Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin is heading into the December 13–26 holiday stretch with some of the strongest white Christmas potential in the Midwest, as new NOAA long-range outlooks show a colder and wetter pattern setting up across the Great Lakes — a classic recipe for multiple snow events.
According to NOAA, Wisconsin sits inside a broad “Above Normal” precipitation zone covering much of the upper Midwest. This pattern typically signals a more active storm track, with frequent systems capable of delivering widespread snow from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan.
Temperatures are also trending colder. Much of Wisconsin — including Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Eau Claire, and the Northwoods — falls within a “Below Normal” temperature corridor for the second half of December. This increased cold air supply is key for supporting snow instead of rain, especially across southern and eastern Wisconsin where temperatures often hover near freezing early in the season.
According to NOAA meteorologists, the combination of colder-than-average temperatures and above-normal precipitation heavily favors holiday snow across the state. Northern Wisconsin and the lake-effect-prone regions near Lake Superior already boast some of the nation’s strongest historical white Christmas odds, and this year’s outlook further strengthens them. Central and southern Wisconsin — including Milwaukee and Madison — also have an elevated chance for accumulating snow before Christmas.
Forecasters highlight the December 18–24 window as a particularly active storm period. Systems tracking through the Great Lakes may bring heavier, widespread snow, while lake-effect bands could enhance totals for areas near Lake Superior and even occasionally Lake Michigan.
Travelers should expect the possibility of slick or snowy conditions along I-94, I-90, US-51, and regional highways as Christmas approaches.
Residents are encouraged to monitor updated local forecasts through mid-December as forecasters gain clarity on storm timing and snowfall amounts.
