Up to 2 inches of snow forecast for Milwaukee Sunday morning following warm temperatures last week

Light snowfall is in the forecast Sunday morning with a possible accumulation of two to three inches of snow into the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters say temperatures will get up into the upper 30s with breezy northwest winds around 15 miles per hour on Sunday. Snow should start to melt in southeast Wisconsin around 1 p.m. as temps continue to climb toward the upper 30s, said NWS meteorologist Andrew Quigley.

Roads are expected to become slick and snow covered on I-43 from Elkhorn to Milwaukee on Sunday morning, according to the NWS. As of 8:30 a.m. most roads in the area are already partially covered in areas across southwestern Wisconsin, according to WisDOT. For the most up-to-date road conditions, visit 511wi.gov.

Temperatures are expected to fall back below freezing tonight, which could refreeze any precipitation on the roadways, but by late Monday morning and into the afternoon, temperatures are forecasted to hit the 50s.

“Welcome to March in Wisconsin,” said Quigley.

Tomorrow marks the start of a warming trend through Tuesday, before another system moves in on Wednesday with rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Temperatures are forecasted to fall into the upper 30s by Thursday, according to the NWS.

Tips for driving on icy roads

Here are some guidelines for driving on icy roads, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation:

• Keep safe distances between snow plows and large trucks. Snow plows often leave a cloud of snow in their trail, so stay at least 200 feet behind any working plow to make sure your visibility isn’t obscured. Also keep a safe distance behind trucks on the highway, since pieces of snow or ice can fly off the top of commercial vehicles driving fast.
• Clear snow and ice from your vehicle’s windows, roof, hood and front and rear lights. You can do this by warming up the car and then using a snow brush and ice scraper to clear the snow and ice.
• Drive slowly, allowing extra travel time and leaving extra distance between vehicles. Most winter crashes and slide-offs are caused by drivers going too fast for the existing conditions, according to WisDOT.
• Turn on your low-beam headlights. State law requires drivers to turn on their vehicle’s low-beam headlights any time weather or other conditions make it difficult to see objects 500 feet ahead, WisDOT says.
• Use brakes early and carefully. With anti-lock-brakes, use firm, steady pressure and gently steer. Never use cruise control in winter weather.
• Watch out for bridge decks and overpasses. These areas can be especially slippery when the roads ice over.

2024 was Milwaukee’s warmest year, overtaking 2023, according to National Weather Service