The next several days are going to make for some interesting weather across southern Wisconsin, with a forecast that features record setting high temperatures on Tuesday, wet, heavy snow Wednesday, and a return to single-digit temperatures by Thursday.
“We’re talking about highs into the 50s, I would say anywhere from 52 to 56, maybe even upper 50s in the southern tier of counties,” said meteorologist Brian Olson with WKOW in Madison. He said the record high temperature for Madison on January 29th was 53, set in 1914.
The mild temps will only last the day, as a cold front moves in. “Less than 24 hours after we hit a record high, we’re talking about wind and snow and falling temperatures,” said Olson. “At this point, 2 to 4 inches is looking likely across the area. That’s something that’s going to have to be watched. If that front slows down a little more, amounts could be a little higher than that.”
The wet, heavy snow will be accompanied by plunging temperatures. Olson said the cold air is pooling over northwestern Canada. “This morning a saw wind chills of 70 below, and actual temperatures of 58 below zero,” he said. The drop from Tuesday to Thursday will be a roughly 45 degree swing in less than 48 hours.
