Biting air grips La Crosse, Wisconsin this morning as an Arctic mass sweeps across the Upper Mississippi Valley. The air feels raw and unmoving — crisp enough to sting exposed skin within minutes. Across southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa, wind chills continue to plunge between –15°F and –25°F, creating hazardous early travel and school drop-offs.
According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, temperatures will remain near single digits through the day before dipping again tonight. Friday brings the first sign of change: clouds build and a 60% chance of light snow develops by afternoon, especially west of the Mississippi River. While totals look minor, even a coating to one inch could lead to slick patches across I-90 and Highway 61.
Saturday stays partly sunny but cold, with highs near 22°F, followed by another snow chance late Saturday night into Sunday. Any fresh accumulation will be light, but roads could refreeze quickly during evening hours. Wind chills near –10°F will persist through Sunday morning.
Meteorologists are also watching a broader December 11–17 pattern, hinting at renewed snow systems for the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest — potentially the region’s first widespread pre-holiday travel disruption.
Residents are urged to limit outdoor exposure, check antifreeze, and keep vehicles winter-ready as this early December cold snap digs in. For drivers, icy bridges and shaded roads could become slick quickly after sunset.
Five-Day Outlook (La Crosse, WI):
- Thursday: Sunny, high 15°F, low 8°F, wind chills –25°F early.
- Friday: 60% snow chance, high 28°F, low 13°F.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, high 22°F, low 13°F.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 14°F, low 4°F.
- Monday: Cloudy, high 25°F, light snow possible.
