Category Archives: Weather

Here are a few more updates and tips from the city as storm cleanup continues …

• Most alleys were plowed by Thursday morning, and plow crews continue to work widening the streets to push the snow closer to curbs. This may mean snow will be put back on driveways and sidewalks – an unfortunate but necessary reality after storms like this. Your continued patience is appreciated. Plowing will continue Friday.
• To those residents who live near one of the city’s 667 fire hydrants, please take some time and shovel them out. Residents are also advised to clear catch basins to avoid street flooding from melting snow once the weather warms (come July, at this pace).
• Don’t forget to clear furnace and dryer vents of snow to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.
• Elderly residents who need help clearing snow should contact the Interfaith Good Neighbor Project at 414-220-8660. Also, please consider volunteering for this valuable program.

I’d also like to give a shout out to our Street Department for their tireless efforts of the last few days. Long hours and difficult conditions confronted the city’s crews, and I appreciate their efforts in getting the city moving again after this truly historic storm.

To all of our plow drivers and others in the Street Department: Thank you!

That’s how much snow fell, unofficially, in South Milwaukee, during the Blizzard of ’11, as measured at the wastewater treatment facility.

Bear in mind that that total was hard to measure due to the extreme winds, blowing and drifting. And that number does not include what we received from the smaller storm on Monday and earlier Tuesday.

It’s also higher than some of our neighbors. Mitchell International officially received 14.5 inches from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, while Racine and Kenosha both received more than two feet.

Check out the Journal Sentinel story here.

One big four-foot snow drift. That’s what my driveway was today.

At least my kids liked it.

South Milwaukee School District classes are on for Thursday, according to the district.

Milwaukee, however, has cancelled classes, as has Cudahy “due to cleanup efforts,” according to the Cudahy School District website. St. Francis schools are also closed on Thursday “due to inclement weather and cleanup,” according to that district’s website.

Do you agree with the South Milwaukee School District’s decision? Post your comments below.

Update: I just got off the phone with the Street Department, and they are planning on staying as long as it takes tonight to plow all alleys in the city. Hopefully that alleviates some of the concerns I’ve heard about tonight. Again, your patience is appreciated.

The Street Department is (and I am) urging patience when it comes to plowing operations following this historic storm.

Here’s a quick update from the city as of this afternoon …

• The Street Department has made at least one pass down streets and has crews working on another. Many have had more.
• This 20 inches of snow was a challenge for snow removal, as the drifts were taller than blades on plows. This has obviously slowed the process because of the depth of the snow in areas.
• Plowing alleys requires the use of the V-plow instead of the trucks with plows, further slowing that process down.

I wonder what you think of the city’s plowing efforts today.

While I’ve gotten several calls from constituents this afternoon and evening upset that their streets and alleys had not been plowed, I was impressed with how clean some of the city’s major streets (Chicago Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue, Rawson Avenue) were as of 3 p.m. today, when I was out and about.

Let me know what you think by posting a comment below. Of course, you can call (764-8673) or email (erikbrooks32@yahoo.com) me, and check back to the blog for further updates.

You may also call the Street Department with specific concerns at 768-8075.

Here are more updates from the Blizzard of ’11 …

• The South Milwaukee Library is closed today (in addition to City Hall).
• The self-deposit station will be closed until Saturday.
• Residents who were supposed to have their garbage picked up on Wednesday will have it picked up Friday.

Also, the National Guard assisted 15 motorists in Oak Creek during the heart of the storm. Check out the Journal Sentinel story.

This map from the National Weath Service might help answer that question.

I’ll keep you posted when I get an “official” number for South Milwaukee.

Racine got just shy of two feet!

Spending a night at the Cudahy Police Station was good news for a half dozen area residents who found themselves stuck in the blizzard overnight.

The Journal Sentinel has the story here. From it:

Akosua Akyeampong, a licensed practical nurse who works at the Jewish Home and Care Center on N. Prospect Ave. in Milwaukee, was just 10 blocks from her South Milwaukee home when her Toyota Corolla got stuck at E. College and S. Barland avenues. She was lucky, though — a police officer came along after just 15 minutes and dropped her at the Cudahy station. …

Stranded motorists were also reported in South Milwaukee and St. Francis, dispatchers there said — but they didn’t have time to talk about it.

There were also issues in Oak Creek and Franklin.

The Blizzard of ’11 has forced South Milwaukee to close City Hall on Wednesday.

Of course, that is just one small impact due to the amazing amount of snow (14.5 inches at Mitchell International as of 6 a.m.).

Among them: Interstate 94 is closed on the southern section of Milwaukee County into Racine and Kenosha Counties, and Mitchell International Airport has cancelled all flights until 5 p.m.

I’ll post updates throughout the day.

How is the storm impacting you? Post your comments below.

Like seemingly every major school system in the area, the South Milwaukee School District has cancelled classes for Wednesday.

Events scheduled for Tuesday night are also off.

Learn more at the district’s website.

Grant Park is also closed today and Wednesday, according to Milwaukee County.

Here is the National Weather Service’s 10:56 a.m. update on the storm. From the looks of it on radar, I’d expect heavy snow in the area within two hours (so by 5 p.m. or so). Stay safe!

Update: The city has also posted some “snow emergency tips” to keep you safe in the storm.

The city has cancelled all meetings and public hearings scheduled for Tuesday night, including the Common Council meeting, due to the looming blizzard.

They will not be rescheduled, with the next council meeting now scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 16 (due to the primary election).

• Also, there will be no garbage or recycling pickup on Wednesday, and the self-deposit station will be closed until Friday, among other city cancellations and postponements.
• The South Milwaukee School District has also postponed a propsective student overview night scheduled for this evening. Check out the district’s website here.

Visit the city website for more details, and I’ll keep you posted when I get further updates.

Snowmageddon is here.

With more than a foot possible in South Milwaukee, this is a good opportunity to update blog readers on some key South Milwaukee snow facts.

Start by checking out my post on this subject last winter, and keep in mind:

• You have “within 24 hours of daylight” after the end of a storm to clear your city sidewalks, or face having the city do it for you (at a cost). Check out this previous blog post with more details.
• And, while you’re at it, be careful where you push or blow that snow.
• As for snow emergencies, they are rare in South Milwaukee, although some communities like Greenfield were declaring them 18 hours before the blizzard warning went into effect. I’ll keep you posted if one is declared here.

Check back to the blog for more information on the storm, and stay safe!

Update: The city reported shortly after 2:15 p.m. Tuesday that all municipal buildings were checked and undamaged, save for continued minor leaks from the City Hall roof. There is tree debris at the east edge of Rawson Woods, and trees were down at 3400 5th Ave. and 611 Montana Ave. I’ll keep you posted if I get any further updates.

Second update: The city also reported Thursday minor roof damage (shingles blown off) of five Parkcrest buildings.

Thankfully, the tornado missed southern Milwaukee County this morning, but the strong winds are here to stay for a while.

Have you suffered any damage? Power outages? Have you seen any other effects from the potentially historically strong winds?

Post your comments below.