A low pressure system developing over the central Plains with a semi stationary front over southern Wisconsin caused a swath of heavy snow that changed over to freezing rain during the late evening hours on Thursday (3/30) into Friday morning (3/31) across portions of north-central Wisconsin. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 8 inches fell along with around one tenth of inch of freezing rain.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 low pressure system developing over the central Plains with a semi stationary front over southern Wisconsin caused a swath of heavy snow that changed over to freezing rain during the late evening hours on Thursday (3/30) into Friday morning (3/31) across portions of north-central Wisconsin. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 8 inches fell along with around one tenth of inch of freezing rain.
Some of the highest snowfall totals included 8 inches in Alvin (Forest Co.) as well as near Aurora (Florence Co.) and 6 inches in Niagara (Marinette Co.).
The highest ice accumulation was 0.1 inches near Argonne (Forest 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 30, 8:10 PM CST, 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 910 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 New Information added to update section .UPDATE... Issued at 909 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 Will continue the winter storm warning over northern WI. Have increased totals a little due to more snow expected, due to higher snow ratios with a period of good lift in the DGZ as FGEN is maximized. Will add Lincoln and Langlade to the warning as the combo of ice (up to 0.30") and snow (up to 3") looks be enough to create Considered adding a row of counties to the advisory, but it appears the back edge of precip will continue to make progress eastward tonight with a shift to the north as well as better FGEN sets up over northern WI. Plus, temps will remain steady or very slowly creep up overnight, surface temps are warmer and only MFI is ticking off some freezing precip. Still expect some minor icing but will handle with a another SPS. No changes made to Friday-Saturday. Updated WSW out shortly. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 323 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 A stormy period. The first storm will bring a wide array of weather types to the area tonight through Saturday morning. The second will bring mainly rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds next week. At least some flooding will result from snowmelt and runoff of the precipitation. Jet energy from the Pacific will flow southeast though the western U.S., then turn east to divert around a blocky pattern over northeast NOAM. Major shortwaves ejecting across the Plains will bring a series of intense cyclones through the Great Lakes region, resulting in heavy and possibly excessive precipitation. Temperatures will undergo significant day-to-day variation due to cloud cover/precipitation and the change of air masses associated with the passage of the cyclones. The first cyclone will affect the next couple days bringing heavy wintry precipitation (mainly north), significant rainfall, some thunderstorms, strong winds, and possibly some flooding (areal and river) due to runoff from the rainfall. Another (probably even stronger) cyclone on a more northwesterly track will bring wind and the potential for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for the middle of next week. && .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Friday Issued at 323 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 Opted to leave all our headlines in place for the afternoon issuance. The new forecast for tonight has a little more snow across the far north, with the max icing shifted south a bit. Ice forecast for Lincoln/Langlade actually reaches low-end Ice Storm Warning criteria, but confidence is extremely low given current warm temps so will stick with the advisory for now and leave it to the evening shift to upgrade if necessary. Most significant ice storms occur coming out of a cold pattern and with surface temperatures no warmer than 30F. Lincoln/Langlade warmed to 35-40F today and are expected to have surface temps right at the freezing mark tonight. A band of precipitation developing over western Wisconsin will shift northeast through the area tonight, likely slowing and possibly stalling near the upper Michigan border late tonight. Warm temps may result in rain at the onset, but wet-bulbing of temperatures due to dry air (very low dew points) should result in a fairly quick transition to snow. How long the snow lasts will depend on location, as warmer air above the surface will be surging north and result in a transition back to rain (far south), and freezing rain farther north. Details of the precipitation pattern late tonight through tomorrow are much less certain. Mid-level lapse rates become very unstable, so clusters/small areas of heavier showers and possible thunderstorms are expected within a larger area of light rain and some drizzle. The chance for thunderstorms (some with hail) will increase tomorrow afternoon as the main shortwave begins to approach the area. .LONG TERM...Friday Night Through Thursday Issued at 323 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 Impressive snow event to take shape Friday night across northern Wisconsin as low pressure moves moves from northeast Iowa into lower Michigan. Northern Wisconsin will be located in the left exit region of a 150 knot jet streak to aid in the lift. Bufkit soundings indicated a warmer layer across the area at 00z Saturday. The warm layer will collapse across the north Friday evening, looking around 03z at Rhinelander and Iron Mountain. The intense lift and high precipitation rates should help turn the precipitation over to a heavy snow. