Winter storm watch forecasts deep snow
The National Weather Service says there will be snow, and more snow, across southern Wisconsin this weekend under a winter storm watch that forecasts an accumulation of 6 to 10 inches of powdery flakes with blowing winds from late Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening.
Southeast winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour will cause drifting of snow, reduced visibility and hazardous travel conditions on roads, the weather service said.
Milwaukee Department of Public Works officials said Friday that its battle plan was set in motion in the past few days, with crews applying stripes of a salt brine solution to bridges, elevated roadways and major city streets to prevent snow from sticking to the pavement.
Before the snow arrives Saturday evening, the department will deploy 102 drivers in trucks to spread salt pre-wetted with brine to residential streets "so snow is less likely to bond to the pavement," DPW Operations Director Laura Daniels said. The wet salt will have the consistently of oatmeal and will not bounce off the pavement like dry salt, she said.
As the snow accumulates, more drivers will be called in and dispatched in plow trucks, Daniels said. The city expects to keep plow drivers out for 12 hours at a time in rotating shifts with a goal of keeping streets "safe and passable," she said.
Winter parking rules will be in effect Saturday, with vehicles allowed to park only on the even side of the street on Dec. 10 and the odd side of the street on Dec. 11.
If the snowfall exceeds 8 inches, DPW officials will consider declaring a winter storm emergency on Sunday, with designated emergency routes in the city where no vehicles would be allowed to park.
Battling this storm with salt, plows and as many as 350 city workers over the weekend could cost up to $1.5 million, according to DPW Commissioner Ghassan Korban.
From Lambeau Field in Green Bay where the Packers and Seahawks will play football in a snow globe to Candy Cane Lane in West Allis, a steady storm of powdery snow and blowing wind are forecast to impact travel until Monday morning.
Wisconsin Emergency Management officials on Friday reminded travelers to check road conditions at www.511wi.gov and to keep at least a half tank of fuel in vehicles.
Racine County Director of Public Works Julie Anderson on Friday asked motorists to avoid unnecessary travel, and to give plow trucks on highways enough space to safely clear snow.
"If you must be out, slow down and stay at least 200 feet away from snowplows," Anderson said.
Heaviest snow accumulations are forecast for southern Wisconsin, according to the National Weather Service in Sullivan. A weaker than expected storm could blow by after dropping only 2 to 5 inches, forecasters said.
"If the storm ends up being stronger, we expect a worst-case scenario of 10 to 12 inches," forecasters added.
Snow is expected to begin falling in southwestern Wisconsin Saturday afternoon and push into southeastern Wisconsin by Saturday evening.
Motorists this weekend can expect to encounter blowing and drifting snow.
A checklist of what to include in a winter survival kit to keep in a vehicle is available at the ReadyWisconsin website of Wisconsin Emergency Management. Among recommended items are a shovel, blanket or sleeping bag, flashlight with extra batteries, emergency flares or reflectors, snacks and water.
After the snow departs, "even colder air will arrive" and bring below normal temperatures through the middle of next week, according to the forecast for southeastern Wisconsin. Milwaukee area residents will see daytime highs around 20 degrees on Tuesday but outdoor thermometers are not expected to exceed 9 degrees on Wednesday.
For northeastern Wisconsin, meteorologists in Green Bay warn "the coldest air so far this winter is forecast to move into the region during the middle to latter part of next week."
"Wind chills will fall well below zero and high temperatures by Wednesday will struggle to move out of the single digits," their forecast said.