Weather Alert in Wisconsin
Winter Storm Warning issued April 1 at 2:20PM CDT until April 2 at 12:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
AREAS AFFECTED: Polk; Barron; Rusk; St. Croix; Pierce; Dunn; Pepin
DESCRIPTION: ...MESSY SPRING SYSTEM BRINGS FREEZING RAIN, SLEET, AND SNOWTO PORTIONS OF MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY... .A powerful spring weather system will bring widespread precipitation to the region beginning tonight and lingering through Thursday, with areas of wet snow, freezing rain, sleet, and rain all expected depending on timing and location. Western and central Minnesota will experience mainly slushy wet snow with accumulations of 2 to 4 inches, meanwhile rain is favored in southern and southeastern Minnesota. In between the snow and rain, a messy wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain will result in ice accumulations and slippery travel. There is still a moderate degree of uncertainty regarding ice accumulation amounts, due to temperatures being very close to freezing and a fluctuation of only a degree or two likely having a large impact on final amounts. The greatest impacts from icing and freezing rain will occur over western Wisconsin and portions of east-central to southwestern Minnesota, with accumulations up to a quarter inch in Minnesota and a few tenths of an inch in Wisconsin. Power outages are possible due to icing of power lines in addition to gusty winds, and slippery to impossible travel will occur where ice accumulates. Slow travel from wet slushy snow is expected in western and central Minnesota. * WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations up to one inch, sleet accumulations around three quarters of an inch, and ice accumulations around one quarter of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 30 mph. * WHERE...Barron, Polk, Rusk, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix Counties. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power outages. Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday morning commute.
INSTRUCTION: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Call 5 1 1 or visit 511wi.gov for road conditions. Persons should consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution. Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded.
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Weather Topic: What are Nimbostratus Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Nimbostratus Clouds
Next Topic: Precipitation
A nimbostratus cloud is similar to a stratus cloud in its formless,
smooth appearance. However, a nimbostratus cloud is darker than a stratus cloud,
because it is thicker.
Unlike a stratus cloud, a nimbostratus cloud typically brings with it the threat
of moderate to heavy precipitation. In some cases, the precipitation may evaporate
before reaching the ground, a phenomenon known as virga.
Next Topic: Precipitation
Weather Topic: What is Rain?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Rain
Next Topic: Shelf Clouds
Precipitation in the form of water droplets is called rain.
Rain generally has a tendency to fall with less intensity over a greater period
of time, and when rainfall is more severe it is usually less sustained.
Rain is the most common form of precipitation and happens with greater frequency
depending on the season and regional influences. Cities have been shown to have
an observable effect on rainfall, due to an effect called the urban heat island.
Compared to upwind, monthly rainfall between twenty and forty miles downwind of
cities is 30% greater.
Next Topic: Shelf Clouds
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