Snow totals from storm not as bad as feared

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In some parts of the country, it was the Storm-of-the-Century – while in Wisconsin, it just seemed like another winter’s day.

Up to seven inches fell in the Badger State from a massive storm that rumbled through the Great Plains and the Midwest yesterday and this morning, dumping more than a foot as far south as Oklahoma. In Wisconsin, the west central, southwest, and Fox Valley regions got the most with around six-inches. By noon, the storm had lightened up but light snow was still coming down. Many areas in the state had 2-to-4 inches by late morning. Freezing rain made for slick roads and plenty of traffic mishaps in some locations. Schools shut down in much of the Fox Valley and northeast Wisconsin – including some larger districts like Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh. Schools were also closed in parts of Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, and Michigan. Hays Kansas had the most in the Midwest, with 17 inches. Lingering light snow is in the Wisconsin forecast into tomorrow.

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Lots of folks throughout the Midwest hope that the massive snow-storm will help alleviate the drought conditions which linger from last year. But here in Wisconsin, a sizable increase in snowfall from a year ago has done little to ease the dry soil conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor said 88-and-two-thirds percent of the Badger State’s land area remained abnormally dry or worse just before this week’s storms. That’s the same percentage of dryness as a week ago – and the figure has changed very little over the last three months. Experts say the frost needs to come out of the ground, the snow needs to melt slow-and-steady, and it needs to rain more this spring in order for many places to alleviate their drought conditions. About 12 east central counties are the only ones in Wisconsin not in a drought. That, too, has changed very little during the winter.

Tags: news, wisconsin, weather