March snowstorm in Wisconsin: Over a foot of snow fell in some parts of the state, thousands still left without power
A March snowstorm arrived in Wisconsin Thursday and lasted through Friday morning. Several inches of heavy snow fell overnight, resulting in power outages for tens of thousands of customers. Some school districts canceled classes, and plows have been working to clear snow-covered streets and interstates.
Here's what you should know about the forecast, the snow totals and more.
We'll be updating this with the latest on the winter weather, so refresh your browser throughout the storm.
5:25 p.m.: Clinton & Bernice Rose Senior Center to open for those without power
The Clinton & Bernice Rose Senior Center, 3045 N. King Drive, will open at 6 p.m. Friday as a warming center for people still without power, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced.
The Red Cross will open the shelter, which is available for all residents who do not have power because of the snowstorm.
Residents can walk in without an appointment and stay through the night.
As of 5:25 p.m., the We Energies outage map noted about 26,700 Milwaukee-area residents still without power.
Residents who need additional information regarding warming centers and shelters should call 2-1-1.
— Alison Dirr
11:45 a.m.: Up to 12 inches of snow fell across region
The last of the winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings that were in effect for much of eastern and southern Wisconsin were set to expire at noon.
Here are some updated snowfall reports for northeast and central Wisconsin:
Kohler: 11 inches
Oshkosh: 7.5 inches
Weston: 6.2 inches
Manitowoc: 6 inches
Plover: 5.6 inches
Neenah: 4.1 inches
Stratford: 3.2 inches
Oconto Falls: 2.4 inches
De Pere: 2.1 inches
And here are updated snow totals for southeast Wisconsin:
Mequon: 12 inches
Random Lake: 11.7 inches
West Milwaukee: 10.4 inches
St. Francis: 10.1 inches
Grafton: 10 inches
New Berlin: 10 inches
West Allis: 9.8 inches
Eagle: 9.6 inches
Racine: 9.5 inches
Menomonee Falls: 9 inches
Waukesha: 8.2 inches
— Sophie Carson and Rebecca Loroff
10:45 a.m.: As restoration crews work on downed lines, about 76,000 remain without power
About 75,000 customers remain without power in southeast Wisconsin, according to We Energies.
Since 9 p.m. last night the utility has restored power to about 70,000 customers, spokeswoman Alison Trouy told the Journal Sentinel.
Hundreds of people are working to restore power this morning, and We Energies has called in outside crews to help.
The several inches of wet, heavy snow that fell across the region meant that snow-laden tree limbs fell on power lines, Trouy said.
Restoration can be time-consuming because forestry crews first must come and remove the tree from the downed power line, Trouy said.
We Energies is still receiving new reports of outages, so Trouy did not have an estimate on when every customer's power would be restored.
People should not assume that the utility knows about their outage, Trouy said. They should report outages through the We Energies app, online or by calling 800-662-4797.
About 60,000 of the customers without power are in Milwaukee County, and nearly 40,000 are within the city of Milwaukee, according to an online outage map.
— Sophie Carson
10:30 a.m.: No snow parking rules for Milwaukee tonight
A snow parking emergency for the city of Milwaukee will not be declared tonight, the Department of Public Works said in a tweet.
Overnight parking rules will continue as normal. Trucks will continue to plow and salt the roads.
"Please follow posted signs and park as close to the curb as possible to give room for the large equipment," the tweet said.
— Sophie Carson
8:41 a.m.: Driver dies in I-41 crash south of Oshkosh; southbound roads reopened
An unidentified driver died when an SUV collided with a semi trailer that jackknifed on the southbound lanes of Interstate 41, the DOT said.
At 4:13 a.m. Friday, while the semi was blocking traffic, an SUV crashed into the trailer and became lodged underneath.
The driver of the SUV died on the scene, and the front seat passenger was injured and taken to a local hospital. The semi driver did not report any injuries. None were identified by the DOT.
Interstate 41 southbound between Fond du Lac and Oshkosh reopened shortly after 9 a.m. Friday, the DOT said.
