Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Princeton, WI

UPDATE
Issued 933 PM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Some light snow showers are trying to get going in northeast Wisconsin, with low level frontogenesis response ahead of a southward moving Arctic cold front. This should shift south southeast across the area overnight into early Wednesday morning, with scattered light snow showers moving through at times. These snow showers will be accompanied by gusty northwest winds along and behind the front, which may just blow around any snow trying to accumulate on hard surfaces. A dusting is possible on grassy areas.

There is some potential for the snow to melt on hard surfaces and perhaps freeze quickly as temperatures drop quickly toward early Wednesday morning. This could result in some slick spots on roads for the early morning commute, though this will rely on surface temperatures remaining above freezing for most of the night. At this time, it appears that the front will move through the area overnight as forecast, so not sure if there will be any impacts from this. Will continue to monitor this potential.

Wood

SHORT TERM
Issued 303 PM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Tonight through Wednesday night:

A weak mid level shortwave trough will cross WI late this afternoon and this will just give us some gustier winds and then falling temps (but still above freezing) during the early evening. Another little shortwave that is currently near International Falls, MN will quickly track across the U.P. this evening. There is an Arctic front just behind this feature. One more shortwave, this one much more robust, will swing down through WI and IL overnight into Wed morning. This will push the arctic front (temps abruptly falling below freezing) into northern WI by midnight, central WI by 3 AM, and the WI/IL border by 6 AM.

Expect scattered light snow showers along the front and then some flurries behind it. Some sunshine should peak out by midday as drier air works in. A dusting of snow is expected and will be accompanied by gusty north- northwest winds. If surface temps are above freezing all night, then some adherence of this snow to it while temperatures plummet below freezing during the morning commute could cause a few slick spots. The gusty north winds will persist into Wednesday evening.

Wednesday will be cold. The high temperatures Wednesday will be in the lower 20s. The blustery north winds up to 30 mph will keep wind chills lower, generally in the single digits. Lows Wed nt will be around 10F.

Cronce

LONG TERM
Issued 303 PM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Thursday through Tuesday:

Lighter winds and some sunshine Thursday will allow for highs in the lower to mid 20s. Then an upper trough approaching from the Northern Plains will swing across the Upper Great Lakes Thursday night. Light snow is expected with the weak warm air advection just ahead of the associated surface trough. This lift will help saturate low levels up to 10kft and the temp profile looks fairly uniform at around -8C. A period of light, wet snow is expected across southern WI from late Thursday evening through Friday morning along this trough.

The surface low will slowly make its way across Lake Superior on Friday as the upper low begins to occlude. Modest, gusty west winds are expected over southern WI. Daytime highs will improve to the mid 30s during the day Friday, and there is a chance for lingering light snow showers (or drizzle if we lose ice crystals). Snowfall amounts look light, like up to 2 inches in a 6 hour period. However, we will watch for sneaky frontogenesis bands as the time approaches.

Then a cold front will make its way into southern WI early Friday evening and bring another chance of light snow showers on gusty west winds. Lingering cyclonic flow from the stalled upper low over the eastern States and cold-core high pressure building in from the Northern Plains will keep brisk northwest winds in place over southern WI and the potential for light snow showers.
High temperatures Saturday and Sunday will only be in the teens, with overnight lows in the single digits.

There is uncertainty in snow chances and therefore the temperatures for Sunday through Monday night because of model differences for the arrival time of another upper trough. This cold pattern is expected to remain in place until the middle of next week.

Cronce

AVIATION
Issued 933 PM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

Some light snow showers are trying to get going in northeast Wisconsin, ahead of a southward moving Arctic cold front. This should shift south southeast across the area overnight into early Wednesday morning, with scattered light snow showers moving through at times. These snow showers will be accompanied by gusty northwest winds along and behind the front, which may just blow around any snow trying to accumulate on runways. A dusting is possible on grassy areas. Visibility with these snow showers may vary greatly, perhaps between 2 and 5 miles at times.

There is some potential for the snow to melt on hard surfaces and perhaps freeze quickly as temperatures drop quickly toward early Wednesday morning. This could result in some slick spots on runways for the early morning commute, though this will rely on surface temperatures remaining above freezing for most of the night. At this time, it appears that the front will move through the area overnight as forecast, so not sure if there will be any impacts from this. Will continue to monitor this potential.

Ceilings around 3500 feet AGL or so should drop to around 2000 to 2500 feet AGL overnight into Wednesday morning, before rising above 3500 feet AGL later Wednesday morning into the afternoon.
There may be rising ceilings above 3500 feet AGL toward Sheboygan and eastern terminals later tonight into Wednesday morning. Gusty northwest winds will linger Wednesday into Wednesday evening before weakening later Wednesday night.

Wood

MARINE
Issued 933 PM CST Tue Jan 13 2026

A strong, Arctic cold front will shift southward across Lake Michigan overnight. West winds will become northwest behind the front and will rapidly increase to gale force, with gales lingering into Wednesday evening. Gale Warnings are in effect for all of Lake Michigan. Moderate to occasionally heavy freezing spray is also expected during this time.

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the nearshore waters of Lake Michigan until late tonight, when a Gale Warning goes into effect. The Gale Warning will linger into Wednesday evening for northwest gales.

By late Wednesday night, high pressure around 30.3 inches will build into the Plains, and eventually cross the Upper Great Lakes on Thursday. Low pressure around 29.4 inches will cross Lake Superior on Friday, and stall over the lower Great Lakes Saturday while weakening to around 29.5 inches. Colder air on the back side of the low will overspread Lake Michigan on gusty west winds on Saturday.

A Small Craft Advisory for the nearshore waters may be needed at times later this week into this weekend for gusty winds and building waves.

Cronce/Wood

MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WI...None.
LM
Small Craft Advisory
LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646 until 3 AM Wednesday.

Gale Warning...LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646...3 AM Wednesday to 9 PM Wednesday.

Gale Warning...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565 until midnight Thursday.

Gale Warning...LMZ080-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675- LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876- LMZ878...3 AM Wednesday to midnight Thursday.