Southern Wisconsin is under a winter weather advisory, with 3 to 5 inches of snow forecast

A winter weather advisory is in effect for southeastern Wisconsin from midday Thursday through midday Friday as a clipper system is expected to bring snow accumulations between 3 and 5 inches to the Milwaukee area.

Thursday’s heaviest snowfall is expected to begin in Milwaukee in the early afternoon and continue into the Friday morning commute, said Milwaukee-Sullivan National Weather Service meteorologist JJ Wood.

Areas north of Milwaukee, including Sheboygan County, are expected to see heavier snowfall around 9 a.m., while areas south — such as Racine and Kenosha counties — likely won’t see heavy snowfall until the afternoon, Wood said. Across southern Wisconsin, light snowfall may occur in the morning, potentially making roads “dusty” for the Thursday morning commute.

Higher snow totals are expected north of Milwaukee, while lower totals are forecast farther south, Wood said.

“Towards the Sheboygan area, Fond du Lac, they could see between 10 and 17 cm. Sheboygan could see a little more as there could be lake strengthening and lake effect snow,” he explained. “Really, all areas near the lake could see lake enlargement and lake effect snow, especially this evening and tomorrow morning.”

Meanwhile, Racine and Kenosha counties are likely to see 2 to 4 inches of snow accumulation, Wood continued. Areas closest to Lake Michigan, including the city of Milwaukee, could see higher amounts of snow Friday morning as the lake improves, he added.

The weather service is urging drivers to exercise caution while commuting during the winter weather advisory. Wood said people can expect Thursday evening commutes to be impacted across southern Wisconsin, and areas near Lake Michigan should also expect an impact to Friday morning commutes.

“We will expect snowy and slippery roads,” he said. “Slow down and definitely give yourself more time to get to your destination. Expect… limited visibility at times.”

A winter storm warning is in effect for central Wisconsin

A winter storm warning is in effect for much of central Wisconsin – including the Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Wausau, Eau Claire and Door County areas – through Friday morning.

“A clipper system will bring the first widespread snowfall to the region this morning through early Friday morning,” NWS said Thursday morning. “A band of 5 to 8 inches is expected from central to northeast Wisconsin during this period. Higher amounts of 7 to 10 inches are forecast near Lake Michigan, where lake expansion is expected. Lower snowfall amounts will occur over north-central Wisconsin.”

The weather service recommends people not drive during the winter storm warning. However, if you must drive, you should keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Motorists should stop by 511wi.gov for road conditions.

What is a Clipper System?

A clipper system is a low-pressure system powered primarily by cold air, said Weather Service meteorologist Michaela Heeren. It is a “slightly faster hitting system” and brings “lighter, fluffier snow”.

As is often the case, the Clipper system will be followed by a cold front this week, she continued. Low temperatures in the teens are forecast Friday night through Saturday, with wind chills in the single digits Saturday morning.

Will there be snow in Milwaukee on Christmas?

This week’s snow accumulations are expected to continue through the weekend, Wood said. The Milwaukee area could see another round of light snow or a rain-snow mix on Monday, but the forecast is not yet certain, he continued.

“As we head into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we’ll be warming up a little bit – around mid to upper 30s on Christmas Eve and maybe around 40s on Christmas Day,” Wood said. “So anything on the ground at this point can melt. I’m not sure at this point, it depends on how much we get today and if we get some more on Monday.”

Weather warnings for Wisconsin

Wisconsin weather radar

This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 3 to 5 inches of snow expected in Milwaukee, under Winter Weather Advisory