More rain, flooding possible in southern Wisconsin

A wintry mix was causing a wide swath of trouble across south-central and southeastern Wisconsin.

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning about 1 p.m. Tuesday for Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, southern Walworth and southeastern Rock counties. The warning is in effect until 9:45 p.m. Tuesday as an additional round of rain soaked the region.  

The weather service said 1 to 2 inches of rain has fallen since yesterday. That rain combined with the snowmelt along with up to an inch of additional rainfall this afternoon and into this evening may produce localized flooding, the weather service said.

Earlier, freezing rain and snow led officials to cancel classes Tuesday in dozens of schools, including those in Baraboo, Mauston, Wisconsin Dells, Nekoosa and Portage. Many other school districts delayed the start of classes due to travel difficulties. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for at least seven counties, from Marquette to Sheboygan.

And in northern Wisconsin, the weather service reports 11 inches of snow fell in Ashland over a 24-hour period ending Tuesday morning.

Much of south-central and southeastern Wisconsin was under a flood warning or watch on Tuesday. 

In Green and Rock counties, some roads were flooded and closed, the National Weather Service said. 

In Rock County, the Sheriff's Department said there were flooding issues countywide. It said sand and sandbags were available for county residents at: 

• Rock Town Hall, 5102 S. Highway D, Afton. Residents will need to fill and transport their own bags.

• Newville Park and Ride, off I-39/90 at exit 163. Residents will need to fill and transport their own bags.

• City of Janesville at 900 N. Parker Drive. Residents are asked to call the City Services Center at (608) 755-3110 for instructions for pick up.

• City of Beloit, 2351 Springbrook Court. 

Rivers and streams will continue to rise due to the rain and snowmelt and river flooding is likely to persist into the latter portion of the week, according to the weather service.

Through Tuesday afternoon, another ½ to ¾ inch of rain was expected, with the highest amounts around Racine and Kenosha counties.

The weather service is also warning that rain and thunderstorms and temperatures close to freezing north of Milwaukee and Madison will likely create icing in the Sheboygan, Fond du Lac and Wisconsin Dells areas.

The storm was expected to dump as much as 2 inches of rain over the region. The weather service recorded 0.79 of an inch at Mitchell International Airport on Monday, a record for Feb. 19. The previous record for that date was 0.7 of an inch, set in 1908.

It could be worse. On Feb. 19, 1908, Milwaukee was hit with 10 inches of snow in addition to that bit of rain, weather service records show.

For the rest of Tuesday, the forecast shows a high temperature of 44 degrees with a wintry mix — rain during the day, then rain or freezing rain likely before midnight. There's a slight chance of sleet between midnight and 1 a.m. Wednesday.  

Wednesday is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 32. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.