Wisconsin – Gray skies hang low over southeast Wisconsin as damp air and fog set the stage for a fast-changing winter pattern. What begins with misty streets and mild air turns slushy, windy, and colder by Sunday night, just as end-of-year travel ramps up.
According to the National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan, patchy dense fog may develop early, especially across south central Wisconsin. Visibility could drop quickly in rural areas. Rain spreads in Sunday, then transitions to snow as temperatures fall below freezing Sunday night. Widespread snowfall totals between 1 and 3 inches are expected through Monday morning.
Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Kenosha face the highest travel impacts late Sunday into early Monday. Winds increase sharply behind the system, with gusts reaching 40 to 45 mph. Blowing snow may reduce visibility on open stretches of I-94, I-43, and Highway 41. Wet roads could freeze rapidly as colder air rushes in.
Plan extra time if traveling Sunday evening. Keep headlights on in fog and rain. After all, the biggest issue may be timing. Snow falls as traffic thins, but refreezing ramps and bridges create slick conditions by daybreak Monday.
Monday stays windy and cold, with scattered snow showers possible before calmer weather settles in. The colder pattern holds through midweek, shaping New Year’s Eve plans with brisk air and a quieter sky. New Year’s Day 2026 starts dry but firmly wintry.
Meteorologists continue tracking additional systems into the final days of December. More advisories could follow as winter tightens its grip.
Driving late Sunday or early Monday? Tell us what road conditions look like near you.
Five-Day Weather Outlook – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sunday: Rain developing, high near 49
Sunday Night: Rain changing to snow, windy, low near 21
Monday: Windy, snow likely early, high near 27
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, colder, high near 27
Wednesday (New Year’s Eve): Mostly cloudy, high near 27
