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Storm: rain changing to snow later today

WALWORTH COUNTY — The National Weather Service, Sullivan, reports that the state’s first major storm this winter will continue to affect southern Wisconsin and the western Great Lakes region today and tonight.

Heavy snow and blowing snow will result in near zero visibility and whiteout conditions at times, and extremely hazardous travel conditions across southern Wisconsin. The heavy snow and blowing will likely cause some road closures in rural areas. Scattered power outages are also expected.

Periods of moderate to heavy snow will continue over south central Wisconsin through the day. In southeast Wisconsin, rain or a rain and snow mix is expected through this morning, changing over to snow during the afternoon and early evening. Moderate to heavy accumulations of snow are then expected over southeast Wisconsin Thursday afternoon and evening.

Strong winds can also be expected with this storm, specifically strong northwest winds gusting to 35 to 45 mph. These strong winds along with falling and/or blowing snow will result in blizzard or near blizzard conditions with visibilities reduced to one quarter mile or less. The blizzard conditions are expected to develop this morning from southwest into northeast Wisconsin and across south central Wisconsin from late morning into the early afternoon.

Periods of heavy snow over south central Wisconsin is expected from midnight to 8 pm Thursday afternoon. The heaviest snow over east central into southeast Wisconsin is expected between 3 pm Thursday afternoon and 10 pm Thursday evening.

Rain currently falling over parts of southeast Wisconsin, especially from the Milwaukee metro area south to Racine, Kenosha and Delavan will change to snow during the afternoon. The rain and snow line currently extends from around Port Washington to Oconomowoc to Monroe. The rain and snow mix is expected to move westward this morning into the West Bend and Madison areas. During the afternoon, colder air will wrap into the storms circulation, changing the rain and rain/snow mix over to all snow.

Everyone across southern Wisconsin will be impacted by this major winter storm. Expect hazardous travel conditions to develop and continue over the area into Thursday evening. Travel is not recommended over south central Wisconsin today. Rapidly deteriorating conditions is expected during the afternoon in the far southeast.

See the storm's track on an interactive radar map, courtesy of WTMJ4-TV.