Wisconsin greets the morning with a sharp, biting chill as gray clouds hang low over La Crosse. Thermometers sit at 13 degrees, and a northwest breeze makes it feel closer to zero. The Mississippi River valley looks calm, but the cold air stings exposed skin in minutes.
Roads appear mainly dry, yet shaded stretches and bridges along US-53 can hide icy patches. Highs only reach near 21 degrees today under partial sunshine. Winds ease slightly by afternoon, but the air stays brisk.
Tonight falls to around 14 degrees with mostly cloudy skies. Any light melting this afternoon may refreeze after sunset. This is prime time for late-February flash freezing, especially on untreated sidewalks and rural roads.
Attention shifts to Tuesday. A 50 percent chance of snow develops after midmorning. Highs climb to 37 degrees, and less than a half inch of accumulation is possible. Snow may mix with sun at times, but brief slushy travel impacts could develop.
Tuesday night turns colder again near 12 degrees. Wednesday brings bright sunshine, though highs only reach 24. Another 30 percent chance of snow returns Wednesday night into early Thursday. Thursday rebounds to 34 degrees with mostly sunny skies.
By Friday, temperatures jump toward the upper 40s. Early 6-to-10-day outlooks favor above-normal readings into early March, signaling gradual spring warmth across western Wisconsin.
Five-Day Outlook for La Crosse, Wisconsin:
Today: Partly sunny, high 21.
Tuesday: Chance of snow, high 37.
Wednesday: Sunny, high 24.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 34.
Friday: Mostly sunny, high 48.