The southbound lanes between State 26 and Fond du Lac County N had been closed since 4 a.m.
According to 511wi.gov, while roads near Eau Claire, La Crosse, Madison and Milwaukee have started to clear, many major highways between these cities and in northeastern Wisconsin are still icy, snowy and slick.
— Rebecca Loroff
UW-Green Bay moves some campuses online
Classes at UW-Green Bay campuses in Manitowoc and Sheboygan will be moved online today.
The campus building will be open. Classes at the Green Bay and Marinette campuses will have no changes.
— Pete Frank
8:25 a.m.: City of Milwaukee suspends garbage collection for Friday
Garbage and recycling collection for the city of Milwaukee has been suspended for the day, the Department of Public Works said.
Garbage trucks are being used to help plow and treat roads.
Crews will work extended hours next week to catch up, the department said in a tweet. Residents should leave their bins at the collection point until they are emptied.
— Sophie Carson
7:45 a.m.: More than 100,000 customers without power
More than 102,000 customers are without power in southeast Wisconsin, according to We Energies.
Nearly 80,000 of those customers are within Milwaukee County. More than 50,000 are within the city of Milwaukee. Several thousand customers are without power in Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, West Allis, Franklin and Mequon, among other cities, according to an online outage map from the utility.
— Sophie Carson
7:30 a.m.: Winter driving conditions on I-94 near downtown Milwaukee are good
Some key stretches of interstate in southeast Wisconsin are reporting good winter driving conditions as of 7:30 a.m.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is reporting other highways in the Milwaukee area have slippery stretches and are snow-covered.
Interstate 94 from Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood south through Racine County has good winter driving conditions, as does I-94 from Menomonee Valley to the Milwaukee County Zoo, and I-43 from Greenfield north to Butler.
— Sophie Carson
7:15 am: Here are the latest snow totals in northeast and southeast Wisconsin
While the heaviest snow fell in communities near Milwaukee and Madison, most of Wisconsin saw snow Thursday night into Friday. As of 7 a.m., nearly every major highway is affected by the weather, according to 511.gov.
Here are the latest snow reports for several other major communities in central and northeast Wisconsin from Thursday night to 7 a.m. Friday:
Wisconsin Rapids: 3 inches
Appleton: 3 inches
Oshkosh: 3.5 inches
Fond du Lac: 5 inches
Ashwaubenon: 2.4 inches
Sturgeon Bay: 1.2 inches
And here are some of the latest snow totals in southeast Wisconsin:
St. Francis: 10.1 inches
Oconomowoc: 6.1 inches
Johnson Creek: 7.5 inches
Howards Grove: 10.5 inches
Racine: 9.5 inches
— Rebecca Loroff and Sophie Carson
More:Here are the latest snowfall totals from across Wisconsin in the last 24 hours
7 a.m.: Several major school districts cancel class, in addition to MPS
The following school districts announced closures or delays Friday:
Madison: virtual learning day
Sheboygan: closed Friday
Two Rivers: 2-hour delay
Kewaunee: 2-hour delay
Milwaukee Public Schools: canceled
Shorewood School District: canceled
— Rebecca Loroff
6:45 a.m.: Heaviest snowfall to end this morning in Madison, Milwaukee
Most of the storm's snow has already fallen, the National Weather Service said.
A few inches of lighter snow will fall this morning, according to the weather service. Snow will stop falling about 8 to 10 a.m. near Madison and Wisconsin Dells, and about 10 a.m. to noon near Waukesha, Milwaukee and Fond du Lac.
Any additional snow showers into the afternoon will be "very light and patchy," the weather service said.
Because temperatures are hovering around freezing across southern Wisconsin, roads will be mostly wet and slushy if they are plowed and treated, the weather service said.
The winter storm warning is in effect until 10 a.m. for counties along the lake from Sheboygan south to Kenosha. Counties in northeast Wisconsin will see their winter storm warning and winter weather advisory end at noon.
— Sophie Carson
6:35 a.m.: 7 miles of Interstate 41 southbound closed due to crash near Oshkosh; most roads icy, snowy or slick
Interstate 41 southbound from State 26 to Fond du Lac County Road N is closed due to a crash, the DOT said.
