Wisconsin
Wildfire season in Wisconsin has started amid unseasonably warm winter
Wisconsin’s season is starting early this year due to the lack of snow cover in what’s been an unseasonably warm winter.
The state Department of Natural Resources is asking residents to avoid burning because of high fire danger across the state. Last weekend alone, the agency responded to 15 wildfires burning 30 acres.
Since the start of the year, the DNR has tracked more than 50 fires that burned 160 acres. For comparison, the 10-year average over the same period is three wildfires burning two acres.
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Catherine Koele, wildfire prevention specialist for the Wisconsin DNR, said the state’s typically still has snow on the ground by March and into April. She said seeing 50 fires by February is “quite unusual.”
“Ninety-eight percent of our fires are caused by people, so it’s no surprise that the majority of these fires are caused by debris burning,” Koele said. “Folks are getting outside, enjoying the beautiful weather and choosing to get out there and clean up their yards pretty early this year.”
She said dry and dead vegetation mixed with warm temperatures, gusty winds, low humidity and burning yard waste have contributed to the majority of the fires in the state over the last two months.
That’s why the DNR is asking Wisconsinites to avoid outdoor burning, including limiting campfires and bonfires. The agency also recommends discarding hot ashes into a metal container until they cool down.
Koele also said burn permits also play an important role in preventing wildfires. She said the DNR manages burn permits in about 43 counties, but local municipalities also have their own burn restrictions. The agency says it’s suspending burn permits in 25 counties.
“It’s really important to obtain those burn permits (and) follow the rules on those burn permits,” she said. “There’s a lot of great safety tips, and also just make sure that those fires are completely out before you leave.”
Last year, with drought hitting much of Wisconsin throughout the summer, there were more than 1,000 fires that burned 4,816 acres, according to DNR data. That’s the most acres burned by wildfires since 2013 when 9,109 acres burned.
“2023’s fire season was a little bit more active than a typical fire season,” said Koele. “It just it kind of lingered on into the summer months.”
El Niño weather pattern, climate change contribute to fire conditions
Benjamin Sheppard, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Milwaukee/Sullivan office, said the state typically doesn’t have wildfire concerns in February because there’s normally snow on the ground preventing vegetation from drying out.
But there has been very little snow this year due an El Niño weather pattern that brought warmer temperatures and less snow, Sheppard said. Climate change is also contributing to warmer temperatures.
Sheppard said rain is forecasted for Tuesday into Wednesday and temperatures are expected to drop into the teens before rising again.
“By Friday, we currently have low 50s in our forecast system. By Saturday, we have low 60s,” Sheppard said. “With that in mind, this pattern looks to continue and the early start (to) fire weather season has begun.”
READ MORE: Wisconsin on track to have warmest winter ever recorded
Sheppard also said counties bordering Lake Michigan could avoid some fire conditions from cool wind coming off the lake, but the southwest portion of the state faces an elevated fire risk.
He said the wind hitting southwestern Wisconsin is warm and dry as it comes from Illinois and the central United States.
As climate change continues, Sheppard said he’s concerned the state could see more unseasonably warm winters and more early fire seasons.
“I would not be surprised if as a result of the changing climate that we were to have more years like this, where winters are milder,” he said. “Not only is climate change a contributing factor to the increase in these anomalous events that we’re seeing, but also something that’s going to continue in the future.”
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 25, 2024, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
05-35-45-60-63, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
0-9-4
8-1-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
3-2-7-4
0-0-7-7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
Midday: 02-03-04-05-08-10-11-13-15-19-22
Evening: 01-02-03-04-09-11-12-14-17-18-20
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
03-06-15-18-25
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from Nov. 25 drawing
08-17-28-30-32-34, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
- Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
- Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
- Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Gas prices are the cheapest they’ve been since the pandemic, just as people prepare to travel for the holidays.
According to AAA Wisconsin, the average gas prices is $2.86 per gallon in the state, a new low since 2020.
”We’ve had so many disruptions in the last four to five years between Covid and then the Ukraine conflict that has sent prices either far down or bringing them to historic highs,” AAA Director of Public Affairs Nick Jarmusz said. “We kind of forget what normal is.”
He said the low cost at the pump is a result of peak summer travel season ending, an even supply and demand for fuel and fewer global crises.
”Right now we’re in a pretty favorable balance between lower demand and pretty plentiful supply and no real disruptions to speak of,” he said.
