with nighttime lows well below.
Dress in layers, limit time outdoors, and keep vehicles winter-ready. Frostbite can develop in minutes under these conditions. Drivers should slow down and allow extra distance, even on roads that appear clear.
Five Day Weather Outlook for La Crosse, Wisconsin
• Today (MLK Day): Blowing snow, extreme cold, high near 2°F
• Tuesday: Increasing clouds, cold, high near 14°F
• Wednesday: Snow likely, high near 23°F
• Thursday: Partly sunny, cold, high near 13°F
• Friday: Mostly sunny, bitter cold, high near 4°F
