Winds take storm from bad to 'ugly'
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An overnight slushfest Thursday turned to fluffy, blowing and sometimes blinding snow as the first winter storm of the season hit the area.
The Rock County Sheriff's Office urged motorists to stay off the roads until noon today because of anticipated strong winds causing whiteout conditions.
Janesville called off school today because of expected drifting snow, poor driving conditions and extended power outages. Other districts closed for the second day in a row.
The big, wet snow began in Janesville around 1 p.m. Strong winds followed.
Snow clung to trees like glue. Overloaded trees and branches crashed down on power lines across the area, causing scattered power outages.
Electric repair crews also reported high winds damaged power lines by causing the lines to move like whips, producing what is called galloping lines.
Alliant Energy reported 2,300 customers without power in Janesville. Traffic lights on Janesville's east-side commercial areas were knocked out.
Alliant, which was struggling to restore power to more than 10,000 customers across southern Wisconsin, issued a news release saying that some customers in the hardest-hit areas might have to wait hours for power and some would have to wait until today.
Rock Energy Cooperative spokeswoman Barb Uebelacker said 2,370 customers experienced outages starting at 2 p.m. Power had been restored to all but 300 by 8 p.m.
The cooperative covers parts of rural Rock County and fringe areas of Dane, Green and Walworth counties and northern Illinois.
The National Weather Service at 7 p.m. reported 4.5 inches of snow in Milton and 5.3 in Edgerton, but only 1.6 in Afton.
Van Galder Bus Co., which transports Janesville students, used a large sport-utility vehicle to get some students down unplowed roads, Superintendent Karen Schulte reported.
"Van Galder did an incredible job making sure every student was delivered home," Schulte said in an email.
Parents complained to The Gazette and on the district's Facebook page about the decision to keep schools open Thursday.
The decision was made at 5 a.m. Thursday "with assurance from Van Galder bus that students could be transported safely," Schulte said. "There was a concern about rural routes, but the bus company has called parents in the past to meet them to get their student."
The district allows parents to keep their children home for bad weather as long as they inform the school. Parents also are allowed to pick their children up early. An unknown number of parents exercised those options.
Students who stayed in school walked or rode home in the high winds, blowing snow and slushy streets and sidewalks.
A number of parents said the district should have closed school for the day and avoided the problem.
The district followed its school-closing procedures, which include checking with law enforcement, highway departments, a weather forecaster, the Janesville Transit System and the bus company, Schulte said.
The district never closes early for fear of students arriving home to no adult supervision. The district did cancel all after-school activities Thursday.
Rock County's plow crews were out from 4 a.m. to about 8 p.m., Thursday, said Ben Coopman, director of public works. One or two plow trucks got stuck.
"It's getting really ugly, especially on the west and northwest (sides of the county), with lots of fast-falling snow and blowing and drifting," Coopman said at 6:15 p.m.
County crews working the Interstate highways stay out all night, and a crew was on standby all night in case emergency responders needed help, Coopman said.
The main county crew was scheduled to return to plowing at 4 a.m. today.
City of Janesville plows took on residential areas around 6 p.m. Thursday in hopes of clearing streets before the waterlogged snow turned solid.
City crews were expected to be out all night Thursday into today.
The National Weather Service predicted some blowing snow before noon today and then clearing skies with a high near 23. Windy conditions were predicted to continue as the temperature drops into single digits tonight.
Dec 22, 2012 at 7:19 p.m.
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I was thinking more along the lines of Red on that 70s show or whatever it was, gazettefan.
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:49 p.m.
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Well, I don't run but I do bike, and I can tell you that every day I don't get out there means two or more days to make it up. It's not a "feel like it" thing -- either you're committed or you aren't. (By the way, if you do bike there is an indoor winter facility now thanks to MSN Pro Coaching.) As for people's judgement on clothing, boy, talk about having boundary issues.
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:52 p.m.
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It looks more like Ma McCrone is trying to get Mo McCrone to clean his room.
Dec 22, 2012 at 3:43 p.m.
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Mo and Sue McCrone can run in the street all they want during the storm. No one else was out there including Janesville's plows. Furthermore they are both long distance runners and work up quite a sweat running marathons. Worry more about the obese population of Janesville and not these two fine Janesvillians.
Dec 22, 2012 at 2:54 p.m.
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I don't think either of them is the District Attorney. But for a more snazzy look, I suggest that Mo McCrone switch to white socks next time.
Dec 22, 2012 at 2:07 p.m.
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Nice photo gallery, Mr. Lassiter.
Dec 22, 2012 at 1:14 p.m.
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Why are these people jogging around the streets in a blizzard? -Sigma40
Not sure, I would have to guess it has something to do with being d.a.
Dec 22, 2012 at 11:03 a.m.
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I find this photograph an inappropriate example of attire to wear in a blizzard; it simply does not set a good example (for those who need a reminder) that this was a dangerous storm and hypothermia can set in pretty darn quick to exposed flesh. If they must jog, please do it on the sidewalks we are required to have, and wear a snow suit and appropriate winter gear; its okay to sweat in them they are washable.
Dec 22, 2012 at 3:23 a.m.
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Kuddos to the snow plow crews I90 was excellent today. Hwy 59 was in better shape than I thought it would be. Great job snowplow crews
Dec 22, 2012 at 2:16 a.m.
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I agree, maybe a hour or two delay at most for school buses. Society is so paranoid now its pathetic. We get one snow flake and people freak.
Dec 21, 2012 at 9:54 p.m.
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I think Milton should have waited and made the call to close Thurs morning and not Wed night. It was raining all thurs morning. At the very least schools could have been in session a half day Thurs which would have counted, one less make up snow day.
Dec 21, 2012 at 5:31 p.m.
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At least a bright sunny day after this.
Dec 21, 2012 at 5:29 p.m.
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shorts- come on. You need wind protection. Protection from the snow getting wet on your skin then that freezes. morons
Dec 21, 2012 at 5:25 p.m.
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Why are these people jogging around the streets in a blizzard? I see them in every blizzard or snow fall, no these exact people but people. They dont run on the sidewalk but out in the street dangerously close to cars...which the roads are dangerous enough we dont need people jogging in them in a snow storm. Idiots.
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