Cold in Wisconsin, December 24, 2020

Name: Cold in Wisconsin, December 24, 2020
Start: 2020-12-24T01:45
End: 2020-12-24T02:45
Location: Wisconsin

December 24, 2020 · NWS ARX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Where it happened

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.

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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 ARX wrote it up.

A western Wisconsin woman passed away in northern Adams County just before Christmas as a result of hypothermia. Local officials said the woman's car was found submerged up to the roof in a water filled ditch but she was able to escape from the car. However, with soaking wet clothes and air temperatures in the single digits above zero, hypothermia quickly set in and her body was found two days after the accident just a few hundred yards from the crash site.

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 La Crosse, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 24, 12:31 AM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 24, 12:31 AM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1231 AM CST Thu Dec 24 2020

.SHORT TERM...(Today through Thursday)
Issued at 255 PM CST Wed Dec 23 2020

Rapidly deteriorating conditions taking place! Gusty winds and a few
showers here and there across the area ahead of deep low pressure
and a strong cold front plunging into southeast MN and northeast IA.
As of 2 pm, deep low pressure (~985mb) was located over Wabasha MN
with a strong cold front extending southward through northeast IA.
Models in good overall agreement heading into this afternoon with
placement of heaviest deformation snow later this afternoon into
tonight. There was a slight southeast placement of the eastern
periphery of heavier snow...brushing far northwest portions of the
forecast area (from near Dodge Center MN into Wabasha MN/north
central WI. Only about an inch more at most. Feel pretty confident
with going forecast and headlines.

The low will continue to push northeast into northern WI/Lake
Superior this evening and into Ontario by Thursday morning. Heaviest
deformation snow axis with this low will be across south central
into northeast MN with the eastern periphery edging into our
northwest area. Currently thinking 2-4 inches on this northwest
periphery with lesser amounts to the southeast. See our online
graphics for details. The other facet with this storm will be
powerful northwest winds in the 25 to 35 mph range, gusting 40-50
mph, strongest across portions of southeast MN/northeast IA. This
will impact areas white heavier snowfall with near white-out
conditions at times. Lesser impacts are expected farther southeast
where winds/snowfall will be slightly less. Very cold Arctic air
plunges in tonight with overnight lows plunging into the single
digits above and below zero. Combination of wind/temps will drive
wind chills into the minus 10 to minus 25 range.

Will keep current winter headlines as is for now into tonight.

Some lingering snowshowers/flurries expected Thursday in cold
cyclonic flow as the low pulls northeast into Ontario. Otherwise
frigid conditions expects with  highs only in the single digits to
lower teens above zero. Gusty northwest winds will produce wind
chills in the single digits/teens below zero.

Christmas Eve looks dry and cold as a ridge of high pressure build
in from the west. Plan on overnight lows in the single digits
above/below zero range.

.LONG TERM...(Christmas Day through Tuesday)
Issued at 255 PM Wed Dec 23 2020

Christmas day looking dry and mostly sunny with highs in the teens
to mid 20s.

Dry through Saturday along with moderating temperatures to near
normal for late December. Plan on highs in the mid 20s to lower 30s.

Will have to keep an eye on Sunday/Sunday night as both the
GFS/ECMWF have a low pressure system moving out of the Plains into
northern IL/Great Lakes region. Looks like models are having
difficulty discerning where precipitation shield will materialize
with the system but does look like portions of the area could see
some light snow.

Another system looks to impact the area late Tuesday into Wednesday
with snow. Way too early to discern timing and amounts.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Thursday night)
Issued at 1224 AM CST Thu Dec 24 2020

MVFR/IFR ceilings and visibilities at both KRST and KLSE will
remain down through 13-15Z when we expect conditions to become
VFR/MVFR with ceilings fl030-050. The clouds will hang on through
the day, scattering out around 02Z. Northwest winds 15 to 25kts
with gusts 25-35kts to decrease later Thursday to 10 to 15kts by
02Z.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Winter Weather Advisory until 2 AM CST early this morning for
     WIZ017-029-032>034.

MN...Winter Weather Advisory until 2 AM CST early this morning for
     MNZ079-088-095.

     Blizzard Warning until 2 AM CST early this morning for MNZ086-
     087-094.

