Updraft: February 7, 2008 Archive

Incredible storm

Posted at 7:02 AM on February 7, 2008 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)

What a whopper.

The same storm that produced the Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak dumped prolific snow totals on southern Wisconsin Wednesday. Over 20 inches of snow fell near Beloit, Wisconsin, and a large area from Madison to Milwaukee has seen over a foot of snow.

Over 800 vehicles were stranded on I-90, some for up to 8 hours. The Wisconsin National Guard flew a Blackhawk helicopter over the scene to survey the situation late last night, as ground crews worked to free stranded motorists.

The snow was part of the same low pressure system that produced as many as 78 tornadoes on Tuesday. An intense upper low spun northeast from the central plains into northern Illinois, wringing our every possible inch of snow.

It's the latest barrage in a winter of snow for southern Wisconsin. Madison has had 73.7 inches of snow so far this winter season. That's over 6 feet!

Wisconsin storm details from Milwaukee NWS

Snow totals

We could use some of that snow here in much of Minnesota. It looks like we'll have to settle for an inch or so with our next arctic front which sails through the state Friday night. Expect blizzard conditions in open areas as winds of 40 to 50 mph.

Blizzard watch!

The good news is we'll enjoy a couple of mild days today and Friday, and the weekend cold snap will be short lived. We'll moderate quickly next week!

PH

(1 Comments)

Wisconsin whiteout

Posted at 3:26 PM on February 7, 2008 by Paul Huttner

Parts of southern Wisconsin had as much snow this week as we've seen in the Twin Cities all season. Madison's 73.7" season snow is within 3" of the snowiest winter on record, 76.1" in 1978-79.

Check out the photos of stranded motorists in I-90 this morning.

2000 motorists stranded

PH