Strong low could bring heavy rain and severe storms to Wisconsin Friday

article

MILWAUKEE - A strong storm system moving out of the Plains will bring widespread rain and thunderstorms to Wisconsin on Friday with periods of heavier rainfall possible into Friday night.

The system will tap into warm and moist air surging northward into the Upper Midwest, creating a mild but unsettled end to the workweek.

Rain and thunder Friday

Timeline:

Three rounds of t-storms are possible on Friday. Round 1: 9am-1pm with heavy rain and embedded t-storms. Widespread severe weather is not expected. Round 2: 2pm-5pm Friday. Low confidence in this round forming. But a few strong storms will be possible. A break is expected from 5pm-11pm. The third round of storms will develop after 11pm Friday. The third round could be strong to severe with gusty winds, hail and a few tornadoes.

As a warm front lifts north through southern Wisconsin on Friday morning, gusty southerly winds will develop and bring a round of showers and thunderstorms. Most of these morning storms will likely remain elevated in the atmosphere, meaning widespread severe weather is not expected during the early part of the day.

By Friday night, temperatures could climb  into the 60s across southern Wisconsin, which would be unusually warm for early March. If breaks of sunshine develop and weaken the atmospheric cap, a few storms could become stronger with the potential for hail and gusty winds. Another round of thunderstorms may develop late Friday night as a cold front approaches.

Cold front arrives Saturday

What we know:

A cold front trailing the storm system is expected to sweep through Wisconsin early Saturday morning. Rain will gradually end behind the front as the system moves toward the Great Lakes and eastern Canada.

Despite the frontal passage, temperatures will remain relatively mild for early March with southwest winds returning Sunday and early next week.

Higher risk farther south

Dig deeper:

The same system is expected to produce significant severe weather across parts of the central United States.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of the southern and central Plains into the lower to mid-Missouri Valley under an Enhanced Risk for severe storms Friday and Friday night. Storms there have a higher chance of producing large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.

A powerful mid-level jet and strong wind shear will create favorable conditions for severe storms across that region during the afternoon and evening.