Weather expected to be 'a mess,' Thursday, with snow, rain and freezing drizzle possible across southern Wisconsin

A storm that is dropping snow across the northern half of Wisconsin on Thursday will bring a mess of wintry weather to metro Milwaukee beginning with light snow, then rain, then freezing drizzle across the region.  

"We think that as we go into the afternoon hours, our chances for snow will increase," said Cameron Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sullivan.

For southern Wisconsin, the most snow — maybe a trace to 2 inches — is likely north of I-94. The Milwaukee metro area is likely to see only a dusting of snow.

Then, "that (snow) will change to rain as we go throughout the day. As we go into the evening hours, we will see some of that rain pull away," Miller said. "Then freezing drizzle will take its place. 

"It looks to be a combination of different wintry weather types today," for southern Wisconsin, Miller added.

Non-meteorologists would call that a mess.

"We call it a mess, too," Miller said. 

Here is the best estimate of when — and what — will fall across southern Wisconsin on Thursday:

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Light snow. 

1 p.m. until early evening, maybe 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.: Rain. 

After 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.: "That's when we start to see the transition from rain to freezing drizzle," Miller said. "That should linger into the early morning hours," likely ending by about 2 a.m.

A light glaze of ice is possible, especially in areas away from Lake Michigan, Miller said. There may be some slick spots on area roads and highways.

Milwaukee road crews are already out treating streets with a de-icing brine in anticipation of the weather turning messy. 

"We began anti-icing citywide with brine this morning and will be complete tomorrow," Brian DeNeve, a spokesman for the Milwaukee Department of Public Works, said in an email. "This is a proactive approach done in advance of snow to prevent the snow from bonding to the pavement." 

Look for more of the same weather Friday into Saturday, with a mixed bag of winter weather, Miller said. 

Sunday should see somewhat calmer weather. 

Attention then turns to a storm system expected to impact the Midwest on Monday. 

As of Thursday morning, it looks as if the storm system will take a southern track, keeping Wisconsin out of the much of the precipitation. The current track of the storm would maybe drop a dusting of snow on Racine and Kenosha counties, Miller said. 

"The lion's share of the snow should be down south over parts of Illinois and Indiana," Miller said. "That's at least what it looks like right now." 

But the track of the storm could shift, possibly bringing the chances for snow further north.

"We're definitely keeping an eye on it," Miller said.  

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.