Milwaukee mayor says city ready for blizzard

• City of Milwaukee

City of Milwaukee

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MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says “there’s no reason to freak out” about a blizzard that’s expected in southern Wisconsin late today and into tomorrow.

Up to two-feet of snow is in the forecast, most of it tonight. Winds of 50-miles-an-hour or more are possible. And the National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch for much of south central and southeast Wisconsin from three this afternoon through noon tomorrow. Milwaukee is among the places expected to be hardest hit. Barrett said up to 400 salting-and-plowing vehicles would be available, and Milwaukee Police equipped all their squad cars with tire chains.

The state DOT urged drivers to stay off roads southeast of a line from Prairie du Chien to Manitowoc from tonight until conditions improve. Wisconsin Emergency Management urged motorists to go on-line for road conditions and other storm information at 511-Dot-Com. Or they can call 511 to get the latest. Officials also encouraged motorists to dress warmly and have things like blankets, flashlights, and cell phones in case their vehicles get stuck. The Weather Service says Packer fans who plan to drive to Dallas for the Super Bowl should wait until at least tomorrow afternoon to leave. Much of the snow is expected to be cleared by then.

Most of Wisconsin got at least some snow yesterday. Seven-and-a-half inches fell at South Range, near Superior. And De Soto in southwest Wisconsin got six-and-a-half inches. Other places received one-to-six inches.

The National Weather Service has expanded a blizzard warning to include Dodge and Fond du Lac counties. Nearly all of southern Wisconsin is now included in the blizzard zone. Forecasters say 12-to-18-inches of snow will fall in the southeast late this afternoon through tomorrow, with smaller amounts just to the north. Winds gusting to 50-miles-an-hour are in the forecast, with white-out conditions possible in some places tonight and tomorrow morning. There are also coastal flood warnings along Lake Michigan in southeast Wisconsin from six tonight until six tomorrow night. Places along Lake Superior could get more lake effect snow showers through tonight. Other parts of the north will stay dry – but they’ll pay for it with colder temperatures. It’s supposed to 5-to-10 below in the northwest, while the blizzard areas will stay around 20 degrees, not including the wind chill.

Tags: news, wisconsin, weather