The sledding hill at Fritse Park in Neenah. Jan. 31, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
FOX VALLEY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) –The sights and sounds of a usual Wisconsin winter may be largely absent this year.
“I would probably pick this year, because who likes winter nowadays and dealing with the cold?” Sterling Peterson said.
But most of the people who have to deal with the conditions don’t seem to mind.
“I like seeing snow, but certainly I prefer when there is snow. I prefer it to be not as cold,” Lawrence University student Max Hollingsworth-Hays said.
For Hollingsworth-Hays, it makes the daily commute a bit more bearable.
“Stark difference from two weeks ago where it was in the negatives for a full week,” Hollingsworth-Hays said. “Certainly, it’s nicer to walk to class.”
The same can be said for improved road conditions, as well. Peterson said it feels much more comfortable getting behind the wheel.
“Nice and easy to drive on,” Peterson said. “There’s no snow. We’ve had a lot of ice on the road that’s been there for the last couple weeks. That is all gone now. I’m glad it’s all cleared up and the salt is all out of the roads now too.”
There are certainly some negatives of the warm weather, however, especially for those who enjoy winter outdoor recreation. The typically popular Fritse Park sledding hill in Neenah was left unused Wednesday afternoon, and just north in Appleton, the ice skating rink at Pierce Park had areas of standing water.
“Hurting the people who to ice fish, snowmobile and all that kind of stuff,” Peterson said.
“You know, I haven’t been skiing in a long while because of the nature of just winters getting warmer, unfortunately,” Hollingsworth-Hays said.
Still, many Northeast Wisconsinites plan to take full advantage of this warm stretch — which has no clear end in sight.
“I prefer this to the raving cold,” Hollingsworth-Hays said.
“With the snow all melting and temperatures getting up to the 40s, it’s been pretty good,” Peterson said.
Comments