Wisconsin, 2020

Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, November 10 to 11, 2020

November 10 to 11, 2020 · NWS DLH · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

An area of low pressure lifting northeastward brought a short but heavy period of snow to the region during the evening of the 10th before ending during the early morning hours. Snowfall reports of 5 to 7 inches were recorded in Douglas and Bayfield counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
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  • Marine and coastal
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 DLH wrote it up.

An area of low pressure lifting northeastward brought a short but heavy period of snow to the region during the evening of the 10th before ending during the early morning hours. Snowfall reports of 5 to 7 inches were recorded in Douglas and Bayfield counties. Further east, warmer air led to freezing rain across portions of Ashland, Sawyer, Iron and Price counties with ice accumulations up to a quarter of an inch in spots leading to very slick roads and a few isolated power outages.

The radar

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

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Event by event

2 heavy snow, 2 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Douglas

When
November 10, 7:00 PM CST to November 11, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Douglas forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.464, -91.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Bayfield

When
November 10, 8:00 PM CST to November 11, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Bayfield forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
46.635, -91.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ashland

When
November 10, 8:00 PM CST to November 11, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Ashland forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.510, -90.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter reported 0.30 of ice accumulation near Mellen in about an hour leading to very slick roadways and scattered downed tree branches.

Ice Storm, Iron

When
November 10, 8:00 PM CST to November 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Iron forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
46.317, -90.264 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An observer in Gile reported a quarter inch of ice accumulation in about two hours leading to slick roads and isolated power outages.

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, November 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 929351, 929352, 929353, 929354.