Arctic air was firmly entrenched across northern Wisconsin on the morning of February 9th. Low temperatures fell to -15 F to -35 F combined with winds less than 10 mph produced wind chills of -35 F to -44 F.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
Arctic air was firmly entrenched across northern Wisconsin on the morning of February 9th. Low temperatures fell to -15 F to -35 F combined with winds less than 10 mph produced wind chills of -35 F to -44 F.
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 8, 9:15 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 915 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021 Updated aviation portion for 06Z TAF issuance and new information added to update section .UPDATE... Issued at 909 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021 No changes to the wind chill headlines this evening. Winds will drop off to calm at times, making wind chill irrelevant. But it won't be perfectly calm all night, and when there is wind very cold air temperatures will result in wind chills meeting advisory criteria. So will keep the advisory intact for the rest of the night. && .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Tuesday Issued at 311 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021 Main focus revolves around the continuation of very cold conditions as an Arctic high resides overhead through this forecast period. Tonight...This afternoon's WAA clouds over east-central Wisconsin will exit to the east early this evening as the Arctic high center slides further east into the state. Before the clouds completely exit this evening, there may be enough low-level saturation to spark some flurries over Manitowoc County. Another very cold night is expected with low temperatures ranging from -15 to -25 degrees below zero in central and north-central Wisconsin, to -5 to -15 in east- central and far northeast Wisconsin. As clouds become mostly clear tonight paired with light winds, low temperatures may drop a few degrees more in the typical cold spots. Although winds will be light, wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero are expected with the coldest wind chills in north-central Wisconsin. Wind Chill Advisories have been issued for all counties through Tuesday morning. Tuesday...With the Arctic high center expected to be overhead, mostly sunny skies are anticipated with high temperatures rising to the single digits above zero. .LONG TERM...Tuesday Night Through Monday Issued at 311 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021 The extended period will predominately influenced by the large mid/upper trough and associated Arctic air mass that have firmly planted themselves over the Great Lakes region. The ongoing cold will therefore be the main highlight, with temperatures running generally 15 to 25 degrees below normal. High temperatures through the weekend will generally be in the single digits above zero, possibly touching into the lower teens on a few days. Low temperatures on the other hand remain well below zero, generally between -5 to -15 degrees. Wind chill headlines will likely be needed at night at times as a result, especially in the colder areas up north. Models continue to struggle with the exact timing of the precipitation chances in the period, as a couple shortwaves round the base of the trough through the weekend. The latest timing brings some light snow or flurries into the region late Thursday night, and again Saturday afternoon and evening. Both of these shots of mid level energy will have to contend with the dry air mass in place, and are expected to be fairly light. Given the ongoing discrepancies on timing and coverage for now, stuck with a more blended solution for the timing. Finally, as the cold air continues to flow in from the northwest through the upcoming weekend, lake effect snow showers will be almost omnipresent for the far northern areas near the Michigan border. Extent and coverage will vary at times, possible expanding as far as Oneida, Forest, and Florence counties at times. && .AVIATION...for 06Z TAF Issuance Issued at 909 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021 Good flying conditions are anticipated through tomorrow evening. Middle clouds continued to spread east across the Dakotas, and will push across the area late tonight into tomorrow morning. Some Sc may also develop tomorrow afternoon-- mainly across the north. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Chill Advisory until 9 AM CST Tuesday for WIZ013-020>022- 031-037>040-045-048>050-073-074. Wind Chill Advisory until noon CST Tuesday for WIZ005-010>012- 018-019-030-035-036. && UPDATE.........Skowronski SHORT TERM.....Hykin LONG TERM......Uhlmann AVIATION.......Skowronski
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 246 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-092100- 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- 246 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight Bitterly cold wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero are expected tonight. If you will be outdoors, even for a short period of time, be sure to wear several layers of clothing, and cover all exposed skin to prevent frostbite. Wind Chill Advisories have been issued. Patches of glare ice will remain on roads, sidewalks, and parking lots, resulting in locally hazardous conditions for motorists and pedestrians. Motorists should use extreme caution when approaching intersections, as glare ice may make it very difficult to stop your vehicle. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Monday Dangerously cold conditions continue through the rest of the week. The combination of wind and cold is expected at times to bring wind chills down to 15 below to 25 below zero or lower each night, possibly reaching 35 below zero or lower on a few nights. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight. LMZ521-522-541>543-092100- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 246 PM CST Mon Feb 8 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...Tuesday through Monday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. Hykin/Uhlmann
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Low temperatures fell to -20 to -35 degrees during the morning of February 9th. The combination of the bitter cold and light winds created wind chills of -35 to -44 degrees. Manitowish Waters recorded a wind chill of -44 degrees and Land O' Lakes -41 degrees.
Low temperatures fell to -20 to -35 degrees during the morning of February 9th. The combination of the bitter cold and light winds created wind chills to -39 degrees at Rhinelander.
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: 935903, 935904.