It might be helping your leaves fall, but it is not doing any favors for municipalities picking them up.
City of Sturgeon Bay Municipal Services Director Mike Barker gave an update on their leaf pick-up efforts on Wednesday, sharing they had made their first pass through areas three, four, and five and that they had started on area one. Barker admitted that the rain had slowed their progress, stating that if the leaves are wet or frozen, they are harder to vacuum. They also take longer to vacuum when more leaves have been raked to the curb because of the volume, encouraging property owners not to wait to rake their leaves and take them up to, but not into, the curb. The city typically makes two or more passes through the city before the snow starts to fly, requiring municipal employees to switch over their equipment.
Most municipalities across the state will be in similar straits with rain in the forecast, and most counties seeing their fall colors either at peak or fading peak, according to the Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report.