A strong low pressure system from the Plains moved across the Ohio Valley. More than a foot of snow fell in far southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois, and more than 6 inches fell as far north as Manitowoc.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS GRB wrote it up.
A strong low pressure system from the Plains moved across the Ohio Valley. More than a foot of snow fell in far southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois, and more than 6 inches fell as far north as Manitowoc. The highest reported snowfall totals were 7.2 inches at Two Rivers, and 7.0 inches at Francis Creek. Strong winds developed during the storm, gusting over 30 mph at times, causing blowing and drifting of the new snow. Visibility dropped to near zero at the height of the storm.
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 Green Bay, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 1, 5:37 AM CST, 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 537 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 UPDATED AVIATION PORTION FOR 12Z TAF ISSUANCE .SHORT TERM...TODAY...TONIGHT...AND MONDAY ISSUED AT 336 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 LARGE WINTER STORM CONTINUES TO TRACK OVER THE MID SECTION OF THE COUNTRY TODAY BEFORE LIFTING INTO THE NORTHEAST STATES TONIGHT INTO MONDAY. SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE SOUTH HALF OF THE STATE...WITH WIDESPREAD WARNING CRITERIA SNOW OVER FAR SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. EDGE OF THE ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL EXTEND NORTHWARD INTO PARTS OF CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...OR ROUGHLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 29. OVERALL HIGHER SNOW AMOUNTS TO BE SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 21 THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON BEFORE THE SYSTEM BEGINS TO PULL SOUTHEAST. HOWEVER RADARS EARLY THIS AM ALREADY SHOWING BANDED SNOW FROM ISW TO ATW. DRIER AIR FROM THE NORTH WILL PRODUCE A HEALTHY CUT OFF OF SNOW ACCUMULATION. DUE TO A COMBO OF 2-3 INCHES OF SNOW AND STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS DEVELOPING TODAY AS THE SURFACE LOW DEEPENS OVER SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...WILL ISSUE A SNOW/BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY FOR THE SOUTHERN TIER OF COUNTIES...AND ISSUE A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR MANITOWOC COUNTY DUE TO SNOW AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 4 INCHES AND POSSIBLY HIGHER WITH ANY LAKE ENHANCED BANDS. HOWEVER THE TIPPING POINT OF PUTTING MTW COUNTY INTO THE WARNING IS THE DEVELOPING STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS WHICH LINGER INTO THIS EVENING. POTENTIAL OF NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS FOR A FEW HOURS OVER MTW COUNTY TODAY DURING THE PEAK OF THE WINDS. WEAK RETURNS WERE SHOWING UP ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE EARLY THIS MORNING...BUT AFTER 2 AM THESE RETURNS WERE GETTING COVERED UP BY THE EXPANDING SYSTEM SNOW...AND AVAILABLE GROUND TRUTH INDICATE MINOR SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY SO FAR. ANOTHER ISSUE IS KEWAUNEE COUNTY WITH RESPECT TO THE STRONG NE WINDS...EVEN THOUGH SYSTEM SNOW AMOUNTS PROBABLY ONE INCH...AND ONLY ABOUT 2 INCHES ON THE GROUND...WILL ISSUE A SNOW/BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY TO BUFFER MANITOWOC COUNTY...BUT LIKELY THE BLOWING SNOW MIGHT BE THE DOMINATE ISSUE. CONFIDENCE OF LAKE SNOW BANDS STAYING OVER KEWAUNEE COUNTY LESS. THE LARGE SNOW GROWTH REGION WITH THE GRB FORECAST SOUNDINGS TODAY SUPPORT THE BANDS MAY BE MORE ROBUST DEPENDING ON THE WINDS. SYSTEM PULLS OUT TONIGHT WITH DIMINISHING SNOW SHOWERS AND WINDS OVER THE LAKE SHORE REGION. QUIET BUT COLD CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR MONDAY. .LONG TERM...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY ISSUED AT 336 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 TIMING AND LOCATION OF SNOW CHANCES ARE THE MAIN CONCERNS DURING THIS PART OF THE FORECAST. RELATIVELY LOW AMPLITUDE FLOW IS EXPECTED THROUGH THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. WINDS ALOFT SHOULD BE MAINLY WEST-NORTHWEST SO TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE BELOW NORMAL BUT NOT EXCEPTIONALLY COLD. 00Z GFS BROUGHT QPF ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN MONDAY NIGHT BUT 00Z ECMWF/GEM/NAM WERE ALL FARTHER NORTH WITH IT SO HAVE A DRY FORECAST FOR THAT PERIOD. THERE IS BETTER AGREEMENT AMONG THE MODELS ON TIMING OF THE SYSTEM THAT WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN...THOUGH THE GEM LOOKED TOO FAST. HAVE A SMALL AREA OF SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR PART OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN 18Z TUE-00Z WED. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SNOW ON WEDNESDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE AND SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PASS SOUTH OF THE AREA. CHANCES SHOULD BE MAINLY ACROSS CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...AND IN NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN DUE TO LAKE EFFECT. