335 FXUS63 KARX 101855 AFDARXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 155 PM CDT Fri Oct 10 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Areas of frost are possible for portions of central to north- central Wisconsin tonight. Otherwise, clear to mostly clear skies and dry conditions expected through early Sunday.
- The next shot for showers comes late Sunday into Monday (30-60%), but minimal impacts are expected.
- Primarily seasonable temperatures continue through Monday, but more uncertainty in the forecast comes by the middle of next week.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 153 PM CDT Fri Oct 10 2025
Areas of Frost, Clear Skies, and Dry Conditions
A surface cold front has been marching through the Upper Midwest this afternoon, currently situated from southwest to northeast Wisconsin, with high pressure sinking southward in its wake. Drier air advecting into the region under northwest flow in conjunction with the high pressure will keep our skies clear this afternoon through much of Saturday with dry conditions through the same timeframe.
A threat for frost exists for portions of central to north- central Wisconsin overnight into Saturday morning as favorable conditions for efficient nocturnal cooling will exist under the high pressure and clear skies, so temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30s for these areas. These favorable conditions combined with light winds under the inversion should support frost development.
Next Shot For Showers
A negatively tilted shortwave trough ejects into the Northern Plains Sunday. Warm, moist air advects northward into the Upper Midwest ahead of this feature, although the 850hPa thermal ridge axis and associated moisture transport are currently expected to focus over Minnesota, largely west of our area as drier air remains situated further east. As such, ensemble guidance continues its trend towards drier conditions through much of Sunday with only 10-20% of the 10.00z LREF members hinting at isolated afternoon showers in southeast Minnesota. Otherwise, breezy conditions are anticipated west of the Mississippi River Sunday associated with the synoptically induced low level jet moving within the warm air advection regime.
Late Sunday into Monday morning, a surface cold front will quickly move eastward through the region, bringing with it greater potential for showers (30-60%). Some subtle variations remain amongst the 10.00z LREF members regarding timing and amounts, but an overall solid consensus exists regarding the overnight time period and amounts of 0.1-0.2 inches.
Seasonable Temperatures Through Monday and Increased Uncertainty
Primarily seasonable temperatures remain in place through the weekend and into the new week apart from Sunday. High temperatures reach into the low 70s for areas west of the Mississippi River and south of I-90 on Sunday as the aforementioned warm air advects northward, generally 5-10 degrees above normal. With the passage of the cold front Monday morning, highs fall back into the upper 50s to low 60s through mid week.
By midweek, uncertainty increases in the overall upper level pattern and thus the the eventual surface conditions. The 10.06z GEFS/ENS ensemble means highlight a low amplitude ridge situated over the eastern 2/3rds of the United States providing generally dry conditions through roughly the middle of the week. Looking to their deterministic counterparts, they diverge quickly with regard to various shortwave impulses traversing said low amplitude ridge, leading to the aforementioned uncertainty in how the weather for the new week will ultimately play out. However, based upon the 10.00z LREF, the next best chance for precipitation looks to be around Thursday.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1218 PM CDT Fri Oct 10 2025
VFR conditions are expected through the TAF period with mostly clear skies. Winds will begin the TAF period from the north-northwest at 10-15 kts but lessen to around 5 kts after sunset. Occasional gusts up to around 20 kts will be possible west of the Mississippi River in unsheltered locations this afternoon.
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.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None.
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DISCUSSION...Falkinham AVIATION...Naylor
NWS ARX Office Area Forecast Discussion