Areas of freezing drizzle developed within cyclonic surface flow during the evening of January 16th into the morning of January 17th over portions of south central and east central WI. Icy roads led to some vehicle slide-offs and accidents.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 MKX wrote it up.
Areas of freezing drizzle developed within cyclonic surface flow during the evening of January 16th into the morning of January 17th over portions of south central and east central WI. Icy roads led to some vehicle slide-offs and accidents.
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 Milwaukee, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 16, 2:54 PM CST, 5 hours 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 254 PM CST Sat Jan 16 2021 .SHORT TERM... (Issued 255 PM CST Sat Jan 16 2021) Tonight through Sunday night: Some flurries and isolated light snow showers will be possible this evening. Southwest portions of Wisconsin and areas along the WI/IL border may see a light dusting of snow late tonight into Sunday with a mid level trough digging to our southwest. Most of the lift (500 mb positive vorticity advection) will be better to our south but we could see enough locally for some light snow. Temperatures will be below freezing so some slick spots will be possible Sunday morning. Any accumulating snow will exit the area by Sunday evening but some lingering flurries will remain possible across much of the area. RAH && .LONG TERM... (Issued 255 PM CST Sat Jan 16 2021) Monday through Saturday: We'll be in northwest flow through most of next week with multiple shortwaves moving through, but it looks like there will be plenty of dry air so precipitation chances will be low at this time. These shortwaves will bring periods of colder air than what we have seen in a while. Highs tuesday are expected to be in the teens and 20s with lows potentially getting into the single digits Tuesday night. RAH && .AVIATION... (Issued 255 PM CST Sat Jan 16 2021) MVFR ceilings continue through tonight into Sunday. There is a slight chance for an isolated snow shower or flurry but confidence is not high enough to include in the TAFs at this time. Overnight southwest Wisconsin and areas along the WI/IL border could see some light snow overnight into Sunday, but confidence is not high. If snow occurrs only a dusting is expected. Winds will remain from the northwest around 5 to 10 knots with gusts up to 15 knots. RAH && .MARINE... (Issued 255 PM CST Sat Jan 16 2021) Northwest winds will continue through the weekend and gradually become lighter and waves decreasing in height. Winds become more westerly Monday as high pressure builds into the area. We'll have to watch for the potential for gales over the open waters next week as a low pressure system tracks through Ontario Wednesday night into Thursday. RAH && .MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. LM...None. && Visit us at weather.gov/milwaukee Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube at: www.facebook.com/NWSMilwaukee www.twitter.com/NWSMilwaukee www.youtube.com/NWSMilwaukee
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 259 PM CST Sat Jan 16 2021 WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072-172100- Marquette-Green Lake-Fond du Lac-Sheboygan-Sauk-Columbia-Dodge- Washington-Ozaukee-Iowa-Dane-Jefferson-Waukesha-Milwaukee- Lafayette-Green-Rock-Walworth-Racine-Kenosha- 259 PM CST Sat Jan 16 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central Wisconsin, south central Wisconsin and southeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Saturday A light dusting of snow will be possible for areas along the WI/IL border and portions of southwest Wisconsin. Temperatures will be below freezing, expect snow to stick and cause slick spots. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed, however any snowfall reports are appreciated. LMZ643>646-172100- Sheboygan to Port Washington WI- Port Washington to North Point Light WI- North Point Light to Wind Point WI- Wind Point WI to Winthrop Harbor IL- 259 PM CST Sat Jan 16 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the nearshore waters from Sheboygan Wisconsin to Winthrop Harbor Illinois. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Saturday Breezy conditions possible for the middle of next week. LMZ080-261-362-364-366-563-565-567-669-671-673-675-777-779-868- 870-872-874-876-878-172100- Lake Michigan Michigan City IN to St. Joseph MI 5 NM offshore to mid-line of lake.- Lake Michigan from Seul Choix Point to Rock Island Passage 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan South of a line from Seul Choix Point to the Mackinac Bridge and North of a line from Charlevoix MI to South Fox Island 5NM offshore- Lake Michigan from Charlevoix to Point Betsie MI 5NM Offshore to mid lake- Lake Michigan from Point Betsie to Manistee MI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Rock Island Passage to Sturgeon Bay WI 5NM offshore to mid lake- Lake Michigan from Sturgeon Bay to Two Rivers WI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Two Rivers to Sheboygan WI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Sheboygan to Port Washington WI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Port Washington to North Point Light WI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from North Point Light to Wind Point WI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Wind Point WI to Winthrop Harbor IL 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Wilmette Harbor to Michigan City in 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Pentwater to Manistee MI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Whitehall to Pentwater MI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Grand Haven to Whitehall MI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from Holland to Grand Haven MI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- Lake Michigan from South Haven to Holland MI 5NM offshore to Mid lake- Lake Michigan from St Joseph to South Haven MI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake- 259 PM CST Sat Jan 16 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the open waters of Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Saturday Gale conditions possible for the middle of next week. www.weather.gov/mkx
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A glaze of ice from freezing drizzle led to vehicle slide-offs and accidents in western Dane County.
A glaze of ice from freezing drizzle led to vehicle slide-offs and accidents.
A glaze of ice from freezing drizzle led to vehicle slide-offs and accidents.
A glaze of ice from freezing drizzle led to vehicle slide-offs and accidents.
A glaze of ice from freezing drizzle led to vehicle slide-offs and accidents.
A glaze of ice from freezing drizzle led to vehicle slide-offs and accidents in the Fond du Lac area.
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, January 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: 929239, 929240, 929241, 929242, 929243, 929238.