Wisconsin, 1996

Winter Storm in Wisconsin, January 18 to 19, 1996

January 18 to 19, 1996 · NWS GRB · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

An intense low pressure system brought a heavy mixture of precipitation to north central Wisconsin. One to two inches of sleet fell during the early stages of the storm, followed by around six inches of snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

An intense low pressure system brought a heavy mixture of precipitation to north central Wisconsin. One to two inches of sleet fell during the early stages of the storm, followed by around six inches of snow. Total accumulations of around 8 inches were reported at Lac du Flambeau (Vilas county) and Midget Lake (Oneida county). Winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph produced blizzard conditions, with visibilities reduced to around 100 feet at times.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Vilas

When
January 18, 7:00 AM CST to January 19, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Vilas forecast zone
Coordinates
46.053, -89.515 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Oneida

When
January 18, 7:00 AM CST to January 19, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Oneida forecast zone
Coordinates
45.706, -89.522 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5537994, 5537995.