People can save more money at the pump if they drive the speed limit.
”By sticking closer to the speed limit, avoiding aggressive driving in situations, you can actually increase your fuel efficiency by about 40% or up to 40%,” Jarmusz said. “Which can add up to pretty significant savings.”
If trends continue, he also said prices might drop even more. ”Really, I would not be surprised to see these prices continue to go down,” Jarmusz said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the lowest prices we’ll see this year yet.”
According to AAA the best times to travel before Thanksgiving on Thursday is in the morning hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Roads will be busiest in the afternoons.
Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.
Copyright 2024 WMTV. All rights reserved.
Wisconsin
Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium
MADISON – A look at the unofficial two-deep for the Wisconsin football team heading into its game against Minnesota at 11 a.m. Friday at Camp Randall Stadium.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
1 – Braedyn Locke, 6-1, 205, redshirt-soph.
2 – Mabrey Mettauer, 6-4, 230, fr.
Running back
1 – Tawee Walker, 5-9, 218, sr.
2 – Darrion Dupree, 5-10, 205, fr.
Receiver
1 – Bryson Green, 6-3, 213, sr.
2 – C.J. Williams, 6-2, 196, jr.
Receiver
1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.
2 – Quincy Burroughs, 6-2, 212, r-soph.
Slot recever
1 – Will Pauling, 5-10, 187, r-jr.
2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 187, r-fr.
Tight end
1 – Riley Nowakowski, 6-1, 243, r-sr.
2 – Tucker Ashcraft, 6-5, 255, soph.
Left tackle
1 – Jack Nelson, 6-7, 316, sr.
2 – Barrett Nelson, 6-6, 302, r-soph.
Left guard
1 – Joe Brunner, 6-5, 313- r-soph.
2. – James Durand, 6-5, 305, r-fr.
Center
1 – Jake Renfro, 6-3, 302, r-sr.
2. – Kerry Kodanko, 6-2, 308, r-sr.
Right guard
1 – Joe Huber, 6-5, 310, r-sr.
2 – JP Benzschawel, 6-6, 312, r-jr.
Right tackle
1 – Riley Mahlman, 6-8, 308, r-jr.
2 – Kevin Heywood, 6-8, 325, fr.
DEFENSE
Line
1 – Ben Barten, 6-5, 308, r-sr.
2 – Elijah Hills, 6-3, 282, sr.
Line
1 – Curt Neal, 6-0, 290, r-soph.
2 – Cade McDonald, 6-6, 285, r-sr.
Outside linebacker
1 – Darryl Peterson, 6-1, 248, r-jr.
2 – Aaron Witt, 6-6, 247, r-jr.
Inside linebacker
1 – Jake Chaney, 5-11, 233, sr.
2 – Tackett Curtis, 6-2, 228, soph.
Inside linebacker
1 – Christian Alliegro, 6-4, 240, soph.
2 – Jaheim Thomas, 6-4, 245, r-sr.
Outside linebacker
1 – Leon Lowery, 6-3, 252, r-sr.
2 – Sebastian Cheeks, 6-3, 230, r-soph., or John Pius, 6-4, 250, r-sr.
Cornerback
1 – Ricardo Hallman, 5-10, 185, r-jr.
2 – R.J. Delancy III, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Jonas Duclona, 5-10, 190, soph.
Strong safety
1 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.
2 – Owen Arnett, 5-11, 210, r-jr.
Free safety
1 – Preston Zachman, 6-1, 212, r-sr.
2 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.
Cornerback
1 – Nyzier Fourqurean, 6-1, 190, r-sr.
2 – R.J. Delancy, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Xavier Lucas, 6-2, 198, fr.
Nickel back
1 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.
2 – Max Lofy, 5-10, 188, r-sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter
1 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-3, 225, soph.
2 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.
Field goal kicker
1 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.
2 – Gavin Lahm, 6-0, 213, jr.
Kickoffs
1 – Gavin Lahm, 6-10, 213, jr.
2 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.
Long snapper
1 – Cayson Pfeiffer, 6-0, 205, sr.
2 – Duncan McKinley, 6-2, 222, r-sr.
Holder
1 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.
2 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-2, 225, soph.
Punt returner
1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.
2 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.
Kickoff returner
1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.
2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 197, r-fr.
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