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, gusty northerly winds up to 45 mph will create very hazardous travel conditions across northern Wisconsin by late evening. The colder air will filter southward overnight. The comma head and area of longest duration of heavy snow should extend from northern Marathon County to Oneida County northeast to northern Marinette, Forest and Florence counties where 9 to 14 inches are expected. Snowfall totals will taper off fairly sharply to the south and east with around 2 inches expected at Waupaca and Green Bay. There is some differences in snowfall amounts with bufkit soundings indicating as much as 16 inches at Rhinelander. Wind gusts over 50 mph are possible across portions of northeast Wisconsin, especially Door County Saturday. Per coordination with surrounding offices, decided to hold off on upgrading to a Winter Storm Warning to avoid confusion since we have a Winter Storm Warning out for tonight for our northern counties. That would have been a first in my nearly 30 year career to have 2 Winter Storm Warnings out at the same time. Strong winds will continue Saturday morning as the snow ends across northeast Wisconsin. Conditions will probably pretty ugly in the Fox Valley east to the lakeshore through mid morning with snow and strong winds. Winds will gradually diminish during the day as high pressure builds into the region. An upper level disturbance will move across the area. Precipitation should be main rain as temperatures climb well into the 30s and lower 40s. Another disturbance could bring another chance of rain/snow Tuesday. A stronger system will bring another round of precipitation, mainly rain this time. The precipitation could start as snow across the north. Late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, an occluded front will move across the area. Showers and a few storms are expected along the occluded front. The showers/storms could produce strong gusty winds, possibly some wind damage is possible as low level winds at 925 mb are near 50 knots. The dry slot is expected to move across the area on Wednesday. Wind gusts over 40 mph are likely with gusts approaching 50 mph are possible across central and east-central Wisconsin. Wrap around precipitation will move across northern Wisconsin during the day Wednesday. Precipitation amounts will be on the light side. High pressure will move across the area Wednesday night and Thursday, resulting in tranquil conditions. && .AVIATION...for 00Z TAF Issuance Issued at 658 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 Flying conditions will rapidly deteriorate this evening as a major winter storm overspreads the area. A wintry mix of precipitation is anticipated across C and NC WI, with mainly rain in E-C WI with a snow/mix at the onset. Flight conditions will drop to IFR/LIFR overnight and remain poor tomorrow. Some LLWS is also anticipated across E-C WI, mainly during the late evening/overnight. A few storms will be possible later this evening and again on Friday, but confidence is not high enough to include at one location at this point. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM CDT Friday for WIZ005-010>013. Winter Storm Watch from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon for WIZ005-010>012-018-019. Winter Storm Watch from late Friday night through Saturday afternoon for WIZ013-020-021-030-031-035>037-073-074. Winter Storm Warning until 7 AM CDT Friday for WIZ018-019. Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM CDT Friday for WIZ021-073. && UPDATE.........Bersch SYNOPSIS.......Skowronski SHORT TERM.....Skowronski LONG TERM......Eckberg AVIATION.......Bersch
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 951 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-010300- 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- 951 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight Hazardous travel conditions are expected across northern Wisconsin tonight due to a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. The wintry mix will mainly affect areas north of a line from Wausau to Mountain to Wausaukee. A few slippery roads are possible south of this line where a wintry mix will change to mainly rain and surface temperatures will hover around freezing. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Thursday The wintry mix will change to rain and drizzle Friday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely across central and east- central Wisconsin during the afternoon and into the early evening. Some of the storms will produce hail. The precipitation will change to snow from northwest to southeast Friday night and diminish Saturday morning. Six to fourteen inches of snow are possible across northern Wisconsin, especially north of a Wausau to Marinette line, resulting in poor visibilities and snow covered roads for motorists. Strong northerly winds may gust over 40 mph late Friday night into early Saturday afternoon, which could create blowing drifting of the new snow. Very difficult travel conditions will likely develop on Friday night into Saturday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward snow and ice measurements to the National Weather Service in Green Bay. LMZ521-522-541>543-010300- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 951 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 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...Friday through Thursday Scattered thunderstorms are possible Friday afternoon and evening. A few of the storms could produce hail. Northeast to North gale force gusts are likely Friday night into Saturday. Bersch
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Green Bay WI 740 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 WIZ020-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-074-310400- Menominee-Marathon-Shawano-Wood-Portage-Waupaca-Outagamie-Brown- Kewaunee-Waushara-Winnebago-Calumet-Manitowoc- Southern Oconto County- 740 PM CDT Thu Mar 30 2023 ...SLIPPERY ROADS AND SIDEWALKS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING... A wintry mix of rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain will continue to push across much of central and east central Wisconsin this evening. With surface temperatures hovering near freezing, some roads, overpasses, sidewalks could be slippery for a time this evening. Use caution if traveling this evening. Bersch
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The highest snowfall total in Forest County was 8 inches in Alvin along with 0.1 inches of freezing rain near Argonne.
The highest snowfall total in Florence County was 8 inches near Aurora.
The highest snowfall total in northern Marinette County was 6 inches in Niagara.
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: 1081851, 1081852, 1081853.