Many Roads Impassable/Closed - Snow Exiting East

Happening NOW...

LATEST INFORMATION FROM LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT MANY ROADWAYS ARE COVERED IN SNOW DRIFTS...WITH SOME IMPASSABLE AND CLOSED. SECONDARY ROADS AND THOSE ON RIDGE-TOPS WERE THE MOST HAZARDOUS. THE WORST CONDITIONS WERE ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA INTO SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN...AND ACROSS NORTHERN SECTIONS OF...BUFFALO...TREMPEALEAU AND JACKSON COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN...ALONG WITH MUCH OF CLARK COUNTY. SOME PLOWS HAVE BEEN PULLED OFF THE ROADS UNTIL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

WINDS CONTINUE TO GUST BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...WITH 25 TO 35 MPH GUSTS IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS...BLOWING AND DRIFTING THE ALREADY FALLEN SNOW. TRAVEL SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED TONIGHT IF NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY...ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS.

THE SNOW HAS ENDED FOR SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA... INCLUDING MOST OF WESTERN WISCONSIN. THE SNOW SHOULD EXIT EAST OF A WISCONSIN RAPIDS TO BARABOO LINE BY 11 PM.

For more details, snow totals and peak winds, look at the bottom of this page. Stay up-to-date, stay off the roads, and stay safe.

Timing/Impacts:

  • Blizzard conditions. Appreciable drifting of snow and reduced visibilities -especially in rural and open areas, and along ridge-tops.  2 to 4 foot snow drifts will be common.    
  • Travel should be avoided.  Travel only in an emergency.   Many roads will be locally impassable or could be closed, possibly even impacting emergency vehicles and services.
  • Improvement in travel conditions will be slow overnight, and mainly occurring Friday.

Expected Total Snowfall (see graphic at right):

  • 9 to 14 inches across portions of northeast Iowa into southwest and central Wisconsin: Blizzard Warning.
  • 5 to 8 inches: across western sections of northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, western and central Wisconsin: Blizzard Warning. 
  • Locally 10-14 inches:  a band from west central into north central Wisconsin: Winter Storm Warning.    

Winds/Blowing Snow:

  • Northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 40 mph through the evening. 
  • The winds and snow will result in blizzard/near-blizzard conditions.  
  • Northwest winds will slowly fall off to 15 to 25 mph by Friday morning.

Wind Chills:

  • Falling to zero to 10 above by Friday morning.
Submit Report Winter Monitor
Let us know how much snow you get, wind reports, road closures Keep up-to-date on the storm with all the information on one page: the Winter Monitor

Expected Snowfall from Wednesday night into Thursday
Latest Statements, Snow Totals, Current Conditions
Winter Storm Statement Hazardous Weather Outlook Snowfall & Wind Reports Hourly Weather Roundup

 



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