A northward shift in the path of a dangerous winter storm is putting Sheboygan County in position to receive more freezing rain and sleet than originally forecast, reducing the potential for snowfall measured in feet, not inches. But substantial snow and blowing snow is still expected to have a major impact on traffic and commuters from Sunday night until Monday night.
-Damaging Winds Blast Area-
A High Wind Warning lived up to expectations as the Sheboygan County Airport recorded wind gusts over 50 MPH by 11AM, and a wind gust of 58 MPH was noted shortly before 3 PM Friday. Power interruptions, downed trees and limbs, and even some property damage resulted, even causing the closing of the roundabout just south of the 8th Street Bridge due to building damage. The high wind warning was to expire at 4 PM and quiet weather should then dominate until Saturday night. A forecast fraught with complexity then takes over.
-Uncertainty Looms Large, and Small Changes Could Have Big Effects-
A Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 7 PM Saturday until 10 AM Sunday warns of a mix of precipitation dominated by snow, sleet and freezing rain in the Sheboygan area. However forecasters warn that changes are expected in the forecast and people need to be aware that any shifts in the storm’s path can have wide-ranging impacts. In Manitowoc and Calumet Counties, a Winter Storm Warning was issued from 7 PM Saturday until 4 PM Monday for 12-18 inches of snow with possible blizzard conditions. A shift to the south could put Sheboygan County in line for the same. At the same time, mostly rain and even possible thunderstorms are forecast for southern Wisconsin counties, and a northward shift could benefit our area with lower hazard levels.
NWS Graphic
-The Best Current Information Says This-
Given the best current information, forecasters said that Sheboygan County can expect the main push of precipitation to begin around 6 PM Saturday in the form of snow through around midnight, then light snow possibly mixed with sleet, rain and freezing rain after midnight, accumulating 2-4 inches. The greatest chance for ice accumulation will be from western Sheboygan County towards Green Lake and Marquette Counties, while warmer air from Lake Michigan somewhat protects the eastern reaches.
Sunday should be dominated by rain, mixed at times with snow. But with temperatures in the 40s, ice accumulation should be less than a quarter inch and snowfall held under an inch in our area. But everything changes Sunday night.
NWS Graphic
A Winter Storm Watch still covers southern Wisconsin from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening as cold air changes precipitation to all snow, with total snow accumulations between 5 and 9 inches. Winds could gust as high as 45 MPH causing blowing snow and restricting visibilities until Monday night. Snow should end by 9 PM Monday. Travel is expected to become very difficult, impacting both the morning and evening commutes on Monday. Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile, and since snow may be heavy and wet, falling tree limbs on power lines may cause outages.
The bottom line from the National Weather Service is this: Expect changes, be prepared, keep up with forecasts.
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