Weather Story

Major Winter Storm: Details and Snow Totals

Major Winter Storm: Timeline

Major Winter Storm: Impacts

Confidence remains high for significant snowfall (12"+) to occur over Wisconsin Saturday night through Monday. Where the snow is expected to remain the primary precipitation-type, snow amounts over 24" may occur. A wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and sleet on Sunday may result in lower snow amounts along the southern edge, across portions of central and east-central Wisconsin. This may however may result in icing concerns for these area. Strong winds, gusting between 35-50 mph, are expected Sunday through Monday, resulting in blizzard/whiteout conditions being likely. There will be considerations for upgrading the current Winter Storm Warning to Blizzard Warnings as confidence increases. The main areas of uncertainty are where the axis of heaviest snowfall will occur, and how much of an impact any mixed precipitation will have on the area.

The major winter storm is expected to occur between Saturday evening and Monday. During the Saturday evening/night period, snow will start in central and east-central Wisconsin and expand north as the evening goes on. Snowfall rates during this time will be between 1 and 3 inches per hour, with the snow character being normal to wet further south. By Sunday, snow continues for most with snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour, but a wintry mix is anticipated to move into portions of central and east-central Wisconsin. The snow character during this time will be normal to very wet across the south. Winds will begin to increase by Sunday afternoon. Sunday night into Monday, snow is expected to spread back across the entire area with snowfall rates up to 1 inch per hour. The snow will become more dry and fluffy and combine with the period of strongest winds, leading to the greatest potential and time period for blowing snow and whiteout/near zero-visibility. Snow will end from west to east and winds will subside Monday evening.

The major winter storm for Saturday night into Monday will present major to extreme impacts across the region. A slew of impacts from very difficult to near impossible travel, potential blizzard/whiteout conditions, road closures, widespread power outages, broken tree limbs or downed trees, snow load problems from recent snowfall, and ice shoves on rivers and lakes, to name several. If you have travel plans on Sunday into Monday, make alternate arrangements if you haven't already, and prepare for potential long duration power outages.