IA...Winter Weather Advisory until 2 AM CST early this morning for
     IAZ008-009-018-019.

&&

SHORT TERM...DAS
LONG TERM...DAS
AVIATION...Rieck/CZ

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 23, 7:11 PM CST, 6 hours 34 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
711 PM CST Wed Dec 23 2020

MNZ086-087-094-241000-
Dodge-Olmsted-Mower-
711 PM CST Wed Dec 23 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast
Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Blizzard Warning is in effect tonight.

Snow with winds gusting up to 50 mph will result in blowing and
drifting snow, reducing visibilities and possibly white-out
conditions. Snowfall accumulations will range from 2 to 4 inches.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Wind chills of 15 to 25 below are expected Thursday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snow and wind reports are appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

MNZ079-088-095-WIZ017-029-032>034-241000-
Wabasha-Winona-Fillmore-Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-
711 PM CST Wed Dec 23 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast
Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect tonight.

Snow with accumulations from 1 to 3 inches. This combined with
moisture freezing on roads will lead to slippery conditions.
Northwest winds will gust as high as 45 mph which could produce
some blowing snow.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Wind chills of 15 to 25 below are expected Thursday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Precipitation and wind reports are appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

IAZ008-009-018-019-241000-
Mitchell-Howard-Floyd-Chickasaw-
711 PM CST Wed Dec 23 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Iowa.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect tonight.

Snow with accumulations from 1 to 2 inches. This combined with
the moisture freezing on roads will lead to some slippery
conditions. Northwest winds will gust as high as 45 mph which
could produce blowing snow.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Wind chills of 15 to 25 below are expected Thursday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Precipitation and wind reports are appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

IAZ010-029-241000-
Winneshiek-Fayette-
711 PM CST Wed Dec 23 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Iowa.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Wind Advisory is in effect tonight with strong northwest winds
gusting up to 45 mph.

Snow with accumulations of an inch or less. Moisture on roads
will quickly freeze, and when combined with the snow, could
produce some slippery conditions.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Wind chills of 10 to 25 below are expected Thursday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Precipitation and wind reports are appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

IAZ011-030-MNZ096-WIZ041>044-053>055-061-241000-
Allamakee-Clayton-Houston-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-
Crawford-Richland-Grant-
711 PM CST Wed Dec 23 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Iowa...southeast Minnesota...and southwest Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Snow with accumulations less than an inch. Moisture on roads
will quickly freeze, and when combined with the snow, could
produce some slippery conditions. Wind gust of 30 to 35 mph will
also occur.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Wind chills of 10 to 20 below are expected Thursday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Precipitation reports are appreciated.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

No webinar is scheduled.

Rieck

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 23, 8:57 PM CST, 4 hours 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
857 PM CST WED DEC 23 2020

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

0856 PM     SNOW             2 SSE HOLMEN            43.93N 91.24W
12/23/2020  M0.5 INCH        LA CROSSE          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

0854 PM     SNOW             3 WSW LA CRESCENT       43.81N 91.36W
12/23/2020  M0.7 INCH        HOUSTON            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

Local storm report, Dec 23, 10:36 PM CST, 3 hours 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1036 PM CST WED DEC 23 2020

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

1035 PM     SNOW             1 WSW WEST SALEM        43.90N 91.10W
12/23/2020  M1.4 INCH        LA CROSSE          WI   NWS EMPLOYEE

&&

Local storm report, Dec 23, 11:32 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1132 PM CST WED DEC 23 2020

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

1126 PM     SNOW             1 SSW ROCHESTER         44.00N 92.48W
12/23/2020  E3.0 INCH        OLMSTED            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            ESTIMATED SNOW AMOUNT DUE TO STRONG WINDS.

&&

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Adams

When: December 24, 1:45 AM CST to 2:45 AM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 43.970, -89.771 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A western Wisconsin woman died in northern Adams County as a result of hypothermia. Local officials found the woman's car submerged up to the roof in a water filled ditch. The woman escape from the car but with soaking wet clothes and temperatures in the single digits above zero, hypothermia quickly set in and her body was found two days after the accident just a few hundred yards from the car.

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
Cold/Wind Chill, Adams	2020-12-24	38	Female	Outside/Open Areas	Direct

What these are

Cold/Wind Chill: Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, December 2020

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: 933827.