Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS La Crosse, WI
Issued by NWS La Crosse, WI
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546 FXUS63 KARX 191949 AFDARX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 149 PM CST Wed Nov 19 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Patchy to areas of drizzle tonight into Thursday morning. - Above normal temperatures into early next week with highs generally in the upper 40s to low 50s. - Potential change in the upper level flow pattern next week could allow for a more active weather pattern when it comes to precipitation. Near normal to slightly below normal temperatures are also looking likely for the second half of next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 149 PM CST Wed Nov 19 2025 Today-Thursday: Drizzle Deep low level saturation (lowest 3 to 5kft based on HRRR and RAP soundings) causing low cloud decks, will linger through at least Thursday morning across much of the CWA. At the same time, warm air advection and this low cloud cover will help to keep our temperatures relatively steady overnight with temperatures mainly in the mid to upper 30s to near 40 degrees. Between now and Thursday afternoon when a weak cold front moves through the area, a few ripples will move through the region. These can be seen by looking at the vorticity signature in different models. The timing for these ripples is late this evening through Thursday. As these little waves move through, RAP and HRRR soundings are showing lift in the lowest levels indicating that very light precipitation, drizzle, could fall. As a result have continued mentioning drizzle for much of the forecast area during the overnight and morning period. Something to monitor is that with temperatures hovering around freezing for Taylor County and portions of northeastern Clark County this evening, freezing drizzle could be possible. There are a couple of things to are against it such as not enough lift in the low levels and ice largely remains present in the column, however there is a little break this evening when some ice does the column that freezing drizzle could occur. For now have left it out, but again, can`t rule it out. Drizzle could continue into the afternoon until the cold front moves. Friday-Wednesday: Above Normal Temperatures and Mostly Dry Into Early Next Week with Some Precipitation Chances Tuesday Northwest flow aloft and a split upper level flow pattern will be over the region into early next week. As a result, not much is expected in the way of precipitation. A couple of waves do move through this weekend but the GEFS and EPS have only a few members suggesting measurable precipitation. Temperatures generally stay 5 to 10 degrees above normal and by Sunday and Monday temperatures warm up a little more to be 10 to 15 degrees above normal. This translates to highs in the upper 40s to mid 50s for both days. Heading into Tuesday, a low comes into the Upper Midwest from the Desert Southwest. There are still differences in timing and location for this low, but the general consensus is that most of the EPS members (70 to 80%) continue to show measurable precipitation over the forecast area while over the last couple of runs, the number of GEFS members showing precipitation has gradually increased to roughly 40%. After Tuesday, northwest flow returns as a longwave trough moves into the Upper Midwest. With this flow pattern, an active weather pattern could return as we head into Thanksgiving and the following weekend, as this pattern makes it easier for shortwaves to push into the region and increase precipitation chances. One thing that models do have a pretty good agreement on is the push of colder air coming later next week. Ensemble and deterministic guidance are all showing cooler air coming down with the longwave trough and staying over the Upper Midwest into next weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1157 AM CST Wed Nov 19 2025 Another day of Low MVFR/IFR impacts continues across the region with ceilings sitting generally 0.5-1kft and areas of visibility reductions to 2-5SM associated with mist. LIFR ceilings are noted for some areas, primarily higher elevations and those located west of the Mississippi River although expectations are for these to improve to IFR through the afternoon. There is some potential for drizzle overnight into Thursday morning (10-30%), mainly for areas along and north of I-90, but additional impacts to the current low flight categories will be minimal for most locations. However, fog is possible again overnight for areas north of I-94, which combined with visibility reductions associated with the drizzle would result in IFR/LIFR visibilities for these locations. Conditions begin to slowly improve Thursday afternoon as drier air begins to move into the area. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Cecava AVIATION...Falkinham