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High winds cause little damage

JANESVILLE — High winds overnight might have kept some people awake but caused little damage around Janesville.

The National Weather Service said Janesville recorded a wind gust of 44 mph around midnight. Sustained winds ranged from 30 to 35 mph, said meteorologist Penny Zabel.

Shortly before closing at 9 p.m. Tuesday, the tower at the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport recorded a gust of 37 mph.

High winds knocked down a few trees.

One toppled near Beloit Avenue and Delavan Drive affecting an Alliant Energy transformer. About 425 residences and businesses were without power from 2:05 to 3:35 a.m., an Alliant spokesman said this morning.

Janesville police barricaded the tree and notified the public works department.

Another tree fell and partially blocked Harmony Drive south of Mount Zion Avenue. That area also was barricaded pending the arrival of public works.

Zabel said the winds died off this morning, and residents turned their attention to lower temperatures.

Her forecast calls for highs in the mid 20s today and an overnight low of 6. The forecast is the same for Thursday before temperatures rise to the lower 40s.

Winter weary Wisconsinites to the north, however, are dealing with another snowstorm.

Eight inches of snow have fallen in Ashland and Iron counties, where a winter storm warning was in effect until noon today. Another inch or two of lake-effect snow was expected throughout the day.