A Rare Ice Storm Warning Now Issued In Portion Of Wisconsin

Spring may be here, as far as the calendar is concerned, but for portions of Wisconsin, Mother Nature must not have gotten the memo.

The weather leading up to Easter weekend has felt more like winter than spring, with Winter Storm Watches and Winter Warnings being issued for parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Now, for good measure, the National Weather Service also issued an Ice Storm Warning for two counties in Wisconsin, which is a rare occurrence.

While not common in Wisconsin, Ice Storm Warnings occur periodically, typically once every few years. While the state averages 3 to 5 winter storms per season, a significant ice storm (one causing major impacts) generally occurs only once every 4 or 5 years.

Ice Storm Warning Issued In Wisconsin

The rare Ice Storm Warning impacts the cities of Rhinelander and Crandon tonight, and if that weren't bad enough, there will also be a Winter Storm Warning that will go into effect later Friday. Has spring really sprung?

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Here are the details:

What: For the Ice Storm Warning, significant icing. Additional snow accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations between one tenth and two tenths of an inch. For the Winter Storm Watch, significant icing is possible. Total ice accumulations between one-quarter and three-tenths of an inch are possible.
Where: Oneida and Forest Counties.
When: For the Ice Storm Warning, until 1 AM CDT Friday. For the Winter Storm Watch, from Friday evening through Saturday morning.
Impacts: Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel could be hazardous. The hazardous conditions will impact the evening commute.

SEE NOW: Over 400 Highway Improvement Projects Now Scheduled In Wisconsin

The National Weather Service says that travel is strongly discouraged in this area. If you must travel, please keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power outages. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.