Extreme Cold in Wisconsin, February 10, 2008

Name: Extreme Cold in Wisconsin, February 10, 2008
Start: 2008-02-10T00:00
End: 2008-02-10T18:00
Location: Wisconsin

February 10, 2008 · NWS MKX · 20 events in 20 counties and zones

Bitter cold air pushed into south-central and southeast Wisconsin during the pre-dawn hours of February 10th on northwest winds of 17 to 20 knots (20 to 23 mph) frequently gusting to 30 to 42 knots (35 to 48 mph). Temperatures dropped to zero near Lake Michigan down to 8 below to 12 below zero west of Madison.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 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: 20

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.

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 Feb 9, 7:44 PM CST, 4 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 9, 7:44 PM CST, 4 hours 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
744 PM CST SAT FEB 9 2008

.UPDATE...EVALUATION OF UPPER AIR...CURRENT RUC AND WRF4L MODELS
INDICATE THAT SURFACE WINDS SPEEDS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE IN THE
NEXT FEW HOURS. SINCE SNOW HAS EXITED THE CWA...WILL BE CANCELLING
THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. WILL KEEP WIND CHILL WARNING FOR SAME
TIME PERIOD AS BULK OF COLD AIR STILL SEVERAL HOURS AWAY FROM CWA.
WILL ALSO ISSUE A BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND
TO LAST THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 447 PM CST SAT FEB 9 2008/

SHORT TERM...FIRST ITEM IS BAND OF INTENSE SNOW SHOWERS CROSSING CWA
ATTM. OMEGA OF 5-7 MUBARS/SEC WITHIN DEDRITE GROWTH ZONE DUE TO 2D
FRONTOGENETIC RESPONSE TO FRONTAL FORCING AND SOME ELEVATED INSTABILITY
IS PRODUCING INTENSE SNOW SHOWERS THAT IS REDUCING VSBYS TO 1/4
MILES OR LESS AT TIMES. UP TO 1 INCH OF ACCUMULATION CAN BE EXPECTED.

THEN FRONT CROSSES THE REGION THIS EVENING...CLEARING THE EAST BY
03Z. PRESSURE RISES HAVE LOWERED TO AROUND 6 MB/3 HRS...BUT STILL
SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH SUSTAINED...WITH GUSTS
OF 35 TO 40 MPH. WIND CHILLS TONIGHT WILL FALL TO BETWEEN -35F AND
-43F...THUS THE WIND CHILL WARNING. HAVE EXPANDED WARNING TO THE
LAKE SHORE AREAS AS MAGNITUDE OF WIND AND TEMPERATURES FALLING TO
BETWEEN -7 AMD -10F WILL GET WIND CHILLS INTO TEH -35F RANGE BY
12Z AND LINGER FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS.

COLD HANGS IN INTO SUN EVE...THEN WEAK WAA BEGINS AHEAD OF NEXT
WAVE. WHILE NOT WARMING SFC TEMPS...INCREASING CLOUDS AND WAA WILL LIMIT
TEMP FALL OFF SUNDAY NIGHT...THOUGH STILL WELL BELOW ZERO IN THE
WEST AND 5 TO 10 BELOW IN THE EAST EARLY...THEN STEADY OR SLOWLY RISING.

CROSS-HAIRS TECHNIQUE SHOWS FORCING IMPRESSIVE WITH ISENTROPIC
LIFT OVER BAROCLINIC ZONE AND COLD TEMPS SETTING UP ANOTHER
SITUATION OF MAX SNOW EFFICIENCY...WITH 25:1 SNOW/WATER RATIOS NOT
OUT OF THE QUESTION AS SNOW BEGINS IN EARNEST MONDAY AFTERNOON.
ROEBBER SHOWS 70 PCT PROBABILITY OF GREATER THAN 15:1 RATIOS...AND
EVEN WITH A CONSERVATIVE 18:1 RATIO...SNOW ACCUMULATION TOOLS
PRODUCING 3 TO 5 INCH AMOUNTS...WITH SOME 6 INCH BEFORE SNOW ENDS
TUE MORNING.

LONG TERM...00Z/06Z GFS AND 00Z ECMWF WERE STILL AT ODDS FOR NEXT
SYSTEM FOR THURSDAY...WITH DIFFERENT TRACKS AND CONFIGURATIONS OF
SYSTEM CREATING LARGE DIFFERENCES IN SNOW POTENTIAL AND TEMPS.
PREVIOUSLY MUCH WARMER ECMWF HAS COME MORE IN LINE WITH GFS IN
THEIR RESPECTIVE 12Z RUNS...SO TWEAKED COOLER MEX VALUES UP A
NOTCH...THO NOT AS WARM AS ECMWF 2 METER TEMPS OR HPC 12 GUIDANCE.

