Cold air remained across northern Wisconsin on the morning of February 14th with lows of -15 F to -30 F. The combination of the bitter cold and light winds created wind chills of -35 F to -40 F across central and north-central Wisconsin.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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.
Cold air remained across northern Wisconsin on the morning of February 14th with lows of -15 F to -30 F. The combination of the bitter cold and light winds created wind chills of -35 F to -40 F across central and north-central Wisconsin.
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 Feb 13, 10:58 PM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 1058 PM CST Sat Feb 13 2021 Updated aviation portion for 06Z TAF issuance .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Sunday Issued at 226 PM CST Sat Feb 13 2021 Light snow was moving across much of the region early this afternoon. The latest regional radars indicated the back edge of the snow was moving into west central Wisconsin and will continue to shift eastward for the remainder of the afternoon into early this evening. For tonight, skies will clear allowing for bitterly cold temperatures and wind chill readings. Based on the latest guidance values, wind chill readings will fall to around 40 below zero across central and north-central Wisconsin later tonight into Sunday morning where a Wind Chill Warning is in effect. For northeast and east central Wisconsin, a Wind Chill Advisory is in effect late tonight into Sunday morning for wind chill readings of 25 to 35 below zero. There was some discussion on how to handle conditions Sunday afternoon into early Sunday evening where conditions will be above the warning/advisory thresholds. Contemplated on issuing the warning/advisory into Monday morning. Per coordination with the long term forecaster and surrounding offices, will run the headlines until 18z Sunday and then the midnight shift or the day shift tomorrow can extend/replace headlines for the Sunday night into Monday morning period. On Sunday, it will be cold with highs in the single digits below zero across central and north central Wisconsin and in the single digits above zero across eastern Wisconsin. Record low maximum temperatures will probably be set in some spots. Like recent days, the warmest location will be near Marinette with some sunshine and downslope winds. The conditions have made this location the warm spot in our forecast area Thursday and Friday. .LONG TERM...Sunday Night Through Saturday Issued at 226 PM CST Sat Feb 13 2021 The core of coldest arctic air will reside over the western Great lakes region Sunday night, with another night of frigid temperatures anticipated. Lows will range from around 10 below zero near the lakeshore to the lower to middle 20s below zero in north central WI. Although winds will be subsiding as the arctic high edges east, there should still be enough to produce wind chills of 25 to 30 below zero in northeast and east central WI, and 35 to 40 below zero in north central and central WI. Another round of wind chill advisories/warnings will be needed Sunday night into Monday morning. Although very cold temperatures will continue into midweek, a gradual moderation in temperatures is anticipated through the week, with highs reaching the 20s by Friday/Saturday. Will need to consider the potential for lake-effect snow showers near Lake Michigan, as northeast winds develop Monday night into Tuesday, then veer east to southeast Tuesday night into Wednesday night. Although models don't show significant accumulations at this time, a persistent easterly component to the wind, thermal troughing over the lake and strong over-water instability suggest that this bears watching. Also, as low-level flow gets very light Tuesday night into Wednesday night, the potential for meso-vortex development increases. Have added slight chance/chance pops through the period for now. There are a couple other periods of concern, as the GFS shows a potential snow storm impacting the region Thursday into Thursday night, and another shot of lighter snow arriving Saturday. The ECMWF shows both of these systems passing to our south, so will stick with the model blend, which maintains a dry forecast with both systems. Again, something to keep an eye on over the upcoming week. && .AVIATION...for 06Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1057 PM CST Sat Feb 13 2021 Clear skies will be in place through most of tonight before high clouds begin to build in during the day Sunday. Conditions are expected to remain VFR. Temperatures will be very cold tonight into the day Sunday, which may make any runway treatments less effective. Some minor blowing snow could impact TAF sites, but overall impact will be limited. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Chill Advisory until noon CST Sunday for WIZ012-013-020>022- 031-037>040-045-048>050-073-074. Wind Chill Warning until noon CST Sunday for WIZ005-010-011-018- 019-030-035-036. && SHORT TERM.....Eckberg LONG TERM......Kieckbusch AVIATION.......Cooley
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 217 PM CST Sat Feb 13 2021 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-142030- 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- 217 PM CST Sat Feb 13 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight Hazardous travel will linger into this evening as light snow exits the area. A Wind Chill Warning and Wind Chill Advisory are in effect tonight through Sunday morning. Wind chill readings to around 40 below zero are expected across central and north central Wisconsin. Wind chills this low could produce frostbite within 10 minutes. Wind chill readings across northeast and east central Wisconsin are expected to fall to 25 below to 35 below zero. Wind chills this low could produce frostbite within 30 minutes. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Saturday Dangerously cold weather will continue into the early part of the work week. Wind chills of 25 below to 40 below zero are expected again Sunday night into Monday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The National Weather Service in Green Bay would appreciate reports of snowfall totals in excess of one inch. LMZ521-522-541>543-142030- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 217 PM CST Sat Feb 13 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...Tonight The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Saturday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. Eckberg/Kieckbusch
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Morning low temperatures fell to -16 to -28 degrees during the morning of February 14th, with light winds allowing wind chills to fall to -35 to -41 degrees.
Morning low temperatures fell to -18 to -20 degrees during the morning of February 14th, with light allowing wind chills to fall to -35 to -40 degrees.
Morning low temperatures fell to -19 to -23 degrees during the morning of February 14th, with light allowing wind chills to fall to -35 to -39 degrees.
Morning low temperatures fell to -18 degrees during the morning of February 14th, with light allowing wind chills to fall to -35 to -40 degrees.
Morning low temperatures fell to -22 degrees during the morning of February 14th, with light allowing wind chills to fall to -35 to -39 degrees.
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, February 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: 935151, 935157, 935155, 935156, 935153.