Winter Weather, Sauk
- When
- January 3, 3:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Sauk forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.427, -89.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather in Wisconsin, January 3, 2017
Black ice formed during the morning rush hour as road temperatures fell below freezing while light drizzle or rain fell, and dense fog was occurring. This affected south central WI and areas north and west of the Milwaukee area.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 16 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 16
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.
Black ice formed during the morning rush hour as road temperatures fell below freezing while light drizzle or rain fell, and dense fog was occurring. This affected south central WI and areas north and west of the Milwaukee area. A few schools were delayed. Vehicle accidents and slide-offs occurred including a crash that resulted in one fatality in Sheboygan County.
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 3, 2:50 AM CST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 3, 2:50 AM CST, 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
250 AM CST Tue Jan 3 2017
.TODAY AND TONIGHT...Forecast confidence is high.
The inverted trough axis over the southeast early this morning will
quickly push east. High pressure extending back across the northern
plains will nose in bringing increasing northwest winds early
beginning this morning out west and in the east by late morning.
Those winds will help to push the fog out rather quickly. The dense
fog advisory for Madison and points south and west should be allowed
to expire around 6 am, but we may still have some patch dense fog
hanging on for a bit over parts of eastern Dane county. Since the
scouring winds don't arrive in the southeast until later, that
advisory will go until 10 am.
Any lingering patchy light rain or drizzle across the southeast
should move out by mid morning. Temperatures north Madison are
hovering close to the freezing mark, so some slick roads are
possible there.
The increasing northwest winds will signal the arrival of our arctic
airmass that will be with us through the remainder of the week.
Winds will be rather strong and gusty from mid afternoon through
tonight. Temps will fall into the 20s by late afternoon, dropping
into the single digits by sunrise Wednesday morning.
.WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...Forecast Confidence...Med to High
Should see mainly dry weather under high pressure from Wednesday
through Monday. A wave will move through the region Wed night
into Thursday and could bring a few snowflakes to the south.
Another wave or two will slide through late week into the weekend,
but looks too dry for precip.
Though models still differ by several degrees with the extent of
cold air mid week into the weekend, the picture remains pretty
clear that well below normal temperatures can be expected for this
period. Could see temps back toward normal by Monday.
&&
.AVIATION/12Z TAFS/...
IFR conditions will be persistent into the afternoon. Visibilities
will improve from west to east as northwest winds increase with the
arrival of a high pressure ridge from the northwest. But, CIGS will
likely remain IFR through about 18z at KMSN and 20z across the
southeast, including KMKE. MVFR CIGS will then continue through
about 03z Wednesday over all of southern Wisconsin, becoming VFR
thereafter. Northwest winds will become strong and gusty this
afternoon and continue through tonight as a surge of arctic air
pushes into the western Great Lakes.
&&
.MARINE...
High pressure building into the region today will bring increasing
northwest winds. Winds should reach small craft advisory levels by
mid afternoon today. A gale watch has been issued for tonight
through Wednesday morning with the threat of winds gusting to about
35 knots. Winds will gradually subside on Wednesday, but likely
remain at small craft advisory levels through Wednesday night.
&&
.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...DENSE FOG ADVISORY until 10 AM CST this morning for WIZ051-052-
058>060-064>066-069>072.
DENSE FOG ADVISORY until 6 AM CST early this morning for WIZ062-
063-067-068.
LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY from 3 PM this afternoon to 10 PM CST
Wednesday for LMZ643>646.&&
TODAY/TONIGHT AND AVIATION/MARINE...Davis
Wednesday THROUGH Monday...DDVHazardous weather outlook, Jan 2, 11:40 PM CST, 3 hours 20 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI 1140 PM CST MON JAN 2 2017 WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072-040545- MARQUETTE-GREEN LAKE-FOND DU LAC-SHEBOYGAN-SAUK-COLUMBIA-DODGE- WASHINGTON-OZAUKEE-IOWA-DANE-JEFFERSON-WAUKESHA-MILWAUKEE- LAFAYETTE-GREEN-ROCK-WALWORTH-RACINE-KENOSHA- 1140 PM CST MON JAN 2 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...REST OF TONIGHT SLICK SPOTS ON UNTREATED ROADS MAY LINGER OVERNIGHT NORTH AND WEST OF MADISON...TOWARD THE WISCONSIN DELLS AND MONTELLO AREAS. A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT FOR THE MILWAUKEE AND MADISON METRO AREAS...AND POINTS SOUTH...FOR VISIBILITY VALUES DOWN TO 1/4 MILE AT TIMES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ARCTIC AIR WILL PREVAIL OVER SOUTHERN WISCONSIN FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY MORNING. WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM 5 TO 20 BELOW ZERO EACH MORNING...WITH THE COLDEST READINGS TOWARD CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. LMZ643>646-040545- 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- 1140 PM CST MON JAN 2 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...REST OF TONIGHT FOG WITH VISIBILITIES LESS THAN A MILE ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT. A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT...FOR BRISK WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS...FROM LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. THESE WINDS WILL DEVELOP IN THE WAKE OF AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT. HIGH WAVES AND SOME FREEZING SPRAY ARE EXPECTED TOWARD THE OPEN WATERS. WOOD WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MKX
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
16 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Weather, Iowa
- When
- January 3, 3:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Iowa forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.001, -90.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Lafayette
- When
- January 3, 3:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Lafayette forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 42.661, -90.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Columbia
- When
- January 3, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Columbia forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 43.467, -89.334 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Dane
- When
- January 3, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Dane forecast zone
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 43.067, -89.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog. Numerous vehicle accidents in the city of Madison. Old Sauk road was closed until the road could be treated. Two Mount Horeb school buses slid off the road with no injuries.
Winter Weather, Green
- When
- January 3, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Green forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 42.680, -89.602 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Marquette
- When
- January 3, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Marquette forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.820, -89.399 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Green Lake
- When
- January 3, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Green Lake forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.800, -89.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Fond du Lac
- When
- January 3, 5:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Fond du Lac forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.754, -88.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Dodge
- When
- January 3, 5:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Dodge forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.416, -88.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Jefferson
- When
- January 3, 5:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Jefferson forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.021, -88.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Rock
- When
- January 3, 5:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Rock forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 42.671, -89.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Sheboygan
- When
- January 3, 6:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Sheboygan forecast zone
- Deaths
- 0 direct, 1 indirect
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.756, -87.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing drizzle and fog. A pickup truck slid off the road and hit some trees. One fatality occurred.
Winter Weather, Washington
- When
- January 3, 6:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Washington forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.369, -88.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
Winter Weather, Waukesha
- When
- January 3, 6:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Waukesha forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.018, -88.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog mainly in the western portion of the county.
Winter Weather, Walworth
- When
- January 3, 6:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Walworth forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 42.669, -88.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of icy roads from light freezing rain and fog.
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather, Sheboygan | 2017-01-03 | 16 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
What these are
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Cold in Nevada, January 3 to 6, 2017
- Strong Wind in Oregon, January 3 to 4, 2017
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in California, January 3 to 4, 2017
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, January 3 to 6, 2017
- Lake-Effect Snow and Cold in Michigan, January 3 to 7, 2017
- Winter Storm and Coastal Flood in Maine, January 3 to 4, 2017
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, January 3 to 5, 2017
- Winter Storm in Utah, January 3 to 5, 2017
- Extreme Cold in South Dakota, January 3 to 4, 2017
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, January 3 to 5, 2017
- Winter Storm in California, January 3 to 4, 2017
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 3 to 4, 2017
More
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, January 2017
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: 664981, 664982, 664983, 664976, 664977, 664978, 664979, 664980, 664984, 664985, 664986, 664987, 664988, 664989, 664990, 664991.