A jackknifed semi was reported on the road around 4 a.m. Friday. The DOT recommends that travelers take a detour on State 26, then State 23 back to Interstate 41.
Most major highways across Wisconsin were slippery as of 6:30 a.m. Thursday, with snow-covered roads throughout the state, according to 511wi.gov. Ice-covered roads, especially, were reported from Waupaca to Stevens Point.
— Rebecca Loroff
6:30 a.m.: Newspaper delivery delayed across the state
Due to weather issues, delivery of the Wednesday, March 8, print editions of all USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin newspapers will not be completed until 10 a.m.
This affects 11 Wisconsin newspapers. Subscribers can access the e-edition, an exact replica of the printed newspaper, at the links below.
6:15 a.m.: Most Milwaukee area highways have slippery stretches, Milwaukee garbage trucks to join in plowing efforts
Most highways across Wisconsin have slippery stretches, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and some are snow-covered.
Among the snow-covered stretches: Interstate 43 from Milwaukee north to Bayside, and I-94 from the Milwaukee County Zoo to the western edge of Waukesha County.
Within the city of Milwaukee, roughly 100 plows have been salting and clearing roads through the night, according to the city Department of Public Works.
“The consistent wet, heavy snow and intense snowfall rate is making it challenging to clear snow and ice. We are working to address the main routes in preparation for rush hour,” spokesman Brian DeNeve said in a news release.
In the morning, private front-end loaders and garbage trucks will start working to clear snow as well, DeNeve said.
The first goal is to create at least a clear center path for driving on each road. Later, plows can clear additional snow by curbs.
— Sophie Carson
6:05 a.m.: MPS cancels classes, courthouse closed
Milwaukee Public Schools is among the area schools to announce it is closed to students for the day.
However, MPS said that "all Central Services and Administrative Buildings will open at noon and staff in those buildings should report to their work site at that time."
Also, Milwaukee County facilities will be closed after County Executive David Crowley declared a snow emergency.
Among the buildings closed to the public and employees: the Milwaukee County Courthouse, Vel Phillips Detention Center and Marcia P. Coggs Building.
County employees who can work remotely should do so, according to a news release.
— Sophie Carson
6 a.m.: 99,000 customers without power
About 94,000 customers are without power across southeast Wisconsin as heavy snow has fallen, according to We Energies.
The outages appear widespread and not concentrated to one part of the Milwaukee area, according to an online outage map.
The utility urged people to stay away at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and to report any downed lines.
Customers should also report their outage through the We Energies app, online or by calling 800-662-4797.
— Sophie Carson
5:30 a.m.: Heavy snow continues, some areas could see 1-3 inches more before storm ends
Heavy snow continued to fall overnight in Wisconsin, and the winter storm warning will remain in effect until 10 a.m.
Five to 8 inches of snow has fallen across southeast Wisconsin and 1 to 3 inches more is possible, especially for areas close to Lake Michigan, the National Weather Service said in an early-morning update.
Snow will gradually move out of the area this morning, the weather service said.
Here are some snow totals as of the last few hours:
Waukesha: 7.5 inches
Menomonee Falls: 7.5 inches
Mayville: 5 inches
Fond du Lac: 5 inches
— Sophie Carson
10:45 p.m.: Morning commute could be slow and slick, another 2 to 4 inches overnight expected
Most of southern Wisconsin will see another couple inches of snow overnight.
Communities along the lakeshore from Sheboygan to Kenosha are under a winter storm warning overnight. These areas are expected to see an additional 2 to 4 inches of snow on top of the 4 inches that has fallen to the ground.
The shoreline communities are experiencing “lake enhancement snow,” said Cameron Miller with the National Weather Service.
Miller said expect a slow and slick morning commute. Snow is set to taper off around 6 a.m. “There might still be some light snowfall too,” Miller said.
The rest of the state, west of the Milwaukee area, are under a winter storm advisory and should experience less snow than the shoreline communities, Miller said. Around 3 inches of snow has fallen in Madison.
