Winter Storm in Wisconsin, January 26 to 27, 2004

Name: Winter Storm in Wisconsin, January 26 to 27, 2004
Start: 2004-01-26T00:00
End: 2004-01-27T23:59
Location: Wisconsin

January 26 to 27, 2004 · NWS MPX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Low pressure that formed over the Southern Great Plains moved across central Wisconsin early on the 26th. This storm dropped moderate snow across much of west central Wisconsin on the 26th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: 6

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 MPX wrote it up.

Low pressure that formed over the Southern Great Plains moved across central Wisconsin early on the 26th. This storm dropped moderate snow across much of west central Wisconsin on the 26th. Snowfall totals ranged from 8 inches near Durand and Eau Claire to 4 inches near Balsam Lake. Specific totals included Hudson and Chippewa Falls at 6 inches and Menomonie at 5 inches. In addition to the snowfall, wind gusts to 25 mph led to reduced visibilities with blowing snow.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 25, 3:06 PM CST, 8 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 25, 3:06 PM CST, 8 hours 54 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 25, 5:45 AM CST, 18 hours 15 minutes before

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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, St. Croix

When: January 26, 12:00 AM CST to January 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where: St. Croix forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.034, -92.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Dunn

When: January 26, 12:00 AM CST to January 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Dunn forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.947, -91.896 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Chippewa

When: January 26, 12:00 AM CST to January 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Chippewa forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.069, -91.280 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pierce

When: January 26, 12:00 AM CST to January 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pierce forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.720, -92.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pepin

When: January 26, 12:00 AM CST to January 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pepin forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.483, -92.150 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Eau Claire

When: January 26, 12:00 AM CST to January 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Eau Claire forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.727, -91.286 (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

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, January 2004

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: 5380485, 5380486, 5380487, 5380488, 5380489, 5380490.