'Crippling and Potentially Historic Blizzard' Takes Aim at Madison

Calling it a “crippling and potentially historic blizzard” the National Weather Service is advising against traveling from Monday evening through Tuesday because a blizzard is forecast to potentially dump up to 30 inches of snow on Madison.

The National Weather Service just scrapped its Blizzard Watch and replaced it with a Blizzard Warning, which begins at 1 p.m. Monday and runs until midnight.

The National Weather Service predicts Madison will receive 20-30 inches of snow with snowfall rates of 2-4 inches of snow per hour.

Winds will be gusting between 30-40 miles per hour with gusts up to 65 miles per hour.

The details

Light snow begins in the morning accumulating 1-3 inches of snow by Monday evening’s commute.

Snow intensifies Monday night and the heaviest snow is forecast from midnight Tuesday until Tuesday afternoon.

The National Weather Service is not playing around when it comes to the severity of this storm saying it could lead to “life-threatening conditions,” and that traveling will be “extremely dangerous.”

White-out conditions are expected and if you do travel the National Weather Service urges you to bring a survival kit.

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Madison’s hyperlocal forecast for the blizzard via the National Weather Service:

Monday A slight chance of snow before 10am, then widespread blowing snow and a chance of snow between 10am and 4pm, then snow likely with widespread blowing snow after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 28. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Northeast wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Monday Night Snow likely before 7pm, then snow with widespread blowing snow after 7pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 20. Wind chill values between zero and 10. Windy, with a north wind 20 to 25 mph increasing to 27 to 32 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches possible.

Tuesday Snow with widespread blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. High near 24. Wind chill values between zero and 5. Windy, with a north wind 29 to 32 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.

Tuesday Night Snow with widespread blowing snow before 10pm, then snow likely with widespread blowing snow between 10pm and 1am, then widespread blowing snow and a chance of snow after 1am. Low around 14. Windy, with a north wind 17 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Photo credit: Accuweather.com