Posted on 12/09/2009 9:20:26 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
MADISON, WI - A combination of heavy snow, strong wind and freezing rain continued to pound Wisconsin early Wednesday as many residents attempt to dig out.
Heavy snow and strong winds pummeled Wisconsin overnight as a major snowstorm crept across southern Wisconsin on Tuesday night. The storm has caused widespread power outages, hundreds of school closings and treacherous travel for those braving the roadways. State offices and the University of Wisconsin campuses are closed as well.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the southwest corner of the state through Wednesday evening.
The Wisconsin State Patrol said as many as a dozen tractor-trailer trucks became stuck on interstate ramps where Interstate 39, I-90 and I-94 intersect near Madison. Patrol communications operator Lance Thomas said the heavy snow made the ramps impassible.
All Madison Mero Bus services are canceled for Wednesday.
We Energies worked Wednesday to restore power to 26,000 customers around southeastern Wisconsin. Utility spokesman Barry McNulty said the snow and high wind knocked down power lines and tree limbs. McNulty says hundreds of crew members were out in the storm working to restore service.
Forecasters expected 9 to 16 inches of snow to fall in parts of Wisconsin. The National Weather Service said some parts of the state are expected to get 15 inches of snow, with most likely to fall Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for the southwest corner of the state through Wednesday evening.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Jim Doyle declared a pre-emptive state of emergency across Wisconsin. The governor said the declaration was a precaution. The declaration means in part that certain members of the Wisconsin National Guard could be activated if necessary. Doyle's declaration comes in the wake of a major 2008 storm that left thousands of motorists stranded between Madison and Janesville, some for 12 hours.
Doyle ordered state government offices and all University of Wisconsin campuses closed on Wednesday morning, except for those workers whose job duties are in the emergency response, public health or public safety arena.
The Madison Metropolitan School District, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Madison Area Technical College have all canceled classes for Wednesday due to the winter storm.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning until midnight on Wednesday for extreme eastern Iowa and all of southern Wisconsin. In Iowa, this includes the counties of Clayton and Allamakee. In Wisconsin, this includes the counties of Monroe, Juneau, Adams, Marquette, Green Lake, Vernon, Richland, Sauk, Columbia, Dodge, Crawford, Iowa, Dane, Jefferson, Grant, Lafayette, Green, Rock and Walworth.
A blizzard warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. People are advised not to travel. Those who must travel should bring a winter survival kit with them. Authorities said that if travelers become stranded, they should stay with their vehicle.
WISC-TV meteorologist Gary Cannalte said snow accumulation of 6 to 12 inches is possible by Wednesday morning. He said blowing and drifting snow will develop, especially toward Wednesday morning.
By Wednesday, total storm accumulations by midnight of 10 to 16-plus inches are possible, with the heaviest amounts near Dubuque, Iowa, to Madison to Fond du Lac line, according to Cannalte.
Blowing and drifting snow could create blizzard-like and whiteout conditions, especially in rural areas, making travel extremely dangerous and nearly impossible.
Cannalte said the high temperature Wednesday will be 28, with temperatures falling to around 20 by late afternoon. Winds on Wednesday will be north/northwest 20-35 mph with gusts to 45 mph diminishing in the afternoon.
State emergency officials said that they want people to stay home. People who must travel should prepare an emergency supply kit for their vehicles and monitor their local media for storm updates.
Near Traverse City.
Let's put some Prayers Up for those Linemen out there restoring power! It's a cold dangerous job this time of year...
I’m near CVX.
I know from Atwood, south to TVC, you guys can get 5 times the snow that we get.
In Michigan vernacular that makes us “Trolls”, since we live “Under The Bridge”.
Not like a Freeper-kind of Troll.
I am surprised you didn't get the snow, do you think Boyne and Nubs Knob got any?
Usually, Boyne and Nubs get all the snow we don’t get.
I’m sure the resorts are happy with this weather.
Freezing rain?
Hmmmm..
My flowers are blooming and its bright and sunny, with a mild north westerly Pacific breeze....Temps showing about 67 degrees on my porch.
Big snowfall here in central Vermont. The guy who plows our back drive for us just came through a few minutes ago. And my wife and I are shoveling out the front drive.
Looks as if the white snow cover will be here to stay until next March or April. The dogs are loving it.
Amen to that! Prayers up for linemen, cable guys, snowplow drivers, cops & especially firemen should they have to fight a fire in this mess...which they undoubtedly will have to do when some bonehead is careless. ;)
We’re doing the same. Our plow guy just finished up, so we’ll do the trim work and dig out the trucks. My car is special...she gets the pole barn/garage. :)
The Yellow Lab is really loving this snow. The low-to-the-ground-stubby-with-no-traction Basset Hound? Not so much, LOL!
Twelve inches and still snowing in New Hampshire — AWESOME skiing! Must be global warming.
God’s wrath.
Here in the colorado Rockies it is 6F and wind gusts to 60mph creating ground blizzard conditions.
Our bassett loves it. He has big feet like snowshoes, and he bounds through the snow with flying leaps. He put his back out last September, but seems to be completely recovered now.
Toward the end of winter, all the dogs love to climb up on top of the snow banks that have formed from snow sliding off the metal roofs. They can keep watch better up there, and guard the perimeter when they’re not actually out patrolling.
Rufus likes playing “King of the Mountain,” too. Makes him feel tall, LOL!
We have about 2 feet of snow up in some of the local mountains, an hour or two drive from the coastal plain of Southern California where temps are about 64 degrees, with bright sun, and a gentle pacific breeze.
Pretty amazing looking at the snow covered mountains from our flower gardens, where several of our orange trees are just loaded.
We got about a foot south of you in Northern Stratford County, the bad part my Snow Blower went into termanal failure mode, had to spring for a new one.
A pretty lame excuse for a blizzard - so far just a couple of flurries.
18” to 20” here in Marquette County area.
Great fun in the Jeep !!
Bring it to Pennsylvania!
Sounds like life is good.
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