Temperatures are expected to be cold, but about steady with what Wisconsin experienced Thursday — mid to low 30s.
— Drake Bentley
10:25 p.m.: Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office reports 10 storm-related incidents
Since the snow began in Milwaukee County around 4 p.m., the area freeways have seen 10 storm-related incidents.
The sheriff's office says there's been six calls for disabled vehicles and four crashes.
Milwaukee police do not immediately report crash statistics for other area roadways.
— Drake Bentley
10:20 p.m.: Here are the latest snow totals in Wisconsin
As the storm continues to move over western, central and southern Wisconsin, some areas have seen a few inches of snow. Here are the latest snow totals between 9 and 10 p.m.
Portage: 6.5 inches
Milwaukee: 4 inches
Pardeeville: 6 inches
Verona: 2.8 inches
Necedah: 4 inches
La Crosse: 4 inches
— Drake Bentley
9:45 p.m.: Semi truck slides off Highway 145, closes all northbound lanes
All northbound lanes of Highway 145 at the 124th Street on-ramp are closed after a semi truck slid into a ditch due to road conditions, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office says.
Nobody was reported injured.
It's unclear how long the highway will be closed as first responders will need to tow the semi back to the road.
“As snow continues to fall and roadways remain slick, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office encourages drivers to operate their vehicles defensively by driving slower, allowing for a lot of extra braking distance, and keeping distance between themselves and vehicles on either side of them," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "Additionally, drivers can improve road safety for themselves and others by ensuring their vehicles are in proper working order - that headlights, taillights, and brake lights are functional, and that brakes themselves are functional.”
— Drake Bentley
8 p.m.: Road conditions in southern Wisconsin are 'slippery' and 'snow covered'
A few inches of snow has accumulated in southern Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has reported "slippery" and "snow covered" roads for most of the area.
The DOT reports a few traffic incidents resulting in lane closures in Johnson Creek, Verona and Walworth, but the incidents have not affected traffic.
— Drake Bentley
7:05 p.m.: No in-person classes at UW-Milwaukee Friday
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee announced Thursday night that no in-person classes will be held on Friday due to the winter storm.
Online classes and virtual sessions for hybrid courses will still be held. Students should check email and Canvas for additional information from instructors.
The entire campus will not be closed as residence and dining halls will remain open and the Student Union will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. On-campus and off-campus events, included athletics, will be decided on an individual basis and people should check websites for status updates.
Most campus buildings will be locked however and only accessible to employees who have a key or other secured access. The Children's Learning Center will be closed and the Golda Meir Library, and the libraries on the Waukesha and Washington counties campuses will be closed all day.
— Drake Bentley
3 p.m.: Milwaukee airport expecting storm related delays
In a tweet, Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport announced that they will be staying open throughout the duration of the snowstorm, however, delays and cancellations are expected.
"There may be cancellations due to weather in other cities," the tweet read. "Enroll in your airline's text alerts for the latest flight info. Airlines are also waiving all fees if you would like to travel on a different day."
During a snowstorm in late February, Mitchell saw more than 100 flights canceled by various airlines over two days. The airport has said that they are prepared to accommodate flights should airlines want to go through with them.
— Beck Andrew Salgado
How much snow is forecast for the Milwaukee area and other parts of Wisconsin?
All of the Milwaukee area is expected to receive between 5 to 9 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Northern counties in the state are expected to see less snow.
Are there any warnings issued?
All of southeast Wisconsin and up along the lakeshore is under a winter storm warning as are some counties in the southwest and southcentral portion of the state, like La Crosse, Jackson and Grant. Other counties like Rock, Dane, Outagamie and many more are under a winter weather advisory.
When will it start snowing?
Snow will begin in southcentral and southwest Wisconsin at 2 p.m. Thursday, and in southeast Wisconsin at 6 p.m. Peak snowfall is predicted to be from 6 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday.
More:Climate change imperils the upper Mississippi River backwaters. Now nature needs human help.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Snow in Wisconsin: school closings, power outage updates, snow totals
