Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 1, 2008

Name: Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 1, 2008
Start: 2008-02-01T00:00
End: 2008-02-01T08:45
Location: Wisconsin

February 1, 2008 · NWS MKX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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: 4

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 MKX wrote it up.

This winter storm started during the afternoon hours on January 31st, but continued into the early morning hours of February 1st. Heavy snow accumulations and gusty east to northeast winds to 25 to 30 mph affected southeast Wisconsin during the overnight hours. Visibilities were occasionally reduced to 1/4 to 1/2 in open areas where blowing and drifting affected travel. Specific snow amounts include 12.0 in the city of Racine, 10 to 11 in the city of Kenosha, 9.5 in the city of Pleasant Prairie, 8 in Caledonia, Union Grove, and Paddock Lake, and around 7 in the southeast third of Walworth County. Lesser snow accumulations of 3 to 5 affected parts of the counties of Sheboygan, Washington, Ozaukee, Jefferson, Waukesha, and Rock. Although this storm started in the afternoon hours of January 31st, it reached verification times and ending times on February 1st, so please refer to the January 31st event as well. Synoptically, low pressure moved northeast up the Ohio River Valley. Some lake-effect moisture enhancement occurred over southeast Wisconsin thanks to northeast winds in the lower atmosphere.

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 Milwaukee, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 31, 3:05 PM CST, 8 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 3:05 PM CST, 8 hours 55 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
305 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

.DISCUSSION...FORECAST FOCUS ON APPROACHING SNOW STORM FOR
TONIGHT AND SERIES OF WEATHER SYSTEMS INTO NEXT WEEK.

.SHORT TERM...EVALUATION OF NGM/NAM/SREF/GFS/WRF/ECMWF HI-RES
PROGS ALONG WITH CURRENT SATELLITE AND RADAR TRENDS INDICATE THAT
LITTLE CHANGE NEEDED REGARDING SNOW ADVISORY FOR TONIGHT FOR
SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF CWA. PROGS TAKE SURFACE SYSTEM NORTHEAST
ALONG OHIO RIVER. RULES OF THUMB PUT CWA ON NORTHERN FRINGES OF
STORM. BEST SHOT OF SNOW WILL FALL BETWEEN 03Z AND 09Z TONIGHT
MAINLY FROM FAVORABLE ISENTROPIC LIFT WITH 2 TO 2/5 G/KG OF
MOISTURE AVAILABLE. BEST PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES APPROACH 0.45
INCHES AROUND 06Z OVER SOUTHEAST CORNER OF CWA. HAVE SHADED
SLIGHTLY HIGHER SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ALONG LAKESHORE COUNTIES INTO
FRIDAY MORNING AS LOW LEVEL WINDS TURN TO FAVORABLE FETCH FROM
NORTHEAST WITH TIME AND LINGER THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. DUE TO
CURRENT LAKE EFFECT SNOW BANDS OCCURRING...LOCAL SNOW EFFECT SNOW
CHART WILL INDICATES LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD BE ADDED TO STORM
TOTAL. DELTA TS NOT A FACTOR BUT AN INFUSION OF MOISTURE FROM
LAKE CANNOT BE IGNORED FOR THE SEVERAL HOURS OF FAVORABLE WINDS.
LEANED TOWARD AVERAGE SNOW RATIOS OF 15:1 FOR ENTIRE EVENT
ALTHOUGH COBB INDICATES VARIANCE OF RATIOS DURING EVENT.

.LONG TERM...NEXT IN A SERIES OF LOW PRESSURE TROUGHS CROSS STATE
SATURDAY. BEST ENERGY WITH THIS SYSTEM REMAINS NORTH OF CWA BUT
STILL WORTHY OF A CHANCE MENTION OF LIGHT SNOW.

.LONG LONG TERM...ATTENTION THEN TURNS TO POTENTIALLY POTENT
SYSTEM HEADING TOWARD CWA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. GFS INDICATED
WIDE OPEN GULF OF MEXICO AND WARM SURGE OF MOIST AIR RAPIDLY
ADVECTING NORTHWARD. LEANED TOWARD BLENDING PROG SOLUTION WHICH
BRINGS A MIXTURE OF RAIN/SNOW WITH INITIAL PRECIPITATION WHICH
QUICKLY TURNS TO RAIN MONDAY. PASSAGE OF FRONT ON MONDAY NIGHT
LEADS TO ANOTHER QUICK SHOT OF COLD AIR VERY CLOSE TO PREVIOUS
SYSTEM EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION...SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD SE WI AND PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
WI LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING AS LOW PRESSURE MOVES
FROM THE SRN PLAINS NEWD THROUGH THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY LATE TNT AND
FRI. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE MUCH OF TNT AND DIMINISH FROM WEST TO
EAST ACROSS SRN WI ON FRI. IFR CIGS AND VSBYS ARE EXPECTED INTO FRI
AM WITH AREAS OF LIFR VSBYS. MVFR CIGS WILL REMAIN OVER MUCH OF
SRN WI THROUGH FRI AFT BUT WITH VFR VSBYS.

