First Major Snowstorm in NE Wisconsin Causes Problems
By: Kris Schuller
Updated: December 20, 2012
BROWN COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) This first winter storm of the season took no one by surprise. Still it caused plenty of problems all across Northeast Wisconsin. The storm is still slowly moving through the area after blowing in overnight, bringing with it high winds and up to a foot of snow.
After a day of snowfall it's time to start digging out. At the Lambeau Field parking lot, Brian Behnke of Apple Valley Landscaping has a long night ahead.
"It will actually take 16 hours to clean it up," said heavy machinery operator Behnke. "Go over it multiple times to make sure it's clean for everyone."
The snow filling the parking lot came in early this morning - causing problems for motorists in Brown County on their way to work. While conditions sent some cars sliding into the ditch along US 41 - setting those drivers up for an expensive towing bill that could run $130, many more were able to navigate safely through the wet, slushy snow.
"Considering as much snow as we've gotten it's actually been fairly decent on the roads right now," said one man while filling up his gasoline tank at a Allouez gasoline station. "I think the higher temperatures have kept them relatively clean as the snow plows get the snow off of them," said Brown County Emergency Management Director, Cullen Peltier. "But they are still dangerous obviously."
Travel by air was another issue as blizzard-like conditions completely shut Austin Straubel Airport. The goal tonight - is to get things back on track Friday morning.
"Our crews will stay throughout the evening and make sure all the runways and taxiways are cleaned off so the airlines can resume a reasonably normal operation tomorrow," said Airport Director, Tom Miller.
But for the rest of tonight, people like Behnke will keep digging out.
"The bigger the better," said Behnke.
The snow that slowed us all here in Northeast Wisconsin.
Today approximately 35 snow-related accidents were reported in Brown County. A blizzard warning remains in effect until midnight.
