Quiet night before cooler temperatures and some showers arrive on Saturday

WH AT WE A RE T RA C K IN G: A couple of systems bring more middle to end of October-like temperatures, some showers, and windy conditions for the weekend and for the start of the new work week.

NEXT 24 HOURS: Warm to mild conditions expected through the evening with some high cloud cover. Northwest winds may gust above 20 mph north of La Crosse behind a cold front that will continue to shift south through the afternoon. Southwest winds will turn to the northwest south of La Crosse this afternoon.  Temperatures will lower into the 50s later this evening before falling into the 40s by early Saturday morning.  Although skies start mostly clear, they will end the night mostly cloudy as clouds increase ahead of a weak system approaching the area. As this weak system quickly moves through the area on Saturday, a few showers or narrow areas of very light rain will develop.  The most likely areas to see some of these showers or light rain are along or NE of I-94.  Any rain amounts will be very light.  Cloud cover decreases late in the day as temperatures climb into the upper 50s north of Eau Claire to the upper 60s near the Wisconsin River.  These high temperatures are closer to average for this time of the year.

LOOKING AHEA D: After, yet stronger, system dives south into northwestern WI late Saturday, bringing showers, much cooler temperatures, and windy conditions on Sunday. With the low pressure center near the Michigan/Wisconsin border, most showers (maybe even a few storms) will center along or north of I-94. The low's position will also result in gusty northern winds throughout the day. High temperatures will struggle to reach 50 north of Eau Claire, with remaining areas in the middle to upper 50s. These below-average temperatures continue Monday and Tuesday before milder conditions return for the second half of the work week and the following weekend (middle 60s to middle 70s).  A system brings decent rain chances back to the area by the weekend and the first part of the following work week. High temperatures will fall back some but remain above average after this system passes. For most locations, frost or hard freezes are likely early next week as low temperatures will be in the 20s.

DROUGHT UPDATE: Abnormally dry conditions continue to expand across the area with NE Iowa and NE Wisconsin in moderate or even severe drought as 30-day rainfall totals are running from 25 to 50% of average.  Soil moisture is running short or very short in most of the region.  Extended outlook does not favor wet conditions through the remaining half of October.

COPYRIGHT 2024 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.