Editor's note: This story will be update throughout the day Wednesday.
Snow and high winds are impacting northern Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula Wednesday.
Power Outages: There are a large number of power outages being reported in Vilas and Lincoln County Wednesday morning.
The Wisconsin Public Service outage map is showing more than 5,700 customers without power as of 11:00 a.m.
WPS says it's working safely and quickly to restore power. It's already restored power to more than 1,500 people.
XCEL energy is also reporting thousands of outages in Wisconsin and the western Upper Peninsula.
XCEL announced earlier this week that it was preparing crews ahead of this storm.
Winds started picking up this morning and could gust as high as 50 miles per hour today.
Warming Centers: As temperatures drop and people remain without power, some warming centers have opened.
The Town of Mercer will be opening the community center as a warming center at 11a.m. Wednesday. They advise you to bring your own food, sleeping stuff and entertainment. There is a stove, refrigerator and tv.
The Bel-Air Motel in Land O'Lakes says people are welcome in their lower floor meeting room.
The Hurley Senior Center will open as a warming shelter at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday. Pets are not allowed inside the shelter.
Road Conditions: 511WI is showing partially and completely snow covered roads across the Northwoods as of 8:30 a.m.
If you have to travel today, make sure you're prepared. Wisconsin Emergency Management recommends keeping the following in your emergency car kit in the winter:
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Extra stocking caps, warm socks, gloves/mittens
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First-aid kit
- Booster cables and windshield brush/scraper
- Drinking water and high-calorie, non-perishable food (trail mix, energy/protein bars)
- Sand or cat litter for traction
- Cell phone adapter/charger
Snowy scenes: Here's a look at some snow of the in Iron & Gogebic Counties this morning where snow has been falling all night:
Original post: Snow and high winds are expected to create hazardous travel conditions Wednesday.
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for Gogebic and Iron Counties starting at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through 6:00 a.m. Thursday.
The Hurley/Ironwood Area could see upwards for two feet of snow by Thanksgiving Day.
Price, Vilas, Oneida, and Forest Counties are under Winter Storm Warnings starting Tuesday night through Wednesday evening or early Thursday in Vilas County’s case.
In general, the higher totals are expected the further northwest you go.
“We've got the pretty tight gradient where we could have 18+ inches up in northwestern Vilas down to maybe 8-12 around Eagle River,” said Gus Kaiser with the National Weather Service Green Bay. “That falls off more in the four-to-eight-inch range for much of Oneida, northern Forest and Florence counties. Then you get a little further south, a little farther away from the lake effect, it's more where you see that blanket two-to-five-inch range.”
With Wednesday being one of the busiest travel days for Thanksgiving, the National Weather Service is urging people to be cautious.
Even in areas that aren’t getting as much snow, winds are going to be a factor.
“Pretty good chance of seeing 35 to 50 mile an hour gusts at times, beginning mid to late Wednesday morning through the afternoon, and help create problems with blowing snow reducing visibilities,” said Kaiser. “Also, could potentially create the chance for some Isolated power outages, as well as creating some hazardous driving conditions.”
There is the possibility for more snow over the weekend—but Kaiser says there’s still a lot of uncertainty.
