The National Weather Service has issued Winter Storm Watches and Warnings for the northern half of Wisconsin. Forecasters are tracking a strong storm with three potentially dangerous elements.
Heavy, wet snow: Up to 17 inches of heavy and wet snow is forecast for far northwest Wisconsin, with 6 to 9 inches from Rice Lake to Florence. The snow starts this afternoon and continues overnight into Friday.
Ice: Central and northeastern parts of the state could see ice accumulations up to ¼ inch starting late tonight through the Friday morning commute.
Wind: Gusts up to 30 mph will blow into Wisconsin as the storm moves through Friday.
Here are the precautions you and your family should take to keep safe.
• Before the Storm: Make sure you have the supplies you need (food, medications, etc) to ride out the storm in your home. Due to the heavy snow, ice and wind we could experience power outages. Make sure you have extra batteries for flashlights and food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated. For a complete list of emergency kit items go to our website: http://readywisconsin.wi.gov/kit/GetKit.asp
• Limit travel. Depending on conditions in your area it may be safer to limit, delay or cancel your travel late today and Friday.
• If you must travel allow plenty of extra time for your trip. Also keep at least a half tank of gas in your vehicle and inform friends and family of your travel plans and approximate arrival time.
• Check the roads before you travel. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation advises travelers check road conditions before leaving home by calling 5-1-1 or visiting www.511wi.gov.
• Have an emergency winter weather survival kit in your vehicle. Your kit should include water, snack food such as energy bars or raisins, first aid kit and booster cables. If you have a cell phone make sure you have a power adapter you can plug into the lighter. You can find more kit tips on our website…http://readywisconsin.wi.gov
• Stay informed. ReadyWisconsin will keep you posted on any emergencies that occur during the storm. Follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/readywisconsin) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/readywisconsin) for updates.