Winter weather likely to affect driving conditions Monday – Winter Weather Advisory in effect but warmer weather on the way

A Winter Weather Advisory will be going into effect at 9 AM Monday morning, December 23, 2024, however conditions that have warranted the advisory are trending down. This is because precipitation was expected to start closer to 6 AM, but dry air is keeping any precipitation from starting at this time. It was the early morning precipitation that was expected to be freezing drizzle, but with the later start come temperatures that will be warming during the day, so we seem to be looking at more of a wintery mix rather than freezing drizzle.

The National Weather Service says they will be watching the initial precipitation that does fall and MAY be able to end the Winter Weather Advisory early, depending on how things go. This doesn’t mean you can let your guard down, however, if you will be out driving today. There could be some pockets of roadway that are still cold enough to freeze any rain that falls, causing scattered slippery spots.

This activity is the result of two low pressure areas passing by. The stronger of the two is centered up in Canada near Hudson Bay. That low has a cold front trailing through the area that’s helping with lift in the atmosphere causing an area of precipitation. This lift is being further enhanced by a weaker low pressure passing over southern Wisconsin today.

Neither of these are expected to create a significant amount of precipitation, however, and should be through the area by this evening.

High pressure then settles in Christmas Eve and Christmas night resulting in partly to mostly cloudy skies, but dry conditions.

High pressure then settles in Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, resulting in partly to mostly cloudy skies, but dry conditions.

High temperatures will stay consistent in the low to mid 30s through Wednesday, but then will warm slightly as air wrapping around the backside of the high pressure from the south will advect some warmer air into the area. We could break 40 degrees on Thursday with a slight chance of scattered drizzle as a result of a weak upper level disturbance passing through.

Temperatures will continue to be warmer than normal into the weekend as a series of low pressure systems passes to our northwest, keeping us on the warm side of these storm systems. The first one moves in Friday bringing us rain during the day, followed by another Sunday morning, keeping rain in the forecast all weekend, with mild temperatures possibly reaching the upper 40s Saturday.