The numbers
A severe winter storm has significantly impacted Wisconsin road conditions, with all highways in the Milwaukee area completely covered in snow as of 11 a.m. on March 16. The Wisconsin State Patrol reported over 90 weather-related crashes in the past 24 hours, underscoring the dangers of travel in the region.
Travel was not advised across all of northeast Wisconsin as of March 15, with the only major highway closure occurring on I-94 in Jackson County, which remained closed for more than 10 hours. Snowfall totals have reached staggering amounts, with reports of 33 inches in Door County and over 20 inches in Wausau, creating treacherous driving conditions.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) has advised drivers to stay off the roads in the northwestern, north central, and northeastern parts of the state due to hazardous conditions. Visibility has also been severely affected, with blizzard conditions reported across southeastern Wisconsin, where visibility dropped to or below a quarter of a mile.
As the storm continues, the DOT’s road conditions map on March 16 indicated that all roads in northeast Wisconsin carried a ‘travel not advised’ warning. John DesRivieres, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin State Patrol, urged residents to heed this advice, stating, “Stay off the roads if you don’t need to be there.” This warning reflects the perilous conditions that have developed.
Local residents have expressed their astonishment at the severity of the storm. Christine Salm, a lifelong resident of northern Wisconsin, remarked, “This is the most snow I’ve ever seen in my lifetime, and I’ve been in northern Wisconsin my whole life.” Such sentiments highlight the unusual intensity of this winter weather event.
In addition to the hazardous road conditions, the storm has also caused power outages across the state. Reports indicate that approximately 13,323 people are without power in southeastern Wisconsin, with 370 affected in the Madison area and 189 near Sheboygan. These outages further complicate the situation for residents trying to navigate the storm.
As the storm progresses, forecasts predict an additional 6 to 9 inches of snow in much of southeastern Wisconsin. John DesRivieres noted, “It was simply a winter storm so extreme that vehicles could no longer navigate the stretch of highway.” Blizzard warnings are not common in this region, but the current conditions have warranted such alerts.
With the storm still ongoing, observers are closely monitoring the situation as officials work to manage the impacts on travel and public safety. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the storm’s effects, but the current conditions are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by winter weather in Wisconsin.
