Winter Storm in Wisconsin, March 9, 1999

A winter storm affected southcentral and then southeast Wisconsin with a combination of snow, blowing and drifting snow, and poor visibilities. By Wisconsin standards, this storm was a minimal winter storm, but nontheless resulted in numerous vehicle accidents and many vehicles in roadside ditches. By the time the storm ended, 3 to 6 inches of new snow had fallen over southcentral Wisconsin and 5 to 10.5 inches over southeastern Wisconsin. Sustained east-northeast winds were 17 knots (20 mph) or more, with gusts to 30 knots (35 mph) or more.The snow began during the mid-afternoon hours on 03/08/99 over southcentral Wisconsin and in the early evening hours over the southeastern counties, however official winter storm conditions developed later once 3 inches of snow had accumulated. Visibilities due to blowing and drifting snow were occasionally down to 1/4 mile, or lower, especially in open areas. Waves built to 5 to 7 feet along the Lake Michigan shoreline where gusts to 35 knots (40 mph) were noted. It appeared that Lake Michigan moisture enhanced snowfall totals in the higher terrain from western Sheboygan county down to southeastern Washington county, including eastern Fond du Lac county. Terrain in this area, where 9 to 10.5 inches was measured, is roughly 400-600 feet higher than Lake Michigan. The 10.5 inches was reported in Plymouth of western Sheboygan county. Other totals included: Sheboygan (6.0), West Bend (8.8), Port Washington (7.7), Random Lake (7), Milwaukee (7.6), Racine (7.0), Kenosha (8-9), 4SSE Sullivan in Jefferson county (5.0), Madison (5.8), Middleton (6.1), and Janesville-Beloit (4.0). The responsible low pressure moved from Missouri to central Illinois to northern Kentucky.