Wisconsin snow updates: 14 inches in Appleton, 12 in Madison, 9 in Milwaukee as March storm pounds state
Several inches of wet, heavy snow blanketed Wisconsin in an overnight storm March 25.
When the snow was done falling Saturday afternoon, Madison, Green Bay and Appleton all received over a foot of snow, while about 9 inches fell in Milwaukee.
A winter storm warning was in effect for a large part of Wisconsin until 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Here's a look back at weather updates across the state on Saturday.
Family builds a nearly 10-foot snowman
The heavy snow could not stop the Hassell family's day-long project to build a nearly 10-foot snowman. Above, Max and Fitz Hassell work on a snowman with their dad Tim on Saturday afternoon in Wauwatosa.
How much snow did Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay get?
Updated snowfall totals from the National Weather Service provided at 4 p.m. Saturday show the Madison area was hit hard by the snowstorm. The Dane County Regional Airport recorded 12.1 inches of snow.
The Milwaukee area has received reports ranging from 7 to 9 inches, including 8.9 at Mitchell International Airport.
Other snowfall reports around the state:
Waukesha: 11 inches
Elkhorn: 8.8 inches
Ripon: 12 inches
Watertown: 9.9 inches
Western Racine County: 6.5 inches
Green Bay: 14.5 inches
Appleton: 14.3 inches
Oshkosh: 12.6 inches
First Stage Children’s Theater cancels some shows
First Stage canceled three Saturday afternoon shows because of the snowstorm.
Both the 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. showings of Spongebob Musical and the 1 p.m. showing of Little Women were scrapped. The 7 p.m. performance of Little Women is still scheduled.
To reschedule your tickets for later this weekend, email ticketmanager@firststage.org. You can also reschedule Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling at 414-267-2961.
The Milwaukee Marathon canceled due to snow
The 2023 Milwaukee Marathon was canceled 21 hours before the event. Snowy conditions along the course route and surrounding streets left the path for runners impossible to manage ahead of the race. Organizers said in a statement that they will meet with local officials in coming weeks to determine a plan for a future race in 2023.
Nearly 60 snow-related calls for service
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office deputies have responded to 58 weather-related calls for service from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday.
There were three crashes with injuries reported and 13 crashes without injuries.
About two-thirds of the calls were for vehicles stuck in the snow or sliding off the road.
More power outages reported
The number of We Energies customers has grown to nearly 7,500, according to We Energies outage map. About 1,500 of the southeastern Wisconsin utility customers are in Milwaukee County.
Roads remain slick and local officials urge everyone to avoid traveling until the storm ends later Saturday.
Milwaukee County deputies helping more than a dozen disabled vehicles
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputies have responded to 23 weather-related incidents on freeways since 3 a.m. Saturday. These include 17 vehicles that got stuck in the snow or slid off the road, five crashes with no injuries reported and one crash with injuries.
Seven of the 23 incidents came in a single hour from 8 to 9 a.m.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson James Burnett urged drivers to stay off the roads. If driving, keep as much distance between other cars as possible. Snow-slicked roads can require as much as 600 feet of lead time to brake.
“Tailgating is a bad idea in perfect weather,” he said. “It’s exponentially worse on days like this.”
Partial closure of Interstate-894 reported
Two lanes of westbound Interstate-894 near Loomis Road were closed Saturday morning because of a crash involving a jackknifed truck.
The state Department of Transportation said around 9 a.m. that the closure is expected to last about two hours.
Saturday’s snow storm has caused crashes and hazardous road conditions across the eastern portion of the state and in the Madison area. Drivers are urged to stay off the road if possible.
DPW crews battling snow since 4 a.m.
Milwaukee street clearing crews have been out plowing and salting the streets since 4 a.m. Saturday.
“This fast, heavy wet snow is challenging to manage so your patience is greatly appreciated,” the city’s public works department tweeted, noting that staff are still completing clean-up from the last storm that yielded more than 2,300 calls.
The DPW asked residents to report trees or large limbs that pose an imminent public danger by calling 414-286-2459.
Other fallen trees can be reported online at city.milwaukee.gov/dpwservices/Services. Pictures are encouraged to help determine the priority level.
Some areas of Wisconsin have already seen more than 8 inches of snow
Snowfall totals so far range from 5 to 8 inches across Wisconsin, with some early morning hours bringing 2 to 3 inches per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
As of 8 a.m. Saturday, snowfall reports showed:
Mitchell International Airport: 5.4 inches
Racine: 5.5 inches.
National Weather Service office in Sullivan: 4.7 inches.
Dane County Regional Airport: 7.1 inches.
Oregon: 8 inches.
Mount Horeb: 8.2 inches.
South of Janesville: 6.3 inches
The forecast is still calling for the peak of snowfall rates to continue for another hour or two and then begin tapering off, meteorologist Taylor Patterson said.
There is some drier air working into the south of Wisconsin, so Walworth, Racine and Milwaukee counties may see a break in the snow later today with some lighter snow picking up afterward.
Winter storm warning extended north to Green Bay
The National Weather Service has extended the winter storm warning again Saturday morning, this time to include all of eastern Wisconsin from Green Bay on the north to Madison and Janesville in the south.
Few without power but the number may grow
Despite some areas of Wisconsin receiving seven inches of snow already on early Saturday, there were few power outages reported.
The We Energies online outage map showed nearly 1,000 people without power.
Madison Gas & Electric reported just two customers affected on their map, as of 7:45 a.m. Saturday.
Interstates snow-covered throughout southeastern Wisconsin
Several inches of wet, heavy snow again blanketed Wisconsin in an overnight storm.
Interstates across the eastern portion of the state were downgraded to slower driving conditions, according to the state Department of Transportation. There was at least one closure, around I-41 and US 45 North at Mayfair Road, because of the crash.
Transportation officials are encouraging people to stay off the road until the storm ends, which is forecasted to be sometime Saturday afternoon.
Winter storm warning extended to Ozaukee and Dane Counties
The National Weather Service extended the winter storm warning as far north as Ozaukee County and as far west as Dane County early Saturday morning. Those areas are now expected to get as much as 9 inches of snow before the storm wraps up this afternoon.
How much snow are we getting in Wisconsin?
Six to 10 inches could fall in southeast Wisconsin with lower amounts elsewhere. Milwaukee, Walworth, Kenosha and Racine and Walworth counties are under the winter storm warning.
The Fox Valley could see 8 inches. Oshkosh, Appleton, Green Bay and Manitowoc all could see up to 4 inches of snow.
The snow across the state is expected to be heavy and wet.
Snow totals grow in Northeast Wisconsin
Heavy snow continues to fall in Green Bay and Appleton. The area is now expected to get up to 8 inches of snow, compared to the original 4 inches expected, before the storm wraps up this afternoon.
Despite the growing inches of snow, Appleton's public works department expects all roads to be plowed and clear by 9 p.m.
When will it start snowing in Wisconsin?
Snow is expected to begin Friday night and last until Saturday afternoon. The peak period for most of the state will be from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
National Weather Service Wisconsin weather radar
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin snow totals, road conditions, power outages for March storm
