Powerful Storm Bringing Snow, Bitter Temps Arrives: WI Weather

MILWAUKEE — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for all of southern Wisconsin as a powerful winter storm bringing at least 6 inches of snow across most of the region is set to hit this weekend.

"The toughest part of the forecast is whether or not a little rain will mix in with the snow at lakeshore locations for the daytime hours of Friday," the NWS acknowledged. "If so, storm totals may be towards the lower end of the range. If not, then the higher end."

Meanwhile, the passing of the storm "will usher in our first true arctic blast of the season," with lows below zero and highs in the single digits with bitter wind chills.

Here's the week-ahead NWS forecast from the Milwaukee Airport:

Friday: Snow before noon, then snow, possibly mixed with rain between noon and 3pm, then snow after 3pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Patchy blowing snow after 8am. High near 34. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches possible.

Friday Night: Snow. Patchy blowing snow. Low around 22. Blustery, with a northeast wind around 20 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Saturday: Snow likely, mainly after noon. Patchy blowing snow. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 18 by 5pm. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow. Patchy blowing snow before 11pm, then patchy blowing snow after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 2. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday: Patchy blowing snow. Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 5. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -6. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

M.L.King Day: Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 3. West wind around 15 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -8.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 4.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -5.

Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 16.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 12.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18.