Winter weather advisory issued for 'burst' of snow in Milwaukee; Arctic air preparing to sweep across Wisconsin

The workweek has arrived with snow across Wisconsin, to be followed by much colder temperatures across the state. 

Almost the entire state is under a winter weather advisory, with a portion of the far northwest under a winter storm warning.

Here's what is happening across the state:

Quick burst of snow, arctic cold on the way

The National Weather Service in Sullivan has issued a winter weather advisory for all of southern Wisconsin from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. The advisory includes the Milwaukee metro area. 

"A line of snow showers will sweep across southern Wisconsin this afternoon," the weather service said in a statement. "Significantly reduced visibilities with a quick burst of snow will result in the potential of some slushy accumulations."

Total snow accumulations will be less than an inch in southeast Wisconsin, the weather service said.

"Our biggest concern with it would be a sudden drop in visibility," said Cameron Miller, a meteorologist with the weather service in Sullivan. "Then, there is the potential for some flash-freezing, especially on sidewalks and walkways."

The snow could last into the evening commute, Miller said.

"That is another reason why we issued the advisory," with snow expected to move west to east, reaching the Lake Michigan shoreline between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., he said. 

A big change is then headed for the state, as colder air arrives.

For the southeast, "Precipitation will quickly diminish tonight as cold, dry air pushes into the area," the weather service said. "Additionally, strong gusty winds will develop late this afternoon/evening behind the cold front."

That cold front will usher in much colder temperatures for the next couple days. The high temperature on Wednesday for the Milwaukee area is forecast to be around 16 degrees. 

Meanwhile, forecasters will be watching forecast models, some of which are indicating a snowstorm for southern Wisconsin early next week.

It is "certainly way too far off to get too concerned/excited for snow, but it is a system that will have to be watched over the next week," the weather service said in a statement.

Winter weather advisory central, northeast

A winter weather advisory is in effect for almost all of the state on Monday. 

Among the cities included in the advisory are Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Wausau, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Plover, New London, Waupaca, Shawano, Clintonville, Redgranite, and Wautoma.

A band of snow is expected to move across central Wisconsin on Monday afternoon.

"As this band of snow moves across the region, the snow may be heavy at times with visibilities below one half mile across north-central into northeast Wisconsin," the weather service office in Green Bay said in a statement.

The advisory is in effect until 6 p.m.

"Plan on slippery road conditions," the weather service said in a statement. "The hazardous conditions may impact the Monday morning commute and will likely impact the evening commute."

Among major highways in the state, I-94 from Black River Falls to the Minnesota border was reported to be snow covered, as are most roads and highways in northwest Wisconsin at midday.

Across much of the rest of the state, good winter driving conditions were reported at midday. 

The cold will grip central Wisconsin. In Wausau, the high temperature on Tuesday is forecast to be 6 degrees and the low Tuesday night is forecast to be -10. Similar temperatures are forecast throughout central Wisconsin, according to the weather service. 

Winter storm warning northwest

Northwest Wisconsin is under a winter storm warning. Among the cities included in the warning are Grantsburg, Spooner and Hayward. Another 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected during the day on Monday.

The cold air will grip northern Wisconsin. The forecast for Hayward is for the temperature to hit -15 degrees below zero on Tuesday night.     

Contact Joe Taschler at (414) 224-2554 or jtaschler@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeTaschler or Facebook at facebook.com/joe.taschler.1.