AVIATION...MAIN ISSUE FOR TAFS THIS PERIOD IS TIMING OF SNOW
SHOWERS AND ASSOCIATED IFR CONDITIONS...AND WINDS AFTER FRONTAL
PASSAGE. RADAR SHOWED BAND MOVING EAST THROUGH SOUTHERN
WISCONSIN...ON LEADING EDGE OF VORTICITY MAXIMUM AND LOW TO MID
LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS. WILL CARRY PREVAILING IFR VISIBILITIES AND
CEILINGS THROUGH ABOUT 00Z SUNDAY...WITH SOME LIFR IN THE HEAVIEST
BANDS.

VERY STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION AND DOWNWARD MIXING AFTER FRONTAL
PASSAGE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. 40 KNOT NORTHWEST WINDS AT 1000 FEET
AGL SHOULD MIX DOWN AT TIMES THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...SLOWLY
SUBSIDING LATE SUNDAY. CEILINGS SHOULD MIX OUT AS WELL LATER
TONIGHT.

MARINE...STRONG MIXING OF WINDS DOWN TO SURFACE DESCRIBED ABOVE
SHOULD MAINTAIN GALE WARNING CONDITIONS TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
MORNING. WILL EXTEND HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TO 03Z MONDAY...AS
WINDS REMAIN ABOVE 20 KNOTS WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW 10 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT. WILL LIKELY NEED A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY AFTER GALE
WARNING CONDITIONS SUBSIDE SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY EVENING.
WILL ALSO LIKELY NEED A FREEZING SPRAY ADVISORY AFTER 03Z MONDAY
UNTIL 12Z MONDAY.

&&

.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 12 PM CST SUNDAY FOR WIZ046-047-051-
     052-056>060-062>072.

     WIND CHILL WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 12 PM CST SUNDAY FOR
     WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072.

LM...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CST SUNDAY FOR
     LMZ643>646.

     GALE WARNING UNTIL 12 PM CST SUNDAY FOR LMZ643>646.

&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 9, 8:15 PM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 9, 6:06 PM CST, 5 hours 54 minutes before

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Local storm report, Feb 9, 6:11 PM CST, 5 hours 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
611 PM CST SAT FEB 09 2008

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

0607 PM     SNOW             BELLEVILLE              42.86N 89.54W
02/09/2008  M2.0 INCH        DANE               WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

TZAJDEL

Local storm report, Feb 9, 6:12 PM CST, 5 hours 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
612 PM CST SAT FEB 09 2008

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

0600 PM     SNOW             NWS SULLIVAN/MILWAUKEE  42.97N 88.55W
02/09/2008  M2.9 INCH        JEFFERSON          WI   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            INTENSE SNOWFALL BETWEEN 430 PM AND 545 PM. SNOWFALL RATE
            OF AROUND 2.5 INCHES PER HOUR OBSERVED.

&&

BORGHOFF

Local storm report, Feb 9, 6:30 PM CST, 5 hours 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
630 PM CST SAT FEB 09 2008

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

0624 PM     SNOW             3 S WAUKESHA            42.97N 88.24W
02/09/2008  M2.1 INCH        WAUKESHA           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

BORGHOFF

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Marquette

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Marquette forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.820, -89.399 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Green Lake

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Green Lake forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.800, -89.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Fond du Lac

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Fond du Lac forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.754, -88.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sheboygan

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Sheboygan forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.756, -87.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sauk

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Sauk forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.427, -89.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Columbia

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Columbia forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.467, -89.334 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Dodge

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Dodge forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.416, -88.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Washington

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.369, -88.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Ozaukee

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Ozaukee forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.403, -87.891 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Iowa

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Iowa forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.001, -90.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Dane

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Dane forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.067, -89.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Jefferson

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.021, -88.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Waukesha

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Waukesha forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.018, -88.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Milwaukee

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Milwaukee forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 43.022, -87.929 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lafayette

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Lafayette forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.661, -90.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Green

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Green forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.680, -89.602 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Rock

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Rock forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.671, -89.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Walworth

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Walworth forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.669, -88.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Racine

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Racine forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.730, -87.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kenosha

When: February 10, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Kenosha forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 42.573, -87.840 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 81192, 81193, 81194, 81195, 81196, 81197, 81198, 81199, 81200, 81201, 81202, 81203, 81204, 81205, 81206, 81207, 81208, 81209, 81210, 81211.