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First alert weather day early because of the cold, the next wave of precipitation is coming this weekend
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First alert weather day early because of the cold, the next wave of precipitation is coming this weekend

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – We experienced by far the coldest day of the season so far. Breezy winds with gusts of around 20-25 mph at their peak will cause wind chills to drop to -25° to -30°.

Thursday is the coldest day we will experience in the next week or so, but Friday morning will also be cold. After we warm up, the rain and snow return this weekend.

We now have an air temperature below zero in Wausau for the first time since January 20th of this year. We will continue to have very cold winds basically the rest of the morning. Due to the cold winds, a cold weather warning is in effect until 10am this morning.

Wind chills of -25° to -30° remain the big concern Thursday morning.
Wind chills of -25° to -30° remain the big concern Thursday morning.(WSAW)
It's the first time in nearly a year that the air temperature in Wausau has been below freezing.
It’s the first time in nearly a year that the air temperature in Wausau has been below freezing.(WSAW)
There will be wind chill "Ascension" around -10° to -15° this afternoon.
The wind chill will “increase” to around -10° to -15° this afternoon.(WSAW)

Commuting should be easier today with fewer gusty winds expected today and into Friday morning. Slick spots are most common in the Northwoods, which has experienced lake-effect snowfalls.

The commute to work this morning or this evening is not expected to be difficult.
The commute to work this morning or this evening is not expected to be difficult.(WSAW)

Air temperatures will drop below zero again on Friday morning, but calmer winds will make the cold more “bearable” than Thursday morning (which doesn’t mean much). We’ll peak in the mid to upper teens on Friday afternoon.

A first day alert may be required for Saturday due to the risk of freezing rain.
A first day alert may be required for Saturday due to the risk of freezing rain.(WSAW)
Our next Weathermaker is coming next weekend with mostly snow but some mixed conditions...
Our next Weathermaker is coming next weekend with mostly snow, but mixed conditions are also possible.(WSAW)
Light snow and freezing rain are the biggest things to watch for Saturday.
Light snow and freezing rain are the biggest things to watch for Saturday.(WSAW)

Our next Weathermaker is scheduled to arrive this weekend. Snow will remain the primary precipitation in this system, but freezing rain is also possible. The atmosphere is expected to be warmer higher up than at the surface, allowing rain to fall and freeze when it hits the ground. Whether or not the rain freezes will be a close call as some communities may exceed freezing on Saturday. Total snowfall could be up to 1-3 inches. Due to the possibility of freezing rain, a first day alert may be required in the future. A winter weather warning will also be issued if the chance of freezing rain increases. Stay tuned for more updates.

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