All attention is turned to a Significant Winter Storm which looks to impact our area Late Wednesday, and lasting through Christmas Eve, and Christmas day, and even into parts of our Saturday! This will be a Very impressive system! A Low Pressure system is forecasted to come up from Texas and MO, and strengthen as it moves towards Iowa and then passes through Western and Central Wisconsin. This storm has a lot of Gulf moisture to work with. with all this provided moisture and this lows track, This will put our area in range to get Significant Snowfall Accumulations, Snowfall accumulations will surpass the amounts we received during the Dec 8-9 storm, and this will be the biggest Winter Storm we have seen in this area, in Years The NWS says this storm will compare to the 1991 Halloween Storm.
Local View.

I must first off say, This storm is the hardest Winter Storm I’ve ever forecasted for, I’ve never seen a storm like this on the forecast models, so please bare with me, The forecast models can still change between now and Christmas, and and change would effect our snowfall amounts significantly, but This is what it’s looking like right now.

The Center of Low Pressure in this Significant storm, will pass Just Southeast of the area, This will mean Mild temperatures, but cool enough for All snow, temps will be near 30.F, This will make for a heavy, wet type of snow, Snow will start light late Wednesday, but it will become Heavy starting late Wednesday, at this same time, East Northeast Winds will pick up 25 to 30MPH, This will make for blowing and drifting snow. I believe we will have off and of bouts of Heavy Snow with Windy conditions, This will last from Wednesday Night, through Christmas Day Night, and into parts of Saturday Since the low will be strong, and will have plenty of moisture, I would not be surprised to hear Thunder in some of the intense snowfall bands. This storm Will likely lead to Significant near record snowfall accumulations, To add to this, Winds will increase from the NE to N, This could blow around some snow, but with the more wetter snow it wont be as easy to blow around, but even with this Near White out conditions and near blizzard conditions will still be possible.

Timing It Out.

Light snow will start late Wednesday afternoon, and will not be too heavy quite yet, But as we head into Wednesday Night, Snow intensity will increase and, become heavy, and road conditions will probably get bad fairly fast, At this same time, Winds will increase overnight Wednesday and gust to near 30MPH at times. Moderate Snow with bouts of Heavy Snow, with gusty winds will continue for Christmas Eve Day, and will last through Christmas Day, In the most intense snow bands Thunder may be heard. Snow will continue into Saturday, but will lighten up especially late in the day, The storm will be on it;s way out sometime Saturday Night, and will leave us with Significant Snowfall accumulations.

Snowfall Accumulations Estimates.

This storm has an amazing amount of gulf moisture to work with, and with such a strong large system, Total Snowfall accumulations Will be Significant and possible near Record Setting the NWS says, possibly right here in the local area. This storm will bring, the highest snowfall amounts we have seen in years. The highest snowfall accumulations in the area, will likely occur in Central and Western areas of the 6 county area, 10″ to 14 Inches, to as high as 16+ inches of new snow will be possible, With snow drifts higher then this, all areas West of the pink line above, places like Amery, Grantsburg, Siren, New Richmond Baldwin and Hudson, Baldwin and Boyceville. South and east areas like in Dunn county will likely see a bit less accumulations, because temps may become warm enough for some brief snow/sleet mix, this may hold down accumulations some, But Snowfall accumulations will still likely be significant in these areas. I’m forcasting 8″ to 12″ East of the pink line in the map about for places like Menomonie, Elk Mound and Colfax.

Due to the intensity of this storm, it’s current track, and it’s impacts on Holiday Travel, people in the area, show prepare to move travel plans around, or delay holiday plans, As a Significant Winter Storm appears likely, with heavy snow, possibly near record snowfall accumulations, and gusty winds. Daily forecast below.

Wednesday, Light Snow starting late in the afternoon, A bit breezy, Mild with highs in the upper 20s. Wednesday Night, Snow intensity increasing, becoming Heavy, ENE Winds increasing to near 20MPH, some blowing snow possible lows in the mid 20s.

Christmas Eve Day Snow Likely, Moderate to Heavy snow burst through out the day, Gusty winds gusting to near 30MPH at times, Blowing and drifting snow highs in the upper 20s. Thursday Night. off and on Heavy Snow burst, Heavy Snow likely, Gusty winds, and blowing and drifting snow lows in the mid 20s.

Christmas Day, Moderate to Heavy Snow likely, Gusty winds gusting to near 25 to 30MPH, Highs in the upper 20s. Friday Night, Moderate to Heavy Snow still likely, Winds slackening down a bit, Snow becoming lighter late.

Saturday snow will continue to effect us.

Due to the high impact of this storm, and the intensity, I will be working the next over the next few days to bring the most updated forecasts on this Major Winter Storm, so please come back, But I also suggest you view local NWS forecasts for this storm.