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‘SS Badger’ dock repairs underway

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Recovery efforts are underway for the SS Badger Car ferry dock in Manitowoc after it was badly damaged by Lake Michigan waters over the weekend.

Jason Ring is Executive Director of the Manitowoc Visitors and Convention Bureau. “We calculate the economic impact of what visitors spend that come off the car ferry. And the impact of that is around $14 million….pretty significant.”

The car ferry also adds or impacts a total of 700 jobs. Ring says if no setbacks occur, it is believed that they won’t have any lost time.

“The goal is to keep the car ferry sailing season on pace for the May 11th start of the season.” Ring likens the ferry dock damage to what it would be like for another community when a major highway into town is shut down.

WTAQ

 

Avian experts ask for help to save migratory birds

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Wildlife experts are asking for your help in saving migratory birds that have been snowed out of their usual food sources.

Last weekend’s blizzard blanketed parts of Wisconsin with over two feet of snow, and that’s making it very hard for birds migrating back to the area. Raptor Education Group executive director Marge Gibson says her agency has been extremely busy this week. “I took over fifty phone calls, texts and Facebook messages. Most were about weak and dying warblers, robins and woodcocks.”

Gibson says this weather is especially hard on birds that usually rely on digging insects out of the ground for their food. “They are unable to find enough enough ground or find any ground to be able to dig or have access to insects, And not having any food, of course, they’re starving.” Gibson says that residents can help out by digging out section of lawn and grass that birds can access to dig up and eat hibernating bugs.

She also adds that generally keeping feeders stocked right now is a great help to feathered friends. “Keep your feeders full. A lot of the insectivores don’t eat seed so you’re going to have mealworms and dried fruit, cut up fruit, berries, those sorts of things that will help them get over this very difficult period.”

Gibson is asking cat owners to keep their pets indoors for a few days. “The birds are really fragile right now, many of them are weak and they’re on the ground and they’re really targets for a cat who’s outside even briefly, so be very aware of that.”

if you do find a bird on the ground and you’re able to walk over and pick it up, that bird is in distress and needs help. “Put it in a cardboard box, not a cage or a carrier. Put a towel in the bottom of the box and bring them into a warm area. Put a heating pad on low under part of the box. Cover the box to create an “incubator” of sorts.” Gibson says that you should make sure that the bird has food. Dried or live mealworms or waxworms are a good bet, and you can find those almost anywhere live fishing bait is sold.

Once that bird is safe and warming up, make sure you call a local avian rescue group. Most are very willing to come pick up your bird and take it to a more appropriate shelter.

Heavy snows help end dry spell for parts of Wisconsin

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There’s an upside to all that snow parts of Wisconsin saw over the weekend: an end to dry conditions in the state.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tim Halbach says that the heavy wet snow that blanketed central and eastern Wisconsin is going to help quench the soil and put a cap on an abnormally dry winter. “I’m sure everyone who was out shoveling that snow this weekend knows that it was a very high liquid content type snow.”

Parts of the state we seeing abnormally dry conditions this winter, and Halbach says a late season snowfall is just what the state needed, even if it came exceptionally late. “Just having the precipitation this time of year is always a good thing. You want to get a little bit of moisture in the ground before the plants go in.”

Even better news for farmers and gardeners is that most of the moisture in that snow is going to stay put. Halbach says temperatures are expected to be mild over the next week or so. “So it’s a nice gradual melting of the snow that’s out there, rather than getting one big heavy rainfall and and then it’s all melting and heading into the rivers right away.”

Some more snow is expected to fall Wednesday across parts of Wisconsin, with milder spring temperatures expected for the next week after that.

Utilities remind residents to clear the snow from furnace vents

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With record setting snowfalls across Wisconsin, utilities are reminding residents to go clear out the vents on their furnaces.

We Energies spokeswoman Cathy Schulze says blocked furnaces can be dangerous. “That can be a risk of carbon monoxide build up inside the home, if your furnace is not able to vent fully.”

You’ll also want to clear out a space around your gas meter to allow it to vent, and so utility workers can get access to it in case of emergency. Schulz says you should take it easy and be gentle. “That is equipment that can be damaged, and we do get reports of people running it with their snowblowers forgetting it’s there, hitting it with their shovels too hard.”

As snow starts to thaw, be sure to keep the area over the meter clear of ice, says Schulz. “You want to look up when you’re clearing that gas meter as well to make sure there aren’t icicles forming above it. Those icicles can fall and damage the gas meter as well.” Iced over meters can be just as hazardous and snowed in meters.

You can find out more online at http://weenergies.blogspot.com/2015/11/keep-natural-gas-meters-vents-clear-of.html

Green Bay region gets historic snowfall

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Although road crews in Brown County have been working hard to clear the way for today’s commute, they’re advising drivers to stay off the roads if possible.

