Old Man Winter gets his Last Licks in Before New Year

The Chippewa Valley has already set a record for the largest snowfall in one year, and it looks like we're going to get hit with another winter storm right before the end of the year. The red banner at the top of the site shows weather warnings. The predicted snowfall for tomorrow has been inching upward throughout the day, and we're now under an official Winter Storm Warning, with predictions of up to 10" of snow in some of the area. 

Please be careful. If you do not have to travel tomorrow - don't. If you do have to travel, remember that the roads are likely to be terrible. Make sure you have winter supplies. Some weather updates will appear from 511 on the Chippewa Valley Twitterstorm on the front page, and we'll bring you updates on any serious road conditions we know about. One of our 2020 projects involves getting a direct 511 feed on the site for the Chippewa Valley only.

The NOAA warning for tomorrow follows:

AREAS AFFECTED : BARRON; CHIPPEWA; DUNN; EAU CLAIRE; RUSK

...WINTER STORM CONTINUES THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... .Areas of drizzle this afternoon will turn to snow across western Minnesota this evening. One to 3 inches are expected there tonight.

As temperatures drop to near freezing overnight, the drizzle may become freezing drizzle across eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Another round of snow will move in Monday and impact mainly eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin through Monday evening.

Snow may be heavy at times, producing rates of 1 inch per hour. Snow accumulation will range from 4 to 8 inches, generally along and east of I-35, with amounts gradually tapering down to around an inch near the South Dakota border.

The snow will quickly taper off late Monday evening as the storm pulls away. Northwest winds will increase late tonight and continue into Monday night with gusts of 35 to 40 mph possible. This will cause areas of blowing snow.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect Monday and Monday evening for all of western Wisconsin and Chisago County in Minnesota, and will continue through Monday evening across far western Minnesota as well. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the remainder of the area. If snow totals are expected to be slightly more than currently forecasted in the metro or the evening commute is expected to be severely impacted, then the Winter Storm Warning may need to be expanded westward.

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM MONDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST MONDAY NIGHT... *

WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze. *

WHERE...Barron, Rusk, Dunn, Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties. *

WHEN...From 6 AM Monday to midnight CST Monday night. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening commutes.