Blizzard conditions, heavy snow to continue through Monday in Milwaukee area

Blizzard conditions are continuing through the morning Monday, March 16, in southeast Wisconsin, and several additional inches of snow are expected to fall.

People should only travel in emergencies, and they should not get out of their vehicle if stranded, the National Weather Service said. Gusty winds and blowing snow mean visibility will be less than 1/4 mile, the weather service said.

The blizzard warning is in effect until 4 p.m. March 16. Snowfall rates of a half-inch to 1 inch an hour are forecast to continue through mid-morning across southern Wisconsin. Winds of 40 to 45 mph are expected. Blowing snow will make travel difficult even after the heavy snow stops, the weather service said.

Much of southern Wisconsin could see another 4 to 8 inches of snow throughout the day, while cities north of Milwaukee, like Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac and Sheboygan could see another 6 to 10 inches. Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha and other lakeshore communities are expected to see 3 to 5 inches fall.

Dozens of area school districts cancelled classes Monday.

The snow will taper off in the southwest first and the northeast later. Snow in Madison could stop around 10 to noon, while it’s expected to gradually decrease and stop after 4 p.m. in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties.

Temperatures in Milwaukee will go from roughly 21 degrees the morning of March 16 to single digits the morning of March 17. That means wet roads after the snow ends may refreeze going into March 17.

The blizzard conditions March 16 follow a day of extraordinary snowfall in north-central Wisconsin. Crivitz had 25 inches of snow, Sister Bay counted 24 inches, Suamico and Wausau each recorded 23 inches, and Osseo saw 21 inches, according to the weather service.