Madison, WI – Holiday travelers across Wisconsin should expect colder air and scattered snow showers heading into Thanksgiving week, with the biggest impacts north of Wausau and near Lake Superior, according to new national forecast maps from the Weather Prediction Center.
According to the WPC, a departing storm system over the Great Lakes will help pull colder air into Wisconsin beginning Wednesday, increasing the chance for light snow across northern and western parts of the state. Drivers using I-94, US-53, Highway 29, and I-39 may encounter occasional slick spots, especially from Eau Claire to Wausau and into the Northwoods.
Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27, 2025) will stay cold statewide, with highs in the 20s and low 30s in northern counties and low to mid-30s across southern Wisconsin. Light snow showers or flurries are possible through the day, mainly in the north. Communities around Ashland, Bayfield, Hurley, and the western Lake Superior shoreline could see lake-effect snow bands, creating reduced visibility and spotty accumulations.
Southern Wisconsin—including Milwaukee, Madison, Janesville, and Kenosha—will likely see mostly cloudy skies with occasional flurries but little accumulation. Winds will remain brisk, adding to the chill for holiday travelers.
By Black Friday (November 28, 2025), another push of cold air arrives, reinforcing snow chances in northern Wisconsin and the Lake Superior snowbelt. Early shoppers may face icy roads and passing snow showers in the north, while the rest of the state stays dry but colder, with wind chills dipping into the teens and 20s.
Travelers should factor in additional time for changing weather conditions, especially in northern Wisconsin, where snow showers may be more frequent.
