Spring got off to a slow start in Wisconsin and Illinois as a cold front blew through the western Great Lakes region dumping snow.
“A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for all of southeastern Wisconsin thru 4 p.m. Friday. Expect difficult travel Friday morning and afternoon,” announced WTMJ-TV 4 News in Milwaukee on March 22. “Snow showers began overnight leading to a quick accumulation on roadways.
“Overall, southeastern Wisconsin is expecting 3-6″ of a heavier & wet snow throughout the morning and early afternoon,” WTMJ continued. “Higher amounts (over 6″) are possible where heavier bands set up. Snowfall rates may increase during the morning rush hour and into the afternoon, leading to rapid reductions in visibility and quick accumulations on the roadways.”
South and east of Wisconsin, Illinois was also getting slammed with fast falling wet, heavy snow.
“Commuters face slick roads as several inches of snow expected in northern counties close to Wisconsin border,” said the headline of WBBM 780 AM’s story covering the storm. On X, the National Weather Service’s Chicago bureau warned drivers to be cautious due to the wintery conditions, with blowing snow limiting visibility and making the roads slick.
Snow was falling at a rate of more than an inch an hour along parts of Interstate 88 corridor, with more than 6 inches of accumulation possible in some areas. A number of weather related traffic accidents were reported in the early morning hours of March 22 on Interstate Highway 94, according to Chicago’s NBC 5.