As the monster storm – described by some meteorologists as a “once-in-a-generation” storm – has morphed and evolved, its effects have changed and shifted, and the National Weather Service has now downgraded the former Winter Storm Warning to a Winter Weather Advisory for Sheboygan County and most of southern Wisconsin, to be in effect until 9 a.m. on Saturday.
While westerly wind will continue to gust around 35 to 50 mph, resulting in pockets of blowing and drifting snow with brief drops in visibilities, especially rural and exposed roadways, it now appears that the threat of conditions reaching levels qualifying as a “blizzard” have abated.
It’s still expected that frigid wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero will be experienced through Saturday morning, while cold temps and blowing snow could result in slick and icy stretches of roads.
As a result, the Winter Weather Advisory for slippery road conditions, reduced visibilities and winds gusting to near 50 mph that are capable of bringing down tree branches, causing power outages, could still occur. Also, the dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, prompting officials to advise that unnecessary travel, especially in rural areas, be avoided if possible.
The Sheboygan County Airport, monitored as the official reference for Sheboygan County by the National Weather Service, recorded its lowest temperature of the season so far at 7:53 a.m. on Friday when the thermometer dipped to -9 degrees Fahrenheit. At the same time, westerly winds of 29 mph, gusting to 41 mph, pushed the wind chill reading down to 38 degrees below zero.
Comments