A strong area of low pressure lifted northeast across the Great Lakes on Saturday (3/25), producing a narrow 30-mile wide band of heavy snow across eastern Wisconsin. This heavy band of snow remained nearly stationary, producing 2 to 5 inch per hour snowfall rates with 10 to 20 inches of snow over the Fox Valley northeast towards Door County.
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 GRB wrote it up.
A strong area of low pressure lifted northeast across the Great Lakes on Saturday (3/25), producing a narrow 30-mile wide band of heavy snow across eastern Wisconsin. This heavy band of snow remained nearly stationary, producing 2 to 5 inch per hour snowfall rates with 10 to 20 inches of snow over the Fox Valley northeast towards Door County.
Some of the highest snowfall totals included 21.5 inches near Kimberly (Outagamie Co.), 20 inches in Menasha (Winnebago Co.), 18 inches near Combined Locks (Calumet Co.) as well as Neenah (Winnebago Co.), 17 inches in Appleton (Outagamie Co.), 16 inches in Green Bay (Brown Co.), near Darboy (Calumet Co.), and Oshkosh (Winnebago Co.), 10.5 inches near Sister Bay (Door Co.), and 10 inches near Dyckesville (Kewaunee Co.) as well as in Fish Creek (Door 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 Mar 24, 9:59 PM CST, 7 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 1059 PM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023 Updated aviation portion for 06Z TAF issuance .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Saturday Issued at 250 PM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023 Main forecast concerns remain on snow amounts over east-central WI late tonight into Saturday afternoon and where the back edge of snow will line up as a sharp cut-off to the snow is expected. The 19Z MSAS surface analysis showed high pressure that stretched from MN eastward across the Great Lakes into southeast Ontario. An area of low pressure was situated over the Ozarks and will be our weather maker for Saturday. Visible satellite imagery indicated high clouds were already streaming over the southeast half of WI. A mid-level shortwave trough is forecast to lift from the southern Plains to the Midwest and help to strengthen the low pressure that will reach northeast IN by daybreak. While stronger lift from the low pressure and left exit region of the upper jet to focus over southern WI, parts of east-central WI will see pretty strong mid- level Q-G and FGEN forcing by late tonight. Currently have the snow reaching east-central WI by 12Z Saturday with only a minor accumulation at this point. Min temperatures to range from the middle to upper teens north-central WI, to the upper 20s across east-central WI. The surface low tracks northeast toward Lake Huron as the shortwave trough lifts into the Great Lakes region on Saturday. Anticipate the morning hours to see the brunt of accumulating snow over east-central WI with the highest amounts over Manitowoc County. The main sticking point remains where the northern edge of the anticipated deformation zone sets up as there will be a sharp cut-off to the snow. As of now, have this back edge roughly from Wausaukee to Bonduel to Wautoma. The snow will pull away from the lakeshore counties by mid-afternoon at the latest with snow totals of 3 to 5 inches across southeast Calumet and all of Manitowoc Counties. A 2 to 4 inch accumulation is expected over southeast Winnebago, southeast Brown and most of Kewaunee Counties. In addition to the snow, winds will quickly increase Saturday morning with gusts pushing 30 mph over eastern WI. The snow should be of the heavier, wet variety, thus blowing/drifting snow potential will be minimal. Max temperatures for Saturday to generally be in the 35 to 40 degree range, therefore some melting/sublimation of the snow is expected with much of the snow melting on area roads. .LONG TERM...Saturday Night Through Friday Issued at 250 PM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023 Pretty quiet weather expected for the first half of next week. There could be some lake effect snow showers in Vilas county Saturday night, but the wind field and temperatures aloft are marginal, so little accumulation is expected. A cold front moving through Wednesday could produce snow showers, while an inverted trough could bring more significant snow and rain Thursday afternoon and Friday. Temperatures should be close to normal most of the week, except a little cooler than usual where there is still a foot or two of snow on the ground. Melting snow will likely cause rivers and streams to slowly rise, next week, but probably stay within their banks unless we were to receive heavy rain with the system Thursday afternoon through Friday. && .AVIATION...for 06Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1058 PM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023 VFR conditions will continue late this evening across all the TAF sites. As low pressure pushes into Lower Michigan, a band (or two) of snow will impact east-central WI on Saturday. MTW will see the longest period of snow and the lowest CIGs and VSBYs, mainly MVFR/IFR, with a short period of LIFR VSBYs possible in the heaviest of snow in the mid to late morning. GRB/ATW will be on the edge of the lower CIGs and VSBYs, with latest models showing a period of MVFR CIG/VSBYs, possibly IFR for a period. The snow will exit from west to east late Saturday morning or early afternoon. East/northeast winds will remain under 10 kts late this evening, then will start to increase overnight. North winds will gust to 25- 30 kts Saturday morning across eastern WI. Winds will ease slightly and shift to the northwest Saturday afternoon, but gusts to 20 kts are still expected. The snow will be on the wet side, so only minor blowing/drifting snow is possible. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 4 AM to 1 PM CDT Saturday for WIZ049-050. && SHORT TERM.....Kallas LONG TERM......RDM AVIATION.......Bersch
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 320 AM CDT Sat Mar 25 2023 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-260830- 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- 320 AM CDT Sat Mar 25 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight An early spring storm is expected to bring several inches of accumulating snow to east-central Wisconsin today, mainly during the morning hours. If you have travel plans today be prepared for potentially hazardous road conditions and low visibility. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward snowfall measurements to the National Weather Service in Green Bay. LMZ521-522-541>543-260830- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 320 AM CDT Sat Mar 25 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. Kurimski/MPC
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
The highest snowfall totals across Winnebago County included 20 inches in Menasha, 18 inches in Neenah, and 16 inches in Oshkosh.
The highest snowfall totals across Outagamie County included 21.5 inches near Kimberly, 17 inches in Appleton, 16.5 inches in Little Chute, and 11 inches near Freedom.
The highest snowfall totals across Brown County included 16 inches in Green Bay, 12 inches in Howard, and 8.3 inches in Suamico.
The highest snowfall total in Kewaunee County was 10 inches near Dyckesville.
The highest snowfall totals across Calumet County included 18 inches near Combined Locks, 16 inches near Darboy, and 13.7 in Chilton.
The highest snowfall totals across Door County included 10.5 inches near Sister Bay, 10 inches in Fish Creek, and 9.5 inches near Gills Rock.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, March 2023
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: 1081866, 1081862, 1081863, 1081865, 1081867, 1081864.