The winter of 2011-2012 in Wisconsin will be colder than last year. The ReadyWisconsin Website reminds people to prepare for this unusually cold weather.
James Madden, a specialist forecaster, states "there is a potentially record breaking US winter for 2011-2012 with extremely cold temperatures and exceptional levels of snow."
According to his weather forecasting report, snowfall will be above normal in most locations, including Wisconsin. The Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts, "A moderate La Niña in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is expected to be a dominant climate factor that will influence the December through February winter weather in the United States. It enhances the chance of below-normal temperatures of Wisconsin."
Snows cause accidents in Wisconsin every year. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation National Weather Service says, "On average, 60 people are killed and 6,000 injured each winter season in accidents when roads are ice, snow or slush covered. Many crashes are caused by driving too fast. Also, when the first blast of winter arrives, motorists often need to re-learn how to drive in slippery condition."
ReadyWisconsin website issues a snow alert on this weekend. Todd Prichard, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at Wisconsin Emergency Management, says, "A winter storm watch is in effect for west central Wisconsin for Saturday, December 10th. A potent storm system is expected to impact travel conditions."
According to the National Weather Service, the system will move into Wisconsin, bringing a rain and snow mixture late Friday and then turning into snow on Saturday. Western and Central Wisconsin are expected to receive the heaviest snowfall amounts of up to six inches.
ReadyWisconsin website reminds residences prepare for the cold weather. Pritchard suggests, "Start out thinking about the basics of survival – fresh water, food, safety, warmth, sanitation and clean air." ReadyWisconsin website provides a Kit Worksheet to help Wisconsin residences get ready for emergencies.
Ready Wisconsin is a state counterpart to the national campaign, a campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and response to emergencies, including extreme heat, flooding, thunderstorms, tornados, winter storms, house fire, and wildfire. The ReadyWisconsin campaign, launched in September 2008, is a joint initiative of Wisconsin Emergency Management and the Wisconsin Citizen Corps. It is funded by US Homeland Security.
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