Up to 10" of snow forecast, drivers urged to take it easy: 'If you don't need to travel, stay home'



OZAUKEE COUNTY -- Another winter storm moved into southeast Wisconsin on Tuesday, Jan. 22 -- prompting a winter storm warning for all of southeast Wisconsin through Wednesday afternoon. The FOX6 Weather Experts said up to 10 inches was expected -- with forecasters predicting the Fox Valley, along the shore of Lake Michigan, could see up to a foot.

Meanwhile, meteorologists expected temperatures to drop to the single digits by Friday with wind chills of 25 to 35 below zero.

Many on Tuesday had just finished cleaning up from the storm that started dropping snow in southeast Wisconsin on Friday, Jan. 18.

For Heather LeBlanc, a Louisiana native, salting the sidewalks before the snow brought some challenges. In downtown Port Washington, LeBlanc was assigned to cover a stretch of sidewalk. Every lift,  pour and toss of salt required technique.



"When I get here, I drive all the way around and look at it first -- mostly just make sure that it is covered," said LeBlanc.

LeBlanc covered the ground outside the downtown post office -- an important job to be finished before Mother Nature delivered the biggest snowstorm of 2019.

Plow and salt truck drivers were also out in force.

"The guys have been itching to get out -- especially because we have newer equipment that we'd like to try out. We're prepared to run 24 hours, seven days. If you don't need to travel, I'd stay home -- and give our drivers plenty of room," said Josh Borden, patrol superintendent at the Ozaukee County Highway Department.



 

Steven Indernuehle



Some residents, like Nick Morrell, were excited for more snow.

"We're supposed to get a good thumping (Tuesday night) and I'm looking forward to it. You can watch the snow fall and look at it in all its peaceful tranquility," said Morrell.

Steven Indernuehle, in West Bend, said we were due what Mother Nature was delivering, but that didn't mean he was happy about it.

"It's to be expected. It's been a very easy winter, so sooner or later, you have to deal with it," said Indernuehle.





Scott Schmidt



The Washington County Highway Commission was working with a surplus of salt.

"Up to now, it's been the lack of snowfall that has been the real difference between this year and the last years," said Scott Schmidt, highway commissioner.

Schmidt was working to carefully coordinate plow and salt truck drivers for Wednesday morning's commute. The FOX6 Weather Experts said the heaviest snow could fall overnight and into the morning.

"The coordination comes in with making sure we have enough guys to fulfill our crews. We only have 34 laborers, so to keep 20 crews going, or 20 trucks going, we make sure we're circulating through, so that they're not running out of hours or getting too tired out on the roadways," said Schmidt.



Ron Deming said he was excited for what more snow would mean for the winter sports he loves.

"I love the snow. Me and my family, we love to snowmobile. We've just been looking forward to getting some snow in this area. It's fun. It's a pretty snowfall," said Deming.