Blizzard Warning Issued for West Central Wisconsin: Up to 20 Inches of Snow Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MN, has issued a Blizzard Warning for several counties in west central Wisconsin. This alert is categorized as an extreme severity event with likely certainty, as a historic March winter storm moves across the Upper Midwest.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following Wisconsin counties:

• Barron
• Polk
• Rusk
• Chippewa
• Dunn
• Eau Claire
• Pepin
• Pierce
• St. Croix

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, ensure you have a winter survival kit in your vehicle. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle to remain safe. For the latest road conditions, call 5-1-1 or visit 511wi.gov.

Expected Conditions

• Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations are expected to range between 12 and 20 inches. Snowfall rates may reach 2 to 2.5 inches per hour at the peak of the storm.
• Wind: Northwest winds will increase to 35 to 45 mph on Sunday afternoon and evening.
• Visibility: Widespread blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility, creating dangerous blizzard conditions.
• Impacts: Travel is expected to become very difficult or impossible. The heavy, wet nature of the snowpack may lead to infrastructure damage and poses a health hazard for those shoveling. Hazardous conditions are expected to impact the Monday morning commute.

Timeline

The Blizzard Warning is effective from 1:00 AM CDT Sunday, March 15, through 7:00 AM CDT Monday, March 16. While snow will taper off gradually throughout Sunday, the strongest winds and most severe blizzard conditions are expected Sunday afternoon and evening.