WAUSAU — Residents already weary of winter conditions are bracing for yet another strong storm system predicted to bring snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the area.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch effective from Friday evening through Sunday night for more than a dozen counties including Marathon. The current storm track favors widespread wintry precipitation across central and northern Wisconsin, with strong northeast winds developing on Saturday.
Bands of rain will shift north across the area today, becoming mixed with or changing to snow later in the day, according to the National Weather Service. Cold air will strengthen its grip on the area tonight, resulting in snow across the north and freezing rain with sleet over central Wisconsin. Rain is likely to change to freezing rain and sleet overnight.
On Saturday, expect some lulls in precipitation until additional bands of heavy precipitation arrive in the evening. Hazardous travel conditions are expected to develop Friday and continue throughout the weekend, becoming treacherous at times, especially Saturday night into Sunday evening.
The latest storm predictions show total snow accumulations of between 6 and 12 inches, with the highest totals expected in northeast Wisconsin.
