Winter Storm Caused Closings, Traffic Backups

Update at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday

Update at 9:45 a.m.: Traffic is moving well on Racine County's stretch of I-94 this morning, but slippery stretches and snow are making travel more difficult than usual closer to Milwaukee. According to the Wisconsin DOT's traffic map, freeways throughout the Milwaukee area are slippery.

The map shows traffic speeds of varying from 30-55 mph between the Mitchell and Marquette interchanges on I-43/94. Traffic is moving between 45 mph and regular speeds on I-894. Traffic from the Marquette Interchange to the Zoo Interchange is moving slow in spots, at speeds between 30 and 45 mph, and at normal speeds in others. 

Traffic on I-43 west of the Hale Interchange, and I-94 south of the Mitchell Interchange are generally moving at normal speeds.

Traffic on I-794 is also going slow, between 30 and 45 mph. The Marquette Interchange appears to be moving fairly well, except for northbound traffic on I-43/94 turning east onto I-794. That ramp is moving at speeds less than 20 mph.

Update at 9:30 a.m.: Patch's media partners at WISN 12 News said the Racine County Sheriff's Department responded to more than 75 weather-related accident overnight, although no injuries were reported. The National Weather Service still has a winter weather advisory for Ozaukee, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties, which will continue to be  in effect until noon Wednesday.

The Racine Unified School District, Racine Lutheran and the Prairie School canceled classes for Wednesday. However,  University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Gateway Technical College have not cancelled classes.

Updated 7:50 p.m.

Sturtevant Public Works Director Chuck Stachowski has declared a snow emergency for that village starting at midnight tonight.

With totals expected to climb between six and nine inches by the time all is said and done, the emergency is open-ended to give residents the time they need to get their cars off the street.

When Sturtevant declares a snow emergency, all cars must be moved off village streets to allow plows to get through.

"There is significant drifting, especially on north-south streets," he said.

Crews there have been out clearing streets since 2 p.m. and plan to keep working until about 9:30. They'll be back at it around 4:30 a.m. to get roads ready for the morning commute, Stachowski added.

Snow started flying in Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant around 1:30 p.m., and Patch is working to keep you up to date on what's going on outside.

Our media partners at WISN 12 News reported on their 5 p.m. newscast that Racine County not only got hit the hardest, but also that the snow isn't expected to stop for several more hours.

Sturtevant cancelled its Continual Committee tonight, and Racine Unified School District parents received automated calls Tuesday shortly after 3 p.m. to let them know all after school activities, including Lighted Schoolhouse, were cancelled. Only Goodland and SC Johnson elementary schools still held their afternoon Lighted Schoolhouse programs.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Ozaukee, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties that is in effect until noon Wednesday. WISN 12 News is forecasting 6 to 9 inches of wet, heavy snow for Racine and Kenosha counties.

Here are the school and business closings from our media partners at WISN 12 News.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is warning drivers to stay off the expressways as conditions get worse because of the weather:

As snow continues to fall in the southeast region of Wisconsin, travel on area freeways and roadways is becoming increasingly hazardous.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is seeing increased run-off vehicles in Racine, Kenosha and Waukesha counties. WisDOT warns of low visibility and continued slippery conditions throughout the evening.

For the latest road conditions, incidents and travel times, visit www.511.wi.gov