Milwaukee weather today: Winter Storm Warning brings heavy snow and dangerous travel through Sunday

Bassyonni

ago 53 minutes

Milwaukee weather

Milwaukee weather turns high-impact this weekend as a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect, bringing heavy, wind-driven snow, slick roads, and rapidly deteriorating visibility. Snow intensifies through Saturday afternoon and evening with plowable totals by day’s end, then lingers into early Sunday before an arctic snap grips the region next week. If you have errands or travel plans, build in extra time or consider delaying until conditions improve.

Winter Storm Warning: timing and expected totals

A Winter Storm Warning runs from Saturday 6:00 a.m. to Sunday 6:00 a.m. CST for Milwaukee and surrounding southeast Wisconsin counties. The storm will produce widespread heavy snow with storm totals in the 8–11 inch range across the metro, with locally higher bands possible where snow rates peak. The worst conditions align with Saturday afternoon and evening, when steady moderate-to-heavy snow combines with occasional gusts to create blowing and drifting and sharply reduced visibility.

Storm timeline (CST)

Saturday morning (6 a.m.–noon): Light to moderate snow overspreads the area; roads turn slick, visibility drops at times.
Saturday afternoon–evening (noon–10 p.m.): Peak impacts. Snow rates may briefly exceed 1 inch per hour in heavier bands. Travel becomes difficult; expect slowdowns and scattered spinouts.
Overnight into early Sunday (10 p.m.–6 a.m.): Snow gradually tapers; blowing snow lingers, especially in open areas near the lake.
Sunday midday onward: Gradual improvement, but cold, wind, and areas of blowing/drifting snow persist.

Today’s Milwaukee forecast: temperatures, wind, and feel

Saturday high: Near 36°F (2°C) with a raw, wintry feel.
Saturday night low: Around 30°F (-1°C).
Winds: Increasingly breezy; gusts will periodically reduce visibility and push snow back onto cleared surfaces.
Snow type: Predominantly wet, heavy snow at first, turning fluffier later as colder air deepens—this shift can boost totals and drifting.

Wet, dense snowfall will tax shovels and snowblowers; take frequent breaks and clear sidewalks in stages rather than waiting until the storm ends. As temperatures slip, slush will refreeze into ruts and icy patches, particularly on untreated side streets and bridges.

Sunday: lingering snow early, then colder and blustery

Sunday high: Near 34°F (1°C) with clouds, wind, and areas of blowing snow.
Sunday low: Plunging toward 15°F (-10°C) by night, ushering in a much colder pattern.
Impacts: Expect morning travel hazards from leftover snow and refreeze; conditions improve through the afternoon, but winds can keep visibility changeable in open corridors.

Early next week: Milwaukee weather turns sharply colder

A notable arctic shot follows this storm. Monday looks like the coldest day since last winter, with highs only in the mid-20s°F (-4°C) and wind chills in the teens. The chill holds Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs stuck in the low-to-mid 20s°F (-5°C) and occasional flurries. Another bitter morning is possible midweek with single-digit wind chills. Late week moderates slightly, but temperatures remain below normal.

5-day snapshot

Mon: Cloudy, quite cold; high 24°F (-4°C).
Tue: Very cold with limited sun; high 23°F (-5°C).
Wed: Cloudy, a few flurries; high 27°F (-3°C), morning wind chills near 0–10°F (-18 to -12°C).
Thu: Bitterly cold sunshine; high 17°F (-8°C).
Fri: Not as cold, thick clouds; high 28°F (-2°C).

Travel and safety tips during the Winter Storm Warning

Rethink timing: If possible, finish essential trips before the Saturday afternoon peak.
Slow down: Even treated roads can be slick; give plows and emergency crews extra space.
Visibility mindset: Gusts can quickly drop visibility to near-whiteout in open stretches—use low beams and increase following distance.
Snow load: Wet snow is heavy; shovel in layers and lift with your legs.
Vehicle kit: Keep a scraper/brush, phone charger, blankets, water, and nonperishable snacks in your car.
Home prep: Clear storm drains, check batteries in flashlights, and keep walkways treated to prevent refreeze.

What to watch next

Milwaukee weather attention shifts from accumulation to cold hazards by late Sunday: icy surfaces, wind chills, and lingering blowing snow. Side streets and sidewalks may refreeze nightly through midweek. Another clipper-type disturbance could brush the region with light snow during the cold stretch; confidence is lower on timing and amounts, so updates may evolve. For now, the headline remains the same: hazardous travel through early Sunday, followed by multiple days of midwinter cold.