A strong low pressure system moved across the Great Lakes, spreading a wintry mix of snow, freezing rain and sleet across the region on Wednesday (12/14). The mixed precipitation changed over to all snow over much of northern and central Wisconsin Wednesday evening (12/14) and across east-central Wisconsin early Thursday morning (12/15).
Every event with a place to put it; 11 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.
A strong low pressure system moved across the Great Lakes, spreading a wintry mix of snow, freezing rain and sleet across the region on Wednesday (12/14). The mixed precipitation changed over to all snow over much of northern and central Wisconsin Wednesday evening (12/14) and across east-central Wisconsin early Thursday morning (12/15). Once the changeover occurred, periods of heavy snow fell through Thursday morning (12/15) with east winds gusting to 20 to 30 mph at times. Snowfall amounts were generally 4 to 9 inches from the Fox Valley west to central and north-central Wisconsin.
Some of the highest snowfall totals included 9.5 inches in Spread Eagle (Florence Co.), 8.9 inches near Hazelhurst (Oneida Co.), 8.5 inches in Spencer (Marathon Co.), 8 inches in Florence (Florence Co.), near Woodruff and Minocqua (Oneida Co.), as well as near Colby and Weston (Marathon Co.), and 7.5 inches in Wausau and near Mosinee (Marathon Co.), near Polonia and near Amherst (Portage Co.), as well as near Goodnow (Oneida 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 14, 5:31 PM CST, 3 hours 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 531 PM CST Wed Dec 14 2022 Updated aviation portion for 00Z TAF issuance .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Thursday Issued at 258 PM CST Wed Dec 14 2022 This is a very complex forecast scenario, with several avenues by which the forecast could run significantly off track. At the heart of the problem is that we have strong, E-SE flow with fairly substantial WAA through the low layers of the atmosphere and thermal profiles which currently will support snow are mainly W/NW of the forecast area. So in order to get heavy snow, profiles across the area will need to cool despite the WAA. A surge of strong lift heading NE into the area should be able to accomplish that, but the question is how quickly it can occur. Have grown increasingly concerned the changeover in E-C WI won't occur until late evening or around midnight. And even when temps aloft cool sufficiently, boundary layer temps could be problematic as several upstream METARs in Lower Michigan were now around 40F. Dew points were also starting to increase, so evaporational cooling will become increasingly limited. In addition, the band of heavy precip associated with the lift will shift through the area pretty quickly. The bottom line is, pulled back on snow totals in E-C WI and delayed the start of the warning in Door/Brown/Kewaunee and Outagamie until 03Z. That may not be enough, but should convey the idea that anyone running errands early this evening should be able to get them in before travel deteriorates. Another area of concern is what will happen in central Wisconsin as the wet snow begins to fall and stick to trees and power lines that have up to a quarter inch of ice on them. Highlighted the potential for power outages in the HWO, and will need to monitor this situation closely during the evening. Precipitation will taper to light snow and drizzle/freezing drizzle during the day tomorrow as the mid-level dry slot wraps into the area. .LONG TERM...Thursday Night Through Wednesday Issued at 258 PM CST Wed Dec 14 2022 The main two concerns for the extended will be the ongoing light snow potential for the end of the work week through the weekend and the inbound cold for next week. Scattered light snow showers will be in place at the beginning of the extended as the upper low continues to rotate over the area Thursday night through Saturday. Scattered snow will bring additional light accumulations up to an inch through the day Friday. With a fairly saturated DGZ layer and some upper support still in place for Saturday, increased pops there as well to bring in at least isolated light snow showers, but currently expect any additional accumulations to be minor. Any remaining snow will then finally depart the region late Saturday into Sunday. Much colder air will be set to follow the departing system Sunday into early next week, with highs progressively falling into the teens by Monday and Tuesday. Low temperatures during this period could be below zero across the area. Long range models suggest a brief warmup possible on Wednesday before below normal temperatures return towards the end of next week. && .AVIATION...for 00Z TAF Issuance Issued at 531 PM CST Wed Dec 14 2022 Widespread precip will move into the region from the south by mid to late evening and continue into Thursday morning. Temperatures will gradually cool, which will change a wintry mix to all snow by late evening over central and north-central WI, and to all snow early overnight across the Fox Valley and Lakeshore. Heavy snow is then expected for a several hour period overnight before intensity wanes early Thursday morning. LIFR to VLIFR flight conditions are expected in the heavy snow that could produce snowfall rates in excess of 1 inch per hour. After the heavy snow exits, conditions will likely take until midday or early afternoon to improve to MVFR at most locations (perhaps until late afternoon for Rhinelander). && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM CST Thursday for WIZ005-010>013- 018>021-030-031-073-074. Winter Storm Warning from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Thursday for WIZ022-038>040. Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM CST Thursday for WIZ035>037. Winter Weather Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Thursday for WIZ045-048>050. && SHORT TERM.....Skowronski LONG TERM......Uhlmann AVIATION.......MPC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 229 PM CST Wed Dec 14 2022 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-152030- 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- 229 PM CST Wed Dec 14 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly tonight as rain and a wintry mix of precipitation changes to snow. The snow will be heavy at times, especially after midnight. Gusty east winds are also expected. The combination of the gusty east winds and wet snow sticking to trees and power lines coated with ice from the freezing rain that fell today will increase the risk of power outages--especially in central Wisconsin. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Wednesday Scattered light snow continues Thursday night through Friday and may produce an additional inch or two of snowfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward snow and ice accumulations to the National Weather Service in Green Bay. LMZ521-522-541>543-152030- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 229 PM CST Wed Dec 14 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...Tonight East to southeast winds with gale force gusts to 40 knots are forecast on Lake Michigan today and tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Wednesday East to southeast winds with gale force gusts to 40 knots could continue on Lake Michigan around Door County through Thursday morning. Skowronski/Uhlmann
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The highest snowfall totals across Vilas County included 7 inches in Arbor Vitae and 6.2 inches near St. Germain.
The highest snowfall totals across Oneida County included 8.9 inches near Hazelhurst, 8 inches in Minocqua as well as near Woodruff, 7.5 inches near Goodnow, 7.4 inches in Rhinelander, and 7 inches in Willow.
The highest snowfall totals across Florence County included 9.5 inches in Spread Eagle and 8 inches in Florence.
The highest snowfall totals across Lincoln County included 6.5 inches in Tomahawk as well as near Bradley and 6 inches in Merrill.
The highest snowfall totals across Waupaca County included 7 inches in Scandinavia and 6.5 inches in Waupaca as well as in Embarrass.
The highest snowfall total in Shawano County was 7 inches in Bowler.
The highest snowfall total in Langlade County was 6.8 inches in Summit Lake.
The highest snowfall totals across Marathon County included 8.5 inches in Spencer, 8 inches in Weston as well as near Colby, 7.5 inches in Wausau as well as near Mosinee, and 7 inches near Knowlton.
The highest snowfall totals across Wood County included 6.5 inches near Hewitt and 6 inches in Wisconsin Rapids.
The highest snowfall totals across Portage County included 7.5 inches near Polonia as well as near Amherst and 7 inches in Almond.
The highest snowfall total in Outagamie County was 6 inches near New London as well as in Shiocton.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, December 2022
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: 1063485, 1063487, 1063488, 1063491, 1063493, 1063495, 1063497, 1063499, 1063503, 1063507, 1063510.