Madison in the Morning

Madison in the Morning

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Dane County leaders urge travel caution with coming winds, cold

MADISON (WKOW) - Officials say in Dane County say increasing wind speeds and extended, bitter cold will make the snowfall Thursday and Friday more difficult to clear and more problematic for travelers.

Dane County Highway Department Manager Jerry Mandli says 60 snow-clearing vehicles will be working before and after the storm. Mandli says with wind gusts as high as 35 mph during Friday's early morning hours, there will be changing conditions on roadways.

Mandli says temperatures in the single digits by Friday will hamper clean up. "As it gets colder, snow will get lighter. You can't really plow if it's up in the air," Mandli says.

Mandli says several events of precipitation this winter have taken place with temperatures around freezing, creating challenges eliminating snowpacks.

County Emergency Management Director Charles Tubbs says local partners such as hospitals have been involved in planning responses to this weather event. Tubbs says much depends on people considering foregoing travel over Thursday and into Friday, and for those who do travel, to be prepared. "Gas, food, phone, phone charger, blankets," Tubbs says. "It's also not a time for vehicles to break down."

County Housing Coordinator Casey Becker says organizations offering shelter space are expanding hours in anticipation of possibly a week-long period of high temperatures in the single digits. She says one shelter space for women and children will operate 24-7, allowing guests to remain inside at all times if they choose.

Becker says social services outreach workers have been networking over the past week to identify people who are in vulnerable situations with the coming cold weather to offer shelter options.

Becker says changes during the pandemic to create more space in shelter environments for social distancing has increased safety for those using the space and has also provided more capacity as people seek shelter from the cold.

"Let's take care, use caution, with an eye out for our neighbors," County Executive Parisi says, noting the elderly should receive checks on their welfare.

Mandli says snowplow crews will work quickly, with the knowledge the end of the snowfall will be followed by plunging temperatures capable of icing roads. Mandli says snow "storage" locations have been created along roadways during the winter season so far to help move portions of existing snowpack out of travel lanes. He says special attention will be given to de-ice bridges.

The county's towns and villages are responsible for clearing their streets of snow. Mazomanie Public Works Director Mark Geisler knows his crew of four will need to work swiftly.

"It's going to be wet and heavy to move, but if you don't get ahead of it and you let the temperatures drop, it's going to be like concrete," Geisler says.

Mandli says he's confident his crews will make travel as safe as possible.

"They're trained to do the job," he says. "Their operation is like a symphony."

More at WKOW 27 News


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