• NEXT 12 HOURS: Rain likely, switching to snow late
• SHORT TERM: Very heavy snowfall north, gusty winds
• LONG TERM: Cooling off, more snow this weekend

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - Big changes are on the way for the travel days leading up to and after Thanksgiving. First Alert Weather Days have been declared for parts of the area due to accumulating snow, strong winds, and hazardous travel conditions.

We will start out Tuesday with rain across the region. In addition, dense fog will be possible across the region. Fog should lift late in the morning. This rain will be fairly consistent throughout most of the day until later on in the afternoon. Late Tuesday night is when snowfall is expected to pick up, and an increase in snowfall potential has prompted First Alert Weather Days in the Northwoods for Tuesday night and all of Wednesday.

What’s coming up

Rain showers Tuesday evening in the north will mix with and change to snow/snow showers overnight into early Wednesday morning. Lake effect snow and snow showers will impact locations near and north of Highway 64 with accumulations ranging from 1-3″ near Highway 29, 3-6″ near Highway 64 and north up to Highway 8, 6-12″ from Rhinelander on north, and higher amounts in the lake effect snow belts of Vilas County, as well as up to Ashland and Iron Counties. Some places could receive more than a foot or two of snow.

In Central Wisconsin, rain showers are expected Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night, followed by a lull in the precipitation late Tuesday night. As colder air works in and low pressure tracks to the east, snow showers are expected from Wednesday morning into the afternoon. Although accumulations will be lighter compared to up north, slippery and snow coated roads are possible, along with reduced visibility at times due to the strong winds on Wednesday. Wind gusts on Wednesday up to 45 mph are expected. Isolated power outages could occur.

Temperatures on Wednesday will peak just after midnight in the upper 30s to low 40s, dropping to around freezing by daybreak, then into the mid 20s for Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Looking ahead

Lake effect snow and snow showers will persist in the far north into Thanksgiving. In the rest of the region, it will be mostly cloudy, brisk, and rather chilly on Thanksgiving. Bundle up if you will be taking part in a Turkey Trot event. Highs will top out, on Thursday, in the mid 20s; although, wind chills will range from the single digits in the morning to the 10s in the afternoon.

Snow will not cause nearly as much impacts by the time we reach Black Friday, but air temperatures will also be much colder. Starting on Thanksgiving, we will not be hitting 30° again, for highs, for what could be a little while. In addition, the gusty winds will cause the wind chill to drop back between 10-20° during Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and single digits both Thursday and Friday mornings.

More clouds than sun Friday and still chilly. A First Alert next weekend for chances of snow showers on Saturday, especially south and east of Wausau, as well as on Sunday. Highs in the mid to upper 20s. Another First Alert for a blast of colder air starting the new work week on Monday. Highs might not make it out of the teens.

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