Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Spring warmth may take its time reaching Wisconsin, with a wetter-than-normal pattern and lingering cold boosting the odds for late-season snow before steady rain becomes dominant.
According to NOAA’s Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Outlook released February 19, Wisconsin is favored to see above normal precipitation during March-April-May 2026. At the same time, parts of the Upper Midwest, including northern Wisconsin, lean toward below normal temperatures. That combination supports additional snow chances in March and possibly into early April, especially across central and northern counties.
In Green Bay, Wausau and Eau Claire, late-season systems could still produce measurable wet snow, particularly overnight when temperatures dip closer to freezing. Slushy conditions may briefly impact stretches of I-41, US-53 and I-39 before daytime melting reduces accumulation. Lake-enhanced snow showers off Lake Superior and Lake Michigan cannot be ruled out during colder air intrusions.
Farther south in Milwaukee, Madison and Kenosha, precipitation will more often fall as chilly rain as the season progresses. However, sharp cold snaps may briefly mix in wet flakes during stronger storm systems. With above normal precipitation expected, repeated rain events could also elevate water levels along the Wisconsin and Fox rivers if totals stack up over saturated ground.
Overall temperature signals lean cooler north and closer to average south, pointing to a gradual, uneven transition into spring rather than an early warm surge.
Wisconsin appears poised for a moisture-heavy spring with lingering snow risks early and steady rain later, before consistent warmth gains ground toward May.
