Update: Rain and Icing Tonight

Light to moderate rain will continue overnight into tomorrow morning.  There still remains the chance for light icing across the northern counties; however, any ice accumulation would be less than 0.10".  Light icing could create slick roads, especially elevated surfaces like bridges and overpasses.

The majority of the area will continue to see rain and temperatures well above 32.


8 PM Update:

Take a look at the rainfall totals for today.  Milwaukee has already picked up over a half an inch with more on the way.


This is a problem because we have received reports of some localized flooding.  The NWS has issued a Flood Advisory for the areas hardest hit by rainfall this evening.


Some light icing was reported across Fond du Lac county earlier this evening; however, temperatures have slowly risen just above 32.  We do expect a gradual drop in temperature late tonight with light icing to continue.

6 PM Update:  Rain and embedded storms will continue across the area.  We are watching the temperatures in Dodge, Sheboygan, and Fond du Lac counties closely this evening.

Light freezing rain and drizzle remains possible in those areas after 9 pm.


4 PM Update:

In addition to the rain this evening, dense fog will also be an issue with lower visibility.  Please use your headlights.  The lack of wind will create fog conditions all night long.

Temperatures within the winter weather advisory area remain just above freezing as of 4 pm; however, we do expect those temperatures to fall below 32 after sundown.  Patchy freezing rain and drizzle will be expected within the advisory.





2 PM Update:

Heavy rainfall is likely tonight and throughout the day on Tuesday.  There are two distinct weather stories going on over the next 24 hours: the chance for flooding and the chance for freezing rain.

Most of the area will pick up between 1" and 2" of rain through early Wednesday morning.  Normally the ground can handle that; however, with the melting snow and the saturated ground, extra runoff will produce rising streams and creeks.  A flood watch is in effect for most of the area until 6 am Wednesday.


The second part of the story will be freezing surface temperatures tonight.  There is a winter weather advisory for Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, and Dodge counties until 3 pm Tuesday.

Between 9 pm and tonight and 9 am Tuesday, the surface temperature within the advisory could drop below freezing.  This would create light icing.

Up to 0.20" of icing is expected.  Thankfully the wind won't be strong, so any power disruptions would be minor and isolated.  Slick roads will be a concern, especially elevated surfaces like bridge and overpasses.  Travel into Tuesday morning could be very slick and hazardous across the advisory area.

After 9 am surface temperatures will warm above freezing and the freezing rain threat will turn to rain.


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10AM Update - Scattered showers are starting to develop around the area.  Nothing is in the wintry mix phase quite yet, but there will be that possibility later this afternoon and evening.  Don't be surprised to hear a few rumbles of thunder or small hail. 


6AM Update - Rain right now is tracking into northern Illinois, and this is the precipitation that will be our main weather maker later this morning and this afternoon.  A few t'storms are possible in the southern tier of the viewing area.  The main concern with this forecast continues to be where the freeze line will sit, and how much rain could pull in by Wednesday morning.  The freeze line is still showing up north of Milwaukee in the northern corner of the viewing area.  Rainfall totals from Milwaukee south could be between one and two inches. 


4AM Update - Sheboygan and Dodge Counties are now under Winter Weather Advisories while Fond du Lac is the only county in our viewing area under the Ice Storm Warning.  Washington County's WWA has been allowed to cancel with the threat of possibly more rain than winter weather.  The Flood Watch for Milwaukee west and south is unchanged.


An Ice Storm Warning is in effect for the northern parts of our viewing area starting later today through tomorrow evening. There’s the potential to see over 0.25” of ice which will cause dangerous road conditions and power outages. The last time southeastern Wisconsin was under an Ice Storm Warning was April of 2013. The best ice potential will be over parts of Dodge, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan Counties, and north and west.


With warmer temperatures and better spring dynamics, rain along with flooding will be possible from Milwaukee west and south. The NWS has issued a Flood Watch for a chunk of the area including Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Walworth, Racine and Kenosha from 6pm today through 6am Wednesday. The risk of flooding will be there with as much as 2” of rain falling in some spots. The heaviest rainfall takes place overnight tonight and Tuesday morning with thunderstorms possible.


A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Washington County from 6pm Monday until 6pm Tuesday with the threat of wintry weather during that timeframe. Rain, sleet, freezing rain, and even some heavy downpours will all be possible. Ozaukee County is the only county in the viewing area not under any weather alerts; however, keep an eye on changing weather conditions as the same threats apply to you as Washington County.


Dangerous driving conditions are likely with this incoming ice storm. Icing will cause terrible roads and power outages are also possible. If you don’t have to drive, please stay home until this passes.


Make sure to clean out your eaves troughs, drains, and prepare your sump pumps for this rainfall.


For more updates on this changing storm, please download the CBS58 Ready Weather App.

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