&&

.MARINE...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT FRI AM
UNTIL 6 PM FRI FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS NORTH OF NORTH POINT
LIGHTHOUSE TO SHEBOYGAN. A BRISK WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM
MIDNIGHT FRI AM UNTIL 3 PM FRI FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS SOUTH OF
NORTH POINT LIGHTHOUSE TO WINTHROP HARBOR IL. INTENSIFYING LOW
PRESSURE WILL MOVE FROM THE SRN PLAINS THROUGH THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY
LATE TNT AND SAT. ELY WINDS WILL INCREASE TNT AND TURN NELY LATE TNT
AND NLY BY LATE FRI AM. THE BRISK WINDS WILL ALSO GENERATE HIGH
WAVES IN ICE FREE AREAS.

&&

.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...SNOW ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CST FRIDAY FOR
     WIZ060-065-066-070>072.

LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM CST FRIDAY
     FOR LMZ643>646.

&&

SHORT/LONG TERM...17
AVIATION/MARINE...20

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 10:41 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1041 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072-011200-
MARQUETTE-GREEN LAKE-FOND DU LAC-SHEBOYGAN-SAUK-COLUMBIA-DODGE-
WASHINGTON-OZAUKEE-IOWA-DANE-JEFFERSON-WAUKESHA-MILWAUKEE-
LAFAYETTE-GREEN-ROCK-WALWORTH-RACINE-KENOSHA-
1041 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN...SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN FOR 6 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW...THAT WILL REDUCE
VISIBILITIES TO 1/4 MILE OR LESS AND CAUSE DRIFTING SNOW WITH
EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH...AND GUSTS TO 30 MPH.

A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE REMAINDER OF
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN AND PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN FOR 3
TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW...WITH SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE FAR SOUTHEAST AND SNOW ADVISORIES
FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN ARE IN EFFECT
THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL END OVER THE SOUTHEAST LAKE
SHORE COUNTIES BY EARLY AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS ARE
EXPECTED DURING THE MORNING.

SOME LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED SATURDAY...THEN ANOTHER SYSTEM SHOULD
BRING SNOW OR MIXED PRECIPITATION LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.

MAINLY LIGHT SNOW WITH MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED BUT SNOW REPORTS WILL BE
APPRECIATED TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.

LMZ643>646-011200-
SHEBOYGAN TO PORT WASHINGTON WI-
PORT WASHINGTON TO NORTH POINT LIGHT WI-
NORTH POINT LIGHT TO WIND POINT WI-
WIND POINT WI TO WINTHROP HARBOR IL-
1041 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SMALL CRAFT AND BRISK WIND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT DUE TO BRISK
EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS AND BUILDING WAVES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

SMALL CRAFT AND BRISK WIND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED MONDAY AND
TUESDAY...AND FREEZING SPRAY ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED BY TUESDAY
NIGHT.

REM
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MKX

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 31, 10:21 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1021 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     SNOW             1 SW PALMYRA            42.87N 88.60W
01/31/2008  M2.5 INCH        JEFFERSON          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

1000 PM     SNOW             3 SE PALMYRA            42.85N 88.55W
01/31/2008  M2.8 INCH        JEFFERSON          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

            STORM TOTAL THROUGH 10 PM. 1/2 MILE TO 3/4 MILE
            VISIBILITY WITH MODERATE SNOW.

&&

REM

Local storm report, Jan 31, 10:32 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1032 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     SNOW             3 SW MADISON            43.05N 89.43W
01/31/2008  M1.3 INCH        DANE               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 PM     SNOW             FRANKSVILLE             42.76N 87.91W
01/31/2008  E5.0 INCH        RACINE             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. SNOW-COVERED ROADS.

&&

REM

Local storm report, Jan 31, 10:45 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1045 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1030 PM     SNOW             BROOKFIELD              43.06N 88.12W
01/31/2008  M2.3 INCH        WAUKESHA           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TEMPERATURE 24 DEGREES F

1030 PM     SNOW             WAUKESHA                43.01N 88.24W
01/31/2008  M2.2 INCH        WAUKESHA           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LIGHT BLOWING SNOW. RODAS NOT PLOWED AND SNOW COVERED.

&&

REM

Local storm report, Jan 31, 10:46 PM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1046 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1030 PM     SNOW             WAUKESHA                43.01N 88.24W
01/31/2008  M2.2 INCH        WAUKESHA           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LIGHT BLOWING SNOW. ROADS NOT PLOWED AND SNOW COVERED.

&&

REM

Local storm report, Jan 31, 10:58 PM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1058 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1040 PM     SNOW             2 NE STURTEVANT         42.72N 87.87W
01/31/2008  M5.8 INCH        RACINE             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1 INCH PER HOUR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FOR THE PAST 2 HOURS.
            SNOW COVERED ROADS.

&&

REM

Local storm report, Jan 31, 11:23 PM CST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1123 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1116 PM     SNOW             2 E HOLY HILL           43.24N 88.29W
01/31/2008  M1.8 INCH        WASHINGTON         WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DRIFTING SNOW AND SNOW-COVERED ROADS. SNOWFALL HAS
            INCREASED TO MODERATE IN THE LAST HALF HOUR.

&&

REM

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Milwaukee

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 8:45 AM CST
Where: Milwaukee forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.022, -87.929 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Walworth

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 8:45 AM CST
Where: Walworth forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.669, -88.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Racine

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 8:45 AM CST
Where: Racine forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.730, -87.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kenosha

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 8:45 AM CST
Where: Kenosha forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.573, -87.840 (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 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, February 2008

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: 78934, 78935, 78936, 78937.