Wisconsin winter storm spoils travel plans

Wisconsin kept its law enforcement officer busy along with snowplow operators throughout the northeast area. There were reports of more than 80 crashes and slide-ins in the

Chippewa Valley when 9 inches of snow in the Eau Claire area was at its heaviest. There were predictions of 4 to 6 inches of snow fall in the region with Menomonie and Mondovi receiving 8.7 and 7 inches of snow.  

Travel advisories in the state Department of Transportation’s Northwest Region advised against travelling due to heavy snow storms in the region. Though the snow had stopped by afternoon but State Patrol advised people not to travel as the roads will remain snow covered and slippery. The roads were being cleared by the highway crew.

Owing to various crashes Sections of Interstate 94 near Osseo were closed where 10 semitrailer trucks, resulting in one injury. Schools were shut due to the weather.

According to a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, Minn., the excess inches could have been a result of the storm moving slower than expected, though it did follow the anticipated track. Eau Claire city workers plowed main streets and started clearing the neighborhood roads in the evening. Plow crews were expected to have all Eau Claire streets cleared soon.

Residents too got into the act of clearing driveways and sidewalks. Snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches have been forecast for the northeastern part of the state and as much as 9 inches expected across central Wisconsin. The state is expected to be hit by severe winter storms.