Snow showed up early for Milwaukee County on Saturday, laying down a light but pesky coating that has already turned some roads slick as temperatures hover in the mid-to-upper teens. West winds around 15 mph are gusting up to 30 to 35 mph, cutting visibility and kicking up blowing snow on untreated surfaces. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect into the Saturday morning commute, ccording to the National Weather Service.
Timing And Totals
The National Weather Service expects light to steady snow to continue overnight into the morning hours, with most of the area picking up 1 to 3 inches and a few spots seeing closer to 3 to 5 inches in the heaviest bands. The advisory from National Weather Service Milwaukee runs through 9 a.m. CST Saturday and notes that bridges and overpasses are most likely to turn slick.
Forecasters are calling for about an inch of new accumulation tonight and another inch or two during the day Saturday before the snow starts to taper off in the evening. The ongoing gusty winds could still whip up pockets of blowing snow even as the flakes wind down.
Morning Commute
Drivers should be ready to slow things down, especially on elevated ramps and untreated side streets that tend to ice up first. Brief bursts of heavier snow, combined with those west wind gusts, may knock visibility down in a hurry, so build in extra time and give plows plenty of room to work.
Transit riders are not off the hook either. Delays and detours are possible, so plan to dress for the cold and head out a little earlier than usual.
Warming Centers And Safety
For anyone without reliable heat or shelter this weekend, Milwaukee County has opened the Marcia P. Coggs Building at 1220 W. Vliet St. as a 24-hour warming site. The county is partnering with the Red Cross to staff the location. Residents in need are urged to call 2-1-1 for the most up-to-date list of available warming locations. Milwaukee County offers more details and contact information.
Looking Ahead
Once this system moves through, a colder airmass settles in for Sunday and Monday, with afternoon highs stuck mainly in the single digits to teens and wind chills dipping into the negative double digits at times. Forecasters say more clipper systems are lined up for next week, so periodic light snow and gusty winds could keep taking shots at the commute.
Travelers are encouraged to keep an eye on local forecasts through the weekend and to keep a basic winter kit in the car in case conditions deteriorate quickly.
