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"Factory-enhanced snow" causes crashes and spinouts in Wisconsin, National Weather Service says

Western Wisconsin got hit with "factory enhanced" snow Thursday afternoon
Western Wisconsin got hit with "factory enhanced" snow Thursday afternoon 02:02

MENOMONIE, Wis. — It was a murky day for Turkey Day, but along one stretch of road in western Wisconsin, "murky" was an understatement. 

A narrow band of snow quickly dropped three inches on drivers, even sending a semi sliding into a ditch. 

The National Weather Service says it's likely because of a glass manufacturing company near Menomonie. 

"That steam rises into the deck of clouds that are above it, and the steam acts as little particles that the water droplets can latch onto and create snow crystals" said Meteorologist Caleb Grunzke of the National Weather Service. "Everything came together perfectly for several inches of snow and major traffic problems." 

The Wisconsin State Patrol reported 16 crashes in a 5-hour span, including a six-car pileup. 

"We kind of drove in and out of the snow very dramatically," said Dave Erickson, who was making the trip back to the Twin Cities from Milwaukee.

"Drive safe, happy Thanksgiving," he added. 

Black Friday shoppers in the Twin Cities area should bundle up. The light snow flurries are expected to taper off early this morning as clouds gradually clear. 

Wind chills are expected to remain below zero across most of the state for most of the morning, with the Twin Cities metro area reaching slightly above zero. 

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