Winter in Wisconsin is not always easy for new drivers and the weather has not been benefiting them at all this winter year.  New driver, Maddie Barta is 17-years-old and had been driving for about a year now.  She says she feels confident driving, but with the cold temperatures and snow, it has been a challenge for her.

“The cold has prevented me from driving as much as I normally do because it’s uncomfortable going out in the extreme temperatures we’ve been having this winter,” Barta says.

The highest temperature for next week is supposed to be around 21 degrees, on Monday, and the lowest is negative 11, Wednesday.

“The roads are a bit icy in some places so I have to drive slower and a lot more cautious than I usually do, it can get annoying sometimes,” Barta says.

Since the temperatures have been so low, the ice is solid and slow to melt.  This makes all the roads difficult to clear.

The average snowfall for Wisconsin is around 59 inches and this winter we’ve had about 40 inches.  We still have time to catch up to our average so meteorologists have been predicting that the snowfall will increase soon in the upcoming weeks.

Classic Eight schools haven’t had to take off school for snow days yet.  So far Classic Eight schools have had to take off a total of four days for the cold.

Snow plows have been a great help to Wisconsin with the removal of snow on the roads and the salting of the ice.

“Although my car is never clean anymore, it really helps to have these plows around,” says Barta.

“Driving in the snow is scary but you just have to pay attention and focus on the roads and you’ll be fine,” says Barta.

Barta says she is confident in her driving and that she can get around in Wisconsin, even with this weather we have been experiencing.