The Milwaukee blizzard set to hit Wisconsin on Tuesday night will bring high-speed winds reaching up to 55 miles per hour, nearly a foot of snow and bitterly cold temperatures.

Snow and widespread blowing snow are confronting residents tonight, as northeast winds around 30 miles per hour will reach gusts as high as 55 miles per hour, the National Weather Service Reported. The low temperature will be around 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Total nighttime snow accumulation of 7 to 10 inches is possible.

Federal officials are warning that residents in the path of the blizzard, which is expected to stretch between Oklahoma and the Great Lakes and beyond, need to take it seriously by paying heed to emergency instructions on local and state authorities.

On Wednesday at daytime, the snow and high winds will continue. The high for the day will be 24 degrees, with wind chill values between -5 degrees and 5.

Wednesday night will see mostly clear skies with a low around -1 degrees and wind chill readings between -10 and -15. Wind will blow at 15 miles per hour.

Thursday will be sunny, with a high near 16 degrees and wind gusts as high as 25 miles per hour. The night time low will be around 5 degrees with partly cloudy skies.

Friday will have a 20 percent chance of snow, with increasing clouds. There will be a high of 20 degrees and low of 12. Southwest wind will blow between 10 miles per hour and 15 miles per hour.

City guidance

All non-essential City government offices will be closed on Wednesday due to the weather, the city said. Health department offices and the city's public library closed early Tuesday.

The city said residents should prepare their homes and vehicles with a disaster kit, and make sure to have a radio with fresh batteries.

Resident should stay indoors and if it is necessary to go out, people should bundle up with multiple layers of clothing, the ReadyWisconsin campaign.

The agency warned frostbite could occur on exposed skin in less than 30 minutes. The campaign also warned about hypothermia, which is a deadly condition which can occur when a person's body drops below 95 degrees.

Blizzard