Heavy Snow Hits La Crosse, Wisconsin Overnight

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A fast-developing band of moderate to heavy snow will move across northeast Iowa into southwest Wisconsin this evening, producing rapidly changing travel conditions along I-90, U.S. 53, Highway 35 and U.S. 14. The system will intensify between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m., with snowfall rates exceeding 1 inch per hour at times and quick transitions from wet pavement to snow-covered roadways.

Why it matters

The heavy snow and high snowfall rates will make overnight travel increasingly hazardous, with reduced visibility and drifting snow in open terrain. Emergency officials are urging drivers to reconsider late-evening travel and to monitor updates closely.

The details

According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, the heaviest snow totals—generally 1–4 inches—will fall within a narrow corridor where small shifts in the band's placement may dramatically alter amounts. Areas northwest of the main axis, including stretches near U.S. 61, may see abrupt drops in accumulation over short distances. Communities from Decorah to Viroqua and into the La Crosse metro should expect slick conditions on bridges and elevated segments of I-90 as temperatures fall and snow begins to stick. Winds overnight may lift loose, powdery snow across rural highways, especially north of the river where exposed fields allow blowing snow to develop quickly.

• The snow will develop between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. on February 19-20, 2026.
• The heaviest snow is expected to fall during the overnight hours.

What’s next

Additional advisories may be issued if the snow band shifts or intensifies beyond current projections.