Superior, Wisconsin – Travel across northwest Wisconsin could become nearly impossible by the evening commute as freezing rain begins coating roads, bridges, and power lines starting at 4 p.m. today.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, an Ice Storm Warning takes effect this afternoon for Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, and Iron counties, along with Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer, and Price counties. Ice accumulations between 0.20 and 0.50 inches are expected, with some areas also seeing up to 3 inches of combined snow and sleet before the system ends late Saturday morning.
The most dangerous conditions are expected between 6 p.m. Friday and early Saturday, when steady freezing rain will create glaze ice on highways including US-2, US-53, and WI-13. In Superior, Ashland, and Hayward, untreated roads may become slick within minutes, with visibility reduced during heavier precipitation.
Winds and ice buildup are likely to bring down tree limbs and power lines, raising the risk of outages across the region, including tribal lands and communities along Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands.
Officials strongly discourage travel during peak icing. If travel is unavoidable, carry emergency supplies and check Wisconsin 511 for real-time road conditions. Conditions begin improving late Saturday morning, but lingering ice may continue to impact travel beyond that time.