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD BRING A RETURN TO DRY WEATHER FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE WORK WEEK. SNOW CHANCES FOR THE WEEKEND REMAIN UNCERTAIN DUE TO TIMING AND LOCATION DIFFERENCES IN MODEL QPF. HAVE A CHANCE FOR SNOW ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA FOR SATURDAY FROM THE INITIAL BLEND SO HAVE STAYED WITH THAT. && .AVIATION...FOR 12Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 536 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 MVFR/IFR CIGS AND VSBYS DUE TO SNOW WILL DOMINATE OVER LOCATIONS SOUTH OF LINE FROM MFI TO GRB TO SUE. MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS NORTH OF THIS LINE. NORTHEAST WINDS WILL BECOME GUSTY AS A WINTER STORM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SNOW INTENSIFIES OVER CENTRAL ILLINOIS. AS THE WINTER STORM DEPARTS EAST INTO THE OHIO VALLEY...DRIER AIR POURING THE STATE WILL IMPROVE TO VFR CONDITIONS TONIGHT. WINDS WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING OVER CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND OVERNIGHT OVER NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. && .MARINE... ISSUED AT 336 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL LIKELY PRODUCE NEAR GALE GUSTS FOR AREAS SOUTH OF KEWAUNEE AND NEAR GALE GUSTS FOR LOCATIONS NORTHWARD. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR WIZ045- 048-049. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR WIZ040. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR WIZ050. && SHORT TERM.....TDH LONG TERM......MG AVIATION.......TDH MARINE.........TDH
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 450 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-021200- VILAS-ONEIDA-FOREST-FLORENCE-NORTHERN MARINETTE-LINCOLN-LANGLADE- MENOMINEE-NORTHERN OCONTO-DOOR-MARATHON-SHAWANO-WOOD-PORTAGE- WAUPACA-OUTAGAMIE-BROWN-KEWAUNEE-WAUSHARA-WINNEBAGO-CALUMET- MANITOWOC-SOUTHERN MARINETTE-SOUTHERN OCONTO- 450 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT BETWEEN 3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED OVER MANITOWOC COUNTY TODAY...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN. INCREASING NORTHEAST WINDS ALONG THE LAKESHORE MAY PRODUCE NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...WHICH MAY IMPACT PORTIONS OF INTERSTATE 43. OTHERWISE 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN TODAY...WITH THE HIGHER AMOUNTS MAINLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 21. GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS WILL ALSO CREATE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE NEW SNOW...ESPECIALLY OVER RURAL OPEN AREAS...TO CREATE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN ON TUESDAY NIGH...WHICH MAY CAUSE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. THERE IS A CHANCE OF ACCUMULATING SNOW AT THE END OF THE WEEK... BUT CONFIDENCE IS LOW IN THE TIMING...LOCATION AND SNOWFALL AMOUNTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OVER AN INCH LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. LMZ521-522-541>543-021200- THE BAY OF GREEN BAY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WASHINGTON ISLAND TO SHEBOYGAN- 450 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE WATERS OF GREEN BAY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS MAY REACH GALE FORCE TODAY AND EVENING FOR NEARSHORE AREAS SOUTH OF TWO RIVERS...AND APPROACH GALE FORCE AT TIMES FOR AREAS NORTH OF TWO RIVERS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. TH/MG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 452 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 WIZ035>037-011500- WOOD-PORTAGE-WAUPACA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WISCONSIN RAPIDS...STEVENS POINT 452 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 ...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW COULD MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS TRAVEL TODAY... A WINTER STORM TRACKING OVER ILLINOIS WILL PRODUCE AN INCH OR TWO OF ACCUMULATION THIS MORNING BEFORE TAPERING OFF THIS AFTERNOON. THE HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 54. NORTHEAST WINDS INCREASING TO 15 TO 25 MPH LATER THIS MORNING AND INTO THIS AFTERNOON WILL PRODUCE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. WIZ038-039-011500- OUTAGAMIE-BROWN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...APPLETON...GREEN BAY 452 AM CST SUN FEB 1 2015 ...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW COULD MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS TRAVEL TODAY... A WINTER STORM TRACKING OVER ILLINOIS WILL PRODUCE AN INCH OR TWO OF ACCUMULATION BEFORE TAPERING OFF THIS AFTERNOON. THE HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SOUTH OF THE GREEN BAY AREA. NORTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL PRODUCE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. TDH
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The highest reported snowfall total from the storm was 7.2 inches at Two Rivers.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, February 2015
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: 551213.