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Snow depths vary around state

The first major winter snowstorm dumped up to 11 inches in parts of Wisconsin on Tuesday, closing dozens of schools and creating slick, icy roads that caused numerous semi-trucks to jackknife, authorities said.

A second storm system was moving into Wisconsin and was expected to dump another 3 inches in the southeast Tuesday night, the National Weather Service said.

For Rock County, the weather service predicted a 20 percent chance of more snow before 9 p.m. Clouds are expected to clear tonight, with a low of 12 degrees. The local forecast for Wednesday: mostly sunny with a high near 23.

The heaviest snowfall blanketed Ripon, which had 11 inches by Tuesday afternoon, and Fond du Lac had 10 inches, the National Weather Service said.

Wisconsin Emergency Management reported the eastbound lanes of Interstate 39 and 90 near Beloit were blocked for about an hour when a truck jackknifed, creating a 3-mile traffic backup and forcing vehicles to be rerouted. No major injuries were reported, spokesman John Dipko said.

Semi-truck accidents on Highway 41 near Fond du Lac, Interstate-94 near Eau Claire and Highway 29 near Abbotsford blocked traffic for periods of time during Tuesday’s storm, Dipko said.

A motorist who lost control of her vehicle on Highway 51 near Wausau slid into a State Patrol trooper’s squad car that was pulled over to slow traffic after another vehicle had skidded into a ditch, authorities said. No one was hurt.

“We are still advising individuals not to travel unless absolutely necessary,” Dipko said at mid-afternoon as winter storm warnings or advisories remained in place for much of Wisconsin.

Portage reported 9.3 inches of new snow from the storm, Appleton, 8.4, Sheboygan, 8, Green Bay and Madison, 6.5, La Crosse, 6, and Wausau and Milwaukee, 3, the weather service said.

Tuesday’s storm, which included rain and sleet in the south, forced Gov. Jim Doyle to cancel a speech about the national economic crisis and the state budget Tuesday afternoon. He had planned to speak to a group of small and large engine manufacturers in Wauwatosa.

Airports in Milwaukee and Madison remained open, but there were flight delays and cancellations.