With gusting winds and blowing snow through the weekend Paul Fontecchio, Brown County Director of Public Works, tells FOX 11 crews will be working today and even into Tuesday.

“The crews work 12 hours on 12 hours off. But even with this wind and this type of storm intensity, there is no way to keep up.”

Green Bay resident Nicole Marchand was out and about Sunday.

She said she had no choice but to drive despite the dangerous road conditions because of work. “I’ve lived in Green Bay for 25 years now and don’t remember getting this much snow this quick and with the wind totally disabling an area.”

Fontecchio said the department will not be treating the roads with sand or salt until they finish plowing and they hope to have that started by Tuesday.

The weekend blizzard also affected travel heading out of the Green Bay–Austin Straubel International Airport. All flights heading out Sunday were either canceled or delayed.

WTAQ

Statewide tornado drills today

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Statewide tornado drills are on today. A test tornado watch is set for 1:00 this afternoon. Local municipalities will test warning sirens at 1:45 and 6:45. Many local broadcasters will participate, and NOAA weather radios will issue alert messaging.

Households, schools and workplaces are encouraged to part in the statewide tornado drills to make sure everyone is ready when danger approaches

Get ready for storms with annual Severe Weather Awareness week

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It’s time to refresh your severe weather plan as Wisconsin gets ready for Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Wisconsin Emergency Management spokesman Andrew Beckett says this is a chance for everyone to get back in the habit of preparing for storms. “Storms pop up suddenly and produce a tornado and produce a tornado and can put lives in danger very quickly. So it’s important to be aware of that and respond quickly.”

The state’s annual tornado drills are set for Thursday. “That test lets broadcasters, schools, businesses and families practice their severe weather response plans. It also gives local agencies a chance to test their equipment,” says Beckett. “The goal is to test all the electronic alert systems that will help protect people when a dangerous storm is approaching.”

The mock tornado watch and warning will run from 1 pm to 2 pm on Thursday, and a second tornado warning is set for 6:45 pm.

You should also be sure that you’re able to get severe weather alerts from multiple devices and sources. Becketts says relying on one source can be dangerous.  “Sirens can’t always be heard in doors. Cell phones, some people may not see the alert when it comes across. If people have a weather radio in their home, they want to make sure that’s working so that if they’re not paying attention to the TV at the time, that alert may come off.”

Beckett says having a NOAA weather radio in your home is an excellent way to receive important severe weather alerts and can keep you safe in the event of severe weather.

There were 23 tornado touchdowns in the state in 2017, with the most severe touchdown being an EF3 tornado that traveled 83 miles through Polk, Barron, Rusk, and Price Counties, killing one person and causing widespread damage.

You can find tips and hints on keeping yourself and your family safe online at https:/ready.wi.gov.

Spring storm sets new snowfall records

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Not exactly a typical day in April. Several daily snowfall amounts for April 3rd were broken by Tuesday’s early spring storm. That includes 11 inches in Wausau, 10.5 inches in Plover, 8 inches in Green Bay, and 6.4 inches in Appleton.

Cold temperatures have now settled in across Wisconsin, and will remain at least into early next week.

Early spring storm hits Wisconsin

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An Election Day winter storm is hitting Wisconsin. Heaviest snowfall amounts are projected across the central portion of the state, with 8-12 inches in locations like Marshfield and Green Bay. Lesser amounts are expected to the north and south — but the entire state will get at least some snow.

Travel will be slow and challenging across much of the state, with Winter Storm Warnings are in place until Wednesday morning in numerous counties.

Wisconsin in path of major winter storm

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NWS Milwaukjee

A major winter storm will be moving across Wisconsin through Tuesday night, bringing snow, sleet, ice and heavy rain that could cause flooding, dangerous travel conditions and possible power outages due to ice.

Watches and warnings in effect across the state include an ice storm warning for Marquette, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Sauk, Columbia and Dodge Counties as forecasters say up to ½ inch of ice could occur thru Tuesday.

The first wave of the storm system began Monday morning, moving across northern Wisconsin bringing heavy snow. Southern Wisconsin will see rain beginning Tuesday morning. Freezing rain is likely across much of central Wisconsin, including Eau Claire to Rhinelander and Green Bay down through Lone Rock to Sheboygan.

Extreme southeastern Wisconsin will have heavy rain of up to 1.5 to 2” that could cause flooding in streets, creeks and low areas, and some rivers. National Weather Service forecasters warn that a change in 1 or 2 degrees could be the difference between rain or freezing rain in some areas.

Traffic and road conditions, along with live traffic cameras and traffic alerts, can be accessed on the 511 Wisconsin system, which includes a free mobile app, @511WI on Twitter, or the mobile-friendly site  www.511wi.gov.