Weather Alert in Wisconsin
Winter Storm Warning issued March 13 at 9:37AM CDT until March 16 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
AREAS AFFECTED: Polk; Barron; St. Croix; Pierce; Dunn; Pepin; Chippewa; Eau Claire
DESCRIPTION: ...POWERFUL WINTER STORM ON TRACK TO BRING EXTREME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND GUSTY WINDS... ...TRAVEL MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY... .A major winter storm will move across the Upper Midwest late Saturday into Sunday. The first concern is heavy snow, with a broad area of 10 to 16 inches likely, and a narrow swath of 15 to 20 inches Totals across portions of western and central Wisconsin could approach 2 feet. The heaviest snow will fall Saturday evening and overnight, with rates of 2 inches per hour possible. Winds will start out of the northeast at 20 to 30 mph. The second concern is increasing winds on Sunday. Even though the snow will be diminishing on Sunday, northwest winds will increase to 35 to 45 mph. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds will reduce visibility and create periods of blizzard conditions on Sunday across western and southern Minnesota. Travel is expected to become very difficult or impossible late Saturday night and Sunday. In addition, the amount of water in the snowpack will make it wet and very heavy, leading to the potential for infrastructure damage and a health hazard for those shoveling. * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 12 and 20 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Barron, Polk, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix Counties. * WHEN...From 10 PM Saturday to 7 AM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday 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.
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Weather Topic: What is Sleet?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet
Next Topic: Snow
Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary
components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones,
and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and
therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.
The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be
wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer
layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air
it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water
droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is
freezing rain.
Next Topic: Snow
Weather Topic: What are Stratocumulus Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Stratocumulus Clouds
Next Topic: Stratus Clouds
Stratocumulus clouds are similar to altocumulus clouds in their
fluffy appearance, but have a slightly darker shade due to their additional mass.
A good way to distinguish the two cloud types is to hold your hand out and measure
the size of an individual cloud; if it is the size of your thumb it is generally
an altocumulus cloud, if it is the size of your hand it is generally a
stratocumulus cloud.
It is uncommon for stratocumulus clouds to produce precipitation, but if they do
it is usually a light rain or snow.
Next Topic: Stratus Clouds
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