Hope you enjoyed the brief thaw – a winter storm is bearing down on Wisconsin. The National Weather Service has issued Winter Storm Advisories, Watches and Warnings for much of Wisconsin. Forecasters are tracking a strong storm which could hit the state in two waves. Thursday morning rush hour could be difficult in southern and southeast Wisconsin with a mix of snow and freezing rain.
Zach Taylor, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in La Crosse, says the developing storm system will bring anywhere from six to ten inches of heavy, wet snow across much of Wisconsin. The backside of the storm will include very strong winds, gusting to 35-45 miles an hour, especially across western and northern Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation advises travelers check road conditions before leaving home by calling 5-1-1 or visiting www.511wi.gov.
The Weather Service is advising those traveling across Iowa, eastern Minnesota or western Wisconsin Thursday and Thursday night to look into alternate plans.
The storm will be followed by a return to the cold temperatures that have prevailed much of this winter. That means highs in the teens and lows in the single digits below zero in many areas.