Like most Janesville residents, Michale Thompson was out early Monday clearing the snow off the sidewalk at his South Jackson Street residence.
Kevin Isensee has the relative comfort of an enclosed seat on a snowblower as he clears the walks around the American Farm Implement facility off River Street in downtown Janesville this morning. About five inches of snow fell in Janesville overnight but winds have created problems with drifting snow.
JANESVILLE — The first winter snow of the season snarled traffic, closed roads and generally made life difficult or dangerous.
Janesville received 5 inches of snow as part of a band that dropped 6 inches to 10 inches of snow throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
The National Weather Service says a slow moving low pressure area over the central Great Lakes brought the snow starting Sunday. The heaviest spanned from around Sheboygan south to West Bend and Port Washington and west to Oconomowoc, Whitewater and La Grange.
Winds of 15 to 30 miles per hour produced blowing and drifting snow in outlying areas.
East of Janesville, blowing and drifting snow caused a cluster of runoffs, and Highway 14 was closed for about three hours.
What initially was reported as a two-vehicle traffic accident ended up involving 20 vehicles and closing Highway 14 east of Janesville, said a lead dispatcher this morning at the Rock County Communications Center.
The first call came in at 11:23 p.m. for a traffic accident that actually was a runoff, the dispatcher said.
But when Rock County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived, three cars were involved, the road was blocked and tow trucks were called, he said.
While deputies were dealing with this situation, "more and more cars got caught in the snow in the same area—by Scharine Road, just west of the county line—and it eventually ended up being 20 vehicles out there and stuck," the dispatcher said.
So Highway 14 was closed for a period of time—11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., he said.
"It was white-outs in several spots and heavy, blowing snow that was worse than the snow fall," said Sgt. Curt Fell.
"It was blowing so hard across the fields, a lot of the roads were completely covered," Fell said.
Fortunately, Fell said, "all of my people (deputies) came out safe, and all the drivers on the road were just fine even though they were shaken up a little. Other than that, everyone is doing well."
Rock County Highway shop crews came out to lend a hand and to clear the road, Fell said.
By 2:30 a.m., everything was cleared except one semi that still was blocking one lane. But once the heavy-duty wrecker arrived, it was pulled out of the way; the highway was clear and reopened by 3 a.m.
"We were all good after that," the dispatcher said.
As of 6:30 a.m., the communications center still was receiving many reports of bad roads—icy plus blowing and drifting snow—and some vehicles getting stuck in the roadway in drifts.
In Janesville, city officials decided not to declare a snow emergency.
Usually, the city declares a snow emergency after 2 inches or more of accumulation.
But before making a decision, Operations Director John Whitcomb checks the National Weather Service predictions and consults with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation pavement maintenance specialist.
That specialist considers temperatures, snowfall and a variety of other factors when making a decision.
A snow emergency means that people have to move their cars off the street to driveways, garages or specific parking lots. Many downtown residents don't have off-street parking privileges and have to move their cars more than a block away.
"If we're not sure if we're going to plow, we don't call one," Whitcomb said. "We get just as many complaints when we call them and cancel them as we do when we call them."
This morning, plows focused on the main streets and arterials.
The city also cancelled its pickup of bagged yard waste. In addition, the city's demolition and compost sites closed early at 3 p.m.
Clinton School and Beloit Turner School districts had delayed openings.
The winter weather advisory remained in effect until noon today, according to the National Weather Service in Sullivan.
Light snow will continue to fall today, with an additional one-half inch expected.
Blustery north winds of 15 mph to 30 mph will cause blowing and drifting snow, especially in rural areas and on west to east roads.