Wisconsin, 1996

Ice Storm in Wisconsin, February 26 to 27, 1996

February 26 to 27, 1996 · NWS GRB · 16 events in 16 counties and zones

Low pressure moving through Northwest Wisconsin brought periods of freezing rain to Central, Northeast and East Central Wisconsin. Ice accumulations of one-quarter to one-half inch were reported across the area, with the greatest accumulations occurring from Wautoma (Waushara county) through the Fox Valley to around Green Bay (Brown county).

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 16 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
16

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GRB wrote it up.

Low pressure moving through Northwest Wisconsin brought periods of freezing rain to Central, Northeast and East Central Wisconsin. Ice accumulations of one-quarter to one-half inch were reported across the area, with the greatest accumulations occurring from Wautoma (Waushara county) through the Fox Valley to around Green Bay (Brown county). Thunderstorms, accompanied by freezing rain and small hail, moved through Central Wisconsin and the Fox Valley during the late afternoon rush hour on February 26th. Ice-covered roadways resulted in numerous accidents. Interstate Highway 43 in Brown county had to be closed from north of Denmark to Highway 172 between 6 and 8 pm. Ice-laden limbs fell on top of power lines in many locations, causing numerous power outages. In addition, two vehicles were struck by falling limbs in Green Bay; one resulting in an injury to an area woman.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Northern Marinette

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Northern Marinette forecast zone
Coordinates
45.351, -88.002 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Menominee

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Menominee forecast zone
Coordinates
45.004, -88.710 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Northern Oconto

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Northern Oconto forecast zone
Coordinates
44.999, -88.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Door

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Door forecast zone
Coordinates
44.838, -87.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Marathon

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Marathon forecast zone
Coordinates
44.898, -89.759 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Shawano

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Shawano forecast zone
Coordinates
44.789, -88.765 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wood

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Wood forecast zone
Coordinates
44.455, -90.042 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Portage

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Portage forecast zone
Coordinates
44.476, -89.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Waupaca

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Waupaca forecast zone
Coordinates
44.470, -88.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Outagamie

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Outagamie forecast zone
Coordinates
44.416, -88.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Brown

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Brown forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
44.474, -87.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Kewaunee

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Kewaunee forecast zone
Coordinates
44.483, -87.514 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Waushara

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Waushara forecast zone
Coordinates
44.113, -89.243 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Winnebago

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Winnebago forecast zone
Coordinates
44.069, -88.645 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Calumet

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Calumet forecast zone
Coordinates
44.082, -88.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Manitowoc

When
February 26, 3:00 PM CST to February 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Manitowoc forecast zone
Coordinates
44.091, -87.700 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, February 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5536918, 5536919, 5536920, 5536921, 5536922, 5536923, 5536924, 5536925, 5536926, 5536927, 5536928, 5536929, 5536930, 5536931, 5536932, 5536933.