Much of Wisconsin is headed for an early winter warm-up this week, but it’s not likely to be something to be enjoyed. “It’s definitely going to provide a variety of weather problems for folks in southern Wisconsin, and not much enjoyment of the warmth when it comes to the fog and the rain on the front end, and definitely could cause a lot of travel problems . . . on the back end, with everything freezing up,” according to Bob McMahon, senior forecaster with the National Weather Service in Sullivan.
Rain, and temperature in the low forties by Thursday and Friday, will bring problems. “We are looking at a very good potential for a prolonged period of very dense fog as that warm air starts to go over the snow,” said McMahon. “The second problem will be the snow melt adding to the rivers and streams.” With the ground frozen, there’s no place for that meltwater to go except into rivers and streams, meaning flooding and ice dams will be a real possibility. McMahon said the mess of Thursday and Friday will give way to falling temperatures for the weekend. “Any standing water as of Friday night into Saturday when the cold front comes through . . . you’re going to be looking at any wet areas freezing.”