A low pressure system tracked from North Dakota through the northwestern Great Lakes region during the day on Sunday (12/5), bringing an occluded front through the area during the evening hours before tracking east Monday morning (12/6). A band of moderate to heavy snow developed Sunday morning, ending around midday across most of the region, with continued light snow and blowing snow across…
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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 low pressure system tracked from North Dakota through the northwestern Great Lakes region during the day on Sunday (12/5), bringing an occluded front through the area during the evening hours before tracking east Monday morning (12/6). A band of moderate to heavy snow developed Sunday morning, ending around midday across most of the region, with continued light snow and blowing snow across north-central Wisconsin through the early evening hours. A band of 6 to 10 inches fell across north-central and northeast Wisconsin.
Some of the highest snowfall totals included 10.0 inches near Rhinelander and in Woodboro (Oneida Co.), as well as Heafford Junction (Lincoln Co.), and Marinette (Marinette Co.), 9.8 inches in Presque Isle (Vilas Co.), 9.4 inches near Hazelhurst (Oneida Co.), 9.0 inches near Peshtigo (southern Marinette Co.), near Spread Eagle (Florence Co.), and near Athelstane (northern Marinette Co.), 8.3 inches near Argonne (Forest Co.), and 8.0 inches near Ellison Bay (Door Co.) as well as in Oconto Falls (southern Oconto 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 Dec 5, 3:59 AM CST, 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 359 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021 Forecast discussion for routine morning forecast issuance .SHORT TERM...Today...Tonight...and Monday Issued at 358 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021 Adjusted headlines due to expected heavier snows in the NE part of the state. Complete discussion for this portion of the forecast will follow a little later. .LONG TERM...Monday Night Through Saturday Issued at 358 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021 The main highlights from this forecast period are with the cold air residing over the area Monday night and Tuesday, followed by various chances for precipitation throughout the week. Monday night through Tuesday...As high pressure slides into the region Monday night, a noticeable amount of cold Canadian air will tag along for the ride and spread across the forecast area. Temperatures will quickly fall Monday night as northwest winds gradually decrease. Despite winds becoming lighter overnight, the combination of low temperatures ranging from the single digits above zero in east-central WI to the single digits below zero elsewhere, wind chills are expected to be below zero across the region. Central and north-central WI will see the coldest wind chills ranging from about -11 to -17, with wind chill values ranging from about -2 to -10 elsewhere. Dry conditions are expected for Tuesday as the high remains overhead. The chilly temperatures will continue for Tuesday with highs ranging from the low 10s in north-central WI to the upper teens to low 20s in central and east-central WI. Tuesday night through Wednesday...Models are still picking up on a mid-level shortwave moving across the region during this time, which looks to bring the next chance for accumulating snow. There's still too much uncertainty with this system to determine finer details such as snowfall amounts, but felt it was necessary to increase PoPs during this time. There also appears to be a signal for winds turning east/southeast along the lakeshore at some point, which may raise the potential for lake-effect snow along Lake Michigan. Rest of the extended...Although models stray further apart beyond Wednesday, there is some agreement with a clipper moving east/northeast somewhere along the border between the Northern Plains and southern Manitoba on Thursday, which could bring a quick shot of accumulating snow to the forecast area. && .AVIATION...for 06Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1123 PM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 Light snow will arrive from west to east later tonight, with MVFR conditions conditions by daybreak west of an IMT to CWA line. Snow and IFR conditions are expected north of a ISW to GRB line Sunday, with snow and rain showers and mostly MVFR conditions further south. Snow will continue north of a AUW to IMT line Sunday night, with areas of drizzle or friezing drizzle elsewhere. A cold front will move across the area late Sunday night and bring an end to the precipitation, with the exception of lake effect snow showers north of a RHI to IMT line. Winds will become westerly and gust to 35 knots or more late Sunday night through midday Monday. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for WIZ020- 030-031-037>040. Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Monday for WIZ005-010>012- 019. Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST Monday for WIZ018. Winter Storm Warning until 9 PM CST this evening for WIZ013-021- 022-073. Winter Weather Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for WIZ074. && SHORT TERM.....Skowronski LONG TERM......Hykin AVIATION.......RDM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 937 PM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-060345- 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- 937 PM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight Roads could become slippery late tonight as snow arrives from the west. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Saturday Hazardous travel conditions are expected at times Sunday through Monday morning as a winter storm moves across the Great Lakes region. Periods of snow are expected over all of the area Sunday, along with winds gusts to 30 mph or more. The snow will diminish south of highway 29 Sunday evening, but continue further north. Lake effect snow showers will continue in Vilas county into Monday. Snowfall totals of 6 inches or more are likely north of a Tomahawk to Iron Mountain line, with 2 to 5 inches of snow further south. Only an inch or two is expected south of highway ten. The snow could change to freezing drizzle or drizzle for a time late Sunday into Sunday night. Strong northwest winds gusting to 40 mph will arrive late Sunday night and continue through Monday morning following a cold front. They could produce areas of blowing and drifting snow in areas with dry snow on the ground. Travel could be very difficult in those areas. Light to moderate snow could produce hazardous travel conditions Tuesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are request to report snowfall amounts Sunday into Monday. LMZ521-522-541>543-060345- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 937 PM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...Tonight The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Saturday A gale watch is in effect for Sunday night and Monday. RDM/Kallas
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The highest snowfall totals across Vilas County included 9.8 inches in Presque Isle and 6.9 inches near Boulder Junction as well as near Saint Germain.
The highest snowfall totals across Oneida County included 10.0 inches near Rhinelander as well as in Woodboro, 9.4 inches near Hazelhurst, and 8.0 inches near Lake Tomahawk.
The highest snowfall totals across Forest County included 8.3 inches near Argonne, 7.7 inches in Armstrong Creek, and 7.0 inches near Mole Lake as well as near Crandon.
The highest snowfall totals across Florence County included 9.0 inches near Spread Eagle and 8.1 inches in Florence.
The highest snowfall totals across Lincoln County included 10.0 inches in Heafford Junction, 8.0 inches in Tomahawk, and 7.0 inches in Irma.
The highest snowfall totals across Langlade County included 7.9 inches near White Lake and 7.4 inches in Summit Lake.
The highest snowfall totals across northern Marinette County included 9.0 inches near Athelstane and 8.0 inches near Wausaukee.
The highest snowfall totals across southern Marinette County included 10.0 inches in Marinette, 9.0 inches near Peshtigo, and 6.5 inches near Caldron Falls.
The highest snowfall totals across southern Oconto County included 8.0 inches in Oconto Falls and 6.5 inches near Gillette.
The highest snowfall totals across Door County included 8.0 inches near Ellison Bay, 7.5 inches in Sister Bay, and 6.3 inches in Fish Creek.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, December 2021
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: 989356, 989357, 989358, 989359, 989360, 989362, 989364, 989366, 989367, 989368.