An intense low pressure system produced strong south-southwest winds across Wisconsin as it moved from the Plains, across northern Wisconsin, to Ontario. The strong winds caused isolated damage, downing some trees and knocking out power, across parts of central and east central Wisconsin.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
An intense low pressure system produced strong south-southwest winds across Wisconsin as it moved from the Plains, across northern Wisconsin, to Ontario. The strong winds caused isolated damage, downing some trees and knocking out power, across parts of central and east central Wisconsin. The strongest recorded gusts included 56 mph near Howard (Brown Co.), 54 mph at New Holstein (Calumet Co.), 53 mph at Chilton (Calumet Co.) and Oshkosh (Winnebago Co.), 52 mph near Plover (Portage Co.), and 50 mph near Zittau (Winnebago Co.).
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 Nov 18, 2:51 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 251 PM CST Fri Nov 18 2016 Forecast discussion for routine afternoon forecast issuance .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Saturday Issued at 250 PM CST Fri Nov 18 2016 Low pressure will move from northwest Wisconsin to eastern Lake Superior tonight and bring gusty winds, much colder temperatures and some light precipitation. Best chance of significant precipitation is in northcentral Wisconsin where rain showers will change to snow by late evening and continue into Saturday. The snow will be enhanced by flow across Lake Superior late tonight and Saturday. A few inches of snow should fall in the lake effect snow areas of Vilas county with little elsewhere. Windy and much colder Saturday, with winds gusting to 35 mph over most of the region, and 35 to 45 mph across eastern Wisconsin where a wind advisory is in effect.with highs 20 to 30 degrees colder than today, but just five degrees below normal. The wind will produce wind chills in the teens late tonight and in the 20s Saturday. .LONG TERM...Saturday Night Through Friday Issued at 250 PM CST Fri Nov 18 2016 Models for the most part are in agreement with the progressive nature of the mean flow from the eastern Pacific across the CONUS next week. A pair of Pacific systems will be working across the CONUS. Initially, the stronger of the two will be impacting the northeast CONUS this weekend (our cool down), while a second system to affect the Great Lakes during the Tuesday-Wednesday night time frame. This second system while weaker, will bring a mixed precipitation event to northeast WI with measurable snow possible mainly over northern/central WI. After a cold start to the week, temperatures are expected to be at or slightly above normal for the rest of next week. Lingering lake effect snow showers will continue across north- central WI into Saturday evening, but as a broad area of high pressure begins to build into the Upper MS Valley, these snow showers should gradually taper off during the overnight hours. Do not anticipate much in the way of additional accumulation as drier air advects into the region. The rest of northeast WI will see a general decrease in clouds Saturday night, along with winds over central WI subsiding to under 10 mph. Eastern WI may still see blustery conditions through most of the night as the pressure gradient remains somewhat tight behind the departed surface low. Min temperatures to range from the middle teens north, to the lower 20s near Lake MI. Cool and dry conditions are forecast on Sunday as the surface ridge slowly shifts east toward the western Great Lakes. Skies are expected to be mostly sunny to partly cloudy with temperatures falling slightly below normal. Look for max temperatures to only reach the upper 20s north-central, lower 30s central/far northeast and middle 30s east-central WI. The surface ridge axis finally reaches the western Great Lakes by Sunday night. For areas away from Lake MI, skies are forecast to become mostly clear with winds becoming light/variable. This favorable radiational cooling set-up will allow for temperatures to plunge, especially where any snow to be on the ground (Vilas county). Have taken an axe and chopped off at least five degrees to temperatures across north-central WI with some lowering in values elsewhere. This would send mins into the 10-15 degree range north-central, teens elsewhere except lower 20s along Lake MI. Plenty of sunshine expected over the forecast area on Monday with the surface ridge still in our vicinity. Some very weak WAA is forecast to develop later on Monday as upper heights begin to rise in advance of a new system moving into the central/southern Rockies. Max temperatures to range from the lower 30s north- central, upper 30s to around 40 degrees south. This next system is progged to move across the Rockies Monday night and emerge into the central Plains on Tuesday. The GFS remains a good 12 hours faster than the models, thus will favor the majority solution here and keep Monday night dry with increasing clouds. Some model timing issues persist into Tuesday with the CMC holding the precipitation at bay through the daylight hours, while the ECMWF spreading precipitation across northeast WI Tuesday afternoon. Precipitation type will probably be the biggest issue as the precipitation develops as temperatures should have risen into the middle 30s north-central, but lower 40s east- central WI. Anticipate primarily all rain generally south of a line from a AUW-IMT. For areas north of this line, temperatures would be cool enough for a rain/snow mix with very little (if any) accumulation. Not only are there timing issues with this system, but there are also differences among the models with the strength of the surface low and the amount of warmer air that will get pulled into WI ahead of this system (impacting precipitation type). Tuesday night could see an accumulating snow across northern and parts of central WI, while east-central WI would see mainly rain with a little snow mixed in toward daybreak. Way too early yet for accumulation numbers, just something to watch headed toward the Thanksgiving holiday travel time. The system lifts northeast into the Great Lakes on Wednesday with mixed precipitation continuing over the forecast area. Precipitation type remains an issue as modest daytime heating (max temperatures in the middle to upper 30s north/lower 40s south) could change the bulk of the precipitation to all rain Wednesday (until late in the day). This would obviously limit the extent of additional snow accumulations over northern WI, but with the uncertainty of this system, stay tuned! Lingering light rain and/or snow should persist into Wednesday night before tapering off altogether by Thursday. There is also model discord with a fast-moving shortwave trough that could affect the Great Lakes Thursday night/Friday morning. Once again, precipitation type would be an issue depending on timing, so have followed the consensus solution for now which sends at least a chance of precipitation into northeast WI with possible snow accumulations (light) north and a mix south. && .AVIATION...for 18Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1159 AM CST Fri Nov 18 2016 A storm system moving across northwest Wisconsin will bring scattered showers this afternoon and tonight. A few thunderstorms are possible this afternoon. MVFR or IFR ceilings and visibilities should continue north of a Wisconsin Rapids to Iron Mountain line through tonight with mostly VFR conditions to the southeast. Rain showers will change to snow showers across the area later tonight with some accumulation at ARV/D25/LNL/EGV. Windy conditions are expected Saturday with northwest winds of 20 to 30 knots with higher gusts. MVFR ceilings are expected in most places early in the day with ceilings rising to VFR during the afternoon. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 6 AM to 6 PM CST Saturday FOR WIZ013-038>040- 048>050-073-074. Wind Advisory from 6 AM Saturday to midnight CST Saturday night FOR WIZ022. Winter Weather Advisory from 9 PM this evening to noon CST Saturday FOR WIZ005. && SHORT TERM.....RDM LONG TERM......Kallas AVIATION.......RDM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 258 PM CST FRI NOV 18 2016 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-192100- VILAS-ONEIDA-FOREST-FLORENCE-NORTHERN MARINETTE COUNTY-LINCOLN- LANGLADE-MENOMINEE-NORTHERN OCONTO COUNTY-DOOR-MARATHON-SHAWANO- WOOD-PORTAGE-WAUPACA-OUTAGAMIE-BROWN-KEWAUNEE-WAUSHARA-WINNEBAGO- CALUMET-MANITOWOC-SOUTHERN MARINETTE COUNTY- SOUTHERN OCONTO COUNTY- 258 PM CST FRI NOV 18 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE THIS EVENING BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST AND BRINGING MUCH COLD AIR INTO THE REGION. TEMPERATURES WILL QUICKLY FALL TONIGHT...ALONG WITH RAIN CHANGING TO SNOW. SOME SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL OCCUR IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN...ESPECIALLY ACROSS VILAS COUNTY. WIND GUSTS WILL BE 30 TO 40 MPH IN MOST LOCATIONS. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR VILAS COUNTY TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH FRIDAY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL PERSIST ON SATURDAY...WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 45 MPH OVER MUCH OF EASTERN WISCONSIN, AND HIGHER GUSTS TO 50 MPH OVER NORTHERN DOOR COUNTY. WIND ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN POSTED OVER MOST OF NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN, INCLUDING THE FOX VALLEY AND LAKESHORE AREAS. ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CONTINUE IN FAR NORTHERN WISCONSIN ON SATURDAY...ESPECIALLY OVER VILAS COUNTY...WHERE EVENT TOTALS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE ANTICIPATED. AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED. DEER HUNTERS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THE FIRST WINTRY CONDITIONS OF THE SEASON. ANOTHER CHANCE FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW ARRIVES TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING...MAINLY ACROSS NORTHERN AND PARTS OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN. IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE ACCUMULATION NUMBERS JUST YET...SO STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM NORTHERN WISCONSIN WOULD BE APPRECIATED LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. LMZ521-522-541>543-192100- THE BAY OF GREEN BAY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-LAKE MICHIGAN FROM WASHINGTON ISLAND TO SHEBOYGAN- 258 PM CST FRI NOV 18 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE WATERS OF GREEN BAY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WITH GALE FORCE GUSTS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING. NORTHWEST GALES WILL DEVELOP OVERNIGHT. WAVES AS HIGH AS 4 TO 7 FEET ON THE BAY...AND 6 TO 10 FEET ON THE LAKE...CAN BE EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NORTHWEST GALES WILL CONTINUE SATURDAY AND SATURDAY EVENING. A FEW STORM FORCE GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE NEAR DEATHS DOOR. THE GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AS THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES AWAY FROM THE REGION. RDM/AK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
1203 PM CST FRI NOV 18 2016
WIZ005-010-018-181845-
LINCOLN WI-ONEIDA WI-VILAS WI-
1203 PM CST FRI NOV 18 2016
...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN...
AT 1201 PM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES EAST OF PHILLIPS TO 8 MILES WEST OF
WOODBORO. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
THE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO RACE TO THE NORTHEAST THROUGH 1 PM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RHINELANDER...EAGLE RIVER...MERRILL...LAC DU FLAMBEAU...TOMAHAWK...
PHELPS...BOULDER JUNCTION...WOODBORO...WINCHESTER AND WILLOW
RESERVOIR.
LAT...LON 4614 8910 4607 8893 4598 8893 4598 8905
4547 8905 4547 8943 4512 8942 4512 9004
4598 9005 4598 8993 4630 8993
TIME...MOT...LOC 1801Z 207DEG 54KT 4573 9018 4560 8972
BERSCHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI 300 PM CST FRI NOV 18 2016 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-190000- VILAS-ONEIDA-FOREST-FLORENCE-NORTHERN MARINETTE COUNTY-LINCOLN- LANGLADE-MENOMINEE-NORTHERN OCONTO COUNTY-DOOR-MARATHON-SHAWANO- WOOD-PORTAGE-WAUPACA-OUTAGAMIE-BROWN-KEWAUNEE-WAUSHARA-WINNEBAGO- CALUMET-MANITOWOC-SOUTHERN MARINETTE COUNTY- SOUTHERN OCONTO COUNTY- 300 PM CST FRI NOV 18 2016 ...WINDY CONDITIONS TO OVERSPREAD NORTHEAST WISCONSIN... STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD NORTHEAST WISCONSIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON. WIND GUSTS COULD SURPASS 40 MPH AT TIMES. AS A COLD FRONT SWEEPS ACROSS THE REGION LATER THIS EVENING, WINDS WILL SWITCH TO THE NORTHWEST AND INCREASE EVEN MORE WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH AND GUSTS AGAIN TO 40 MPH. MOTORISTS DRIVING HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES MAY FIND DRIVING DIFFICULT AT TIMES. HUNTERS HEADED OUT FOR DEER HUNTING SHOULD BE ALERT FOR FALLING TREE BRANCHES. AK
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
316 PM CST FRI NOV 18 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0301 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SW PLOVER 44.44N 89.54W
11/18/2016 M50 MPH PORTAGE WI CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
AKThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong winds downed a tree in New Holstein.
Strong winds snapped a large tree branch that fell on a house, causing minor roof damage.
Strong winds caused power outages throughout Oshkosh.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, November 2016
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: 664877, 664821, 664864.