Over 26 Minnesota, Wisconsin Counties Now In Winter Storm Warning

Spring may be just over two weeks away, but severe winter weather is not going away quietly in large portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The National Weather Service is bracing residents for a strong early spring system that will find rain quickly changing, with intensifying winds gusting between 45 to 55 mph.

The combination of heavy falling snow and strong winds is expected to cause dangerous travel conditions with slippery roads, significant visibility reductions, fallen branches, and even a period of blizzard-like conditions.

As this storm system approaches, the National Weather Service has been busy issuing many winter weather alerts, including the following Winter Storm Warnings that impact Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Winter Storm Warning #1

This Winter Storm Warning impacts portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin, including the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Chaska, Blaine, Gaylord, St. Peter, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Center City, Victoria, and Osceola.

WHAT: Heavy snow is expected with total snow accumulations between 4 and 7 inches and winds gusting as high as 50 mph.
WHERE: Minnesota, Sibley, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Nicollet Counties. In Wisconsin, Polk County.
WHEN: From 7 PM Tuesday to 3 PM Wednesday.
IMPACTS: Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. In Minnesota, call 5 1 1 or visit 511mn.org for road conditions. In Wisconsin, call 5 1 1 or visit 511wi.gov for road conditions.

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Winter Storm Warning #2

Another Winter Storm Warning goes into effect at 7 PM Tuesday impacting both Minnesota and Wisconsin, including the cities of Hastings, Stillwater, Rice Lake, and Hudson.

WHAT: Heavy snow is expected with total snow accumulations between 4 and 7 inches and winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
WHERE: The Minnesota counties of Washington and Dakota. In Wisconsin, Barron and St. Croix Counties.
WHEN: From 7 PM Tuesday to 3 PM Wednesday.
IMPACTS: .Travel could be very difficult with areas of blowing snow significantly reducing visibility and slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. In Minnesota, call 5 1 1 or visit 511mn.org for road conditions. In Wisconsin, call 5 1 1 or visit 511wi.gov for road conditions.

Winter Storm Warning #3

This Winter Storm Warning goes into effect at 6 PM and impacts the Wisconsin cities of Bayfield, Ashland, Hurley, and Washburn.

WHAT: Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches except between 8 and 11 inches for northern and east-central Ashland County and between 8 and 11 inches for northern Iron County and ice accumulations around a light glaze. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
WHERE: Ashland, Bayfield, and Iron Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the northwestern area of the Lac du Flambeau Band, the Red Cliff Band, and the Bad River Reservation. Other locations include the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Madeline Island.
WHEN: From 6 PM Tuesday to 6 PM CST Wednesday.
IMPACTS: Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Call 511 or visit www.511wi.gov for Wisconsin road information.

Winter Storm #4

This Wisconsin Winter Storm Warning also goes into effect at 6 PM, impacting the cities of Hayward and Phillips.

WHAT: Heavy mixed precipitation is expected with total snow accumulations between 5 and 7 inches and ice accumulations around a light glaze. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
WHERE: Price and Sawyer Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation.
WHEN: From 6 PM Tuesday to 3 PM CST Wednesday.
IMPACTS: Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Call 511 or visit www.511wi.gov for Wisconsin road information.

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Winter Storm Warning #5

This Winter Storm warning goes into effect at 9 PM Tuesday and impacts the Wisconsin cities of Ladysmith, River Falls, Durand, Eau Claire, Menomonie, and Chippewa Falls.

WHAT: Heavy snow is expected with total snow accumulations between 4 and 7 inches and winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
WHERE: Rusk, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, and Pierce Counties.
WHEN: From 9 PM Tuesday to 3 PM Wednesday.
IMPACTS: Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning commute.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Call 5 1 1 or visit 511wi.gov for road conditions.

RELATED: Blizzard Warnings Now Issued In Over 20 Counties In Minnesota

Winter Storm Warning #6

This Winter Storm Warning goes into effect at midnight tonight in Wisconsin, impacting the cities of Alma and Medford.

WHAT: Heavy snow expected with total snow accumulations between 4 and 7 inches and winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
WHERE: Taylor and Buffalo Counties.
WHEN: From midnight tonight to 6 PM Wednesday.
IMPACTS: Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Visit 511wi.gov for road conditions.

SEE NOW: 7 Helpful Winter Life Hacks For Your Vehicle In Wisconsin

The National Weather Service stresses that even as the falling snow ends, blowing snow and visibility restrictions may persist within all these areas impacts. However, overall conditions are expected to gradually improve later Wednesday as the snow ends and winds slowly decrease.

17 Things You Must Never Flush Down Your Toilet In Minnesota Or Wisconsin

Having to call someone for home repairs is never fun and the costs that are associated with those calls always seem more than we expect and they come at the worst times.

A common call people make is to plumbers, and many of those issues happen in the bathroom. If you have kids, who may not know exactly what goes in the toilet, there's a good chance they've flushed something down that caused problems your plunger couldn't fix.

However, you don't need kids to have those issues because everyone can get confused about what can safely be flushed down the toilet. A key thing to remember is that toilet paper breaks down in water and rarely causes a blockage, but anything else could lead to you calling a plumber for help.

Even if they don't clog your toilet, 17 specific things have a good chance of getting caught in the machinery of your city's wastewater treatment plant. Repairs are costly on this machinery so it's vital that you NOT flush the following items to protect your plumbing and to help save your city's time and resources.

Gallery Credit: David Drew