A strong winter storm brought rain, snow, and strong winds to the area Sunday afternoon (12/28) into Monday morning (12/29). Snowfall totals were generally 6 to 12 inches across portions of central and much of northern Wisconsin, with over a foot of snow across far north-central Wisconsin.
Every event with a place to put it; 13 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 winter storm brought rain, snow, and strong winds to the area Sunday afternoon (12/28) into Monday morning (12/29). Snowfall totals were generally 6 to 12 inches across portions of central and much of northern Wisconsin, with over a foot of snow across far north-central Wisconsin. Very gusty winds of 30 to 50 mph caused substantial blowing and drifting snow with winds gusting as high as 59 mph across northern Door County. Several thousand people lost power during the storm. The storm brought much needed precipitation in the form of rain and melted snow to drought stricken northeast Wisconsin.
Some of the highest snowfall totals included 16.5 inches in Rest Lake (Vilas Co.), 14 inches in Land O Lakes (Vilas Co.), 12 inches in Minocqua (Oneida Co.) as well as near Saynor (Vilas Co.), near Goodnow (Oneida Co.), and Florence (Florence Co.), 11.9 inches in Argonne (Forest Co.), 11 inches in Dunbar (northern Marinette Co.), 10 inches in Ellison Bay (Door Co.), and 8.2 inches in Marshfield (Wood 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 28, 11:43 AM CST, 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 1143 AM CST Sun Dec 28 2025 Updated aviation portion for 18Z TAF issuance .KEY MESSAGES... - Areas of fog expected today. Patchy freezing fog or freezing drizzle may create slippery conditions on untreated surfaces in northern Wisconsin this morning. - Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the entire forecast area, for heavy snow, strong winds and considerable blowing and drifting snow, from late this afternoon through Monday. Treacherous travel conditions are likely, and some tree damage and power outages are possible. - Strong northwest winds gusting to 35 to 50 mph inland, and gale or storm force gusts to 45 to 50 knots on Lake Michigan, are anticipated from late tonight through Monday evening. - A surge of below normal temperatures is likely towards the New Year's time frame. Wind chills as cold as 10 to 20 below zero are possible Thursday morning and Friday morning. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 416 AM CST Sun Dec 28 2025 Changes to Winter Storm Warning Headlines: Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect for the entire forecast area, but some minor changes to snowfall amounts and impacts have been made. In general, snowfall amounts have come up a little bit and more emphasis on potential power outages has been added, especially in northern WI, where the heaviest snowfall will occur. Start times have also been moved up a few hours in some places, as the changeover to snow is expected to occur a bit quicker than previously thought. Some minor adjustments to end times have also been made, mainly to line up with decreasing trends in winds and blowing snow. Areas of fog covered the forecast area this morning, but rising vsbys in central WI allowed for a cancellation of the Dense Fog Advisory. Minor travel concerns were occurring over north central WI, where air and road temperatures were hovering near freezing, leading to potential for patchy icing due to freezing fog or light freezing drizzle. Have covered the travel concerns with a Special Weather Statement. Low pressure was developing in eastern KS early this morning, as a potent short-wave and jet streak ejected out of the base of the deep Northern Plains upper trough. This low will deepen rapidly as it moves through southern Lake Michigan this afternoon and tracks toward southeast Ontario late tonight. Models continue to trend higher with QPF/snowfall, so have bumped up snowfall totals an inch or two, especially over our western and northern counties. Strong winds gusting to 35 to 50 mph will produce considerable blowing and drifting snow, and high-end gale to storm force gusts are likely on Lake Michigan. Expecting 12 to 16 inches of snow over parts of Vilas County (aided by lake-effect), 7 to 11 inches across the rest of northern WI, and 4 to 7 inches farther south. The combination of heavy snow accumulations and winds will likely cause