Winter Storm Caused Closings, Traffic Backups

Update 10:45 p.m.

The winter storm that started Tuesday and ended overnight Wednesday into Thursday was originally predicted to leave little impact. 

But conditions were just right for the storm to grow, and it ended up dumping wet, slushy snow that closed schools and made roads dangerous for several days. 

Patch media partners WISN 12 News said this storm didn't follow the predictions.

Computers and humans alike had originally predicted two to four inches of snow from this system, which earlier had buried the Plains states in a fresh blanket of snow.

However, some uncharacteristic lake enhancement took place late Tuesday afternoon, driving snow totals much higher.

"A humbling storm for all meteorologists in southeast Wisconsin," said WeatherWatch 12 chief meteorologist Mark Baden. 

"It was quite a storm," he said. "I think the most surprising thing about this storm was the amount of moisture it was able to transport."

The storm kept law enforcement busy locally, and county-wide. The Racine County Sheriff's Department responded to 180 calls for service between 2 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday, and 77 of those were snow-related accidents. Drivers are urged to continue to exercise caution while driving.

Update 9:41 a.m.: Traffic is moving well on Racine County's stretch of I-94 this morning, but slippery stretches and snow are making travel more difficult than usual closer to Milwaukee. According to the Wisconsin DOT's traffic map, freeways throughout the Milwaukee area are slippery.

The map shows traffic speeds of varying from 30-55 mph between the Mitchell and Marquette interchanges on I-43/94. Traffic is moving between 45 mph and regular speeds on I-894. Traffic from the Marquette Interchange to the Zoo Interchange is moving slow in spots, at speeds between 30 and 45 mph, and at normal speeds in others. 

Traffic on I-43 west of the Hale Interchange, and I-94 south of the Mitchell Interchange are generally moving at normal speeds.

Traffic on I-794 is also going slow, between 30 and 45 mph. The Marquette Interchange appears to be moving fairly well, except for northbound traffic on I-43/94 turning east onto I-794. That ramp is moving at speeds less than 20 mph.

ORIGINAL STORY

The snow started flying in Caledonia Tuesday afternoon, and one to two more inches of snow are on the way Wednesday.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, between 8 and 10 inches of snow had fallen in Caledonia, according to the National Weather Service observers.

Patch's media partners at WISN 12 News said the Racine County Sheriff's Department responded to more than 75 weather-related accident overnight, although no injuries were reported. The National Weather Service still has a winter weather advisory for Ozaukee, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties, which will continue to be  in effect until noon Wednesday.

The Racine Unified School District, Racine Lutheran and the Prairie School canceled classes for Wednesday. However,  University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Gateway Technical College have not cancelled classes. Here are additional school and business closings from our media partners at WISN 12 News.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is warning drivers to stay off the expressways as conditions get worse because of the weather:

As snow continues to fall in the southeast region of Wisconsin, travel on area freeways and roadways is becoming increasingly hazardous.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is seeing increased run-off vehicles in Racine, Kenosha and Waukesha counties. WisDOT warns of low visibility and continued slippery conditions throughout the evening.

For the latest road conditions, incidents and travel times, visitwww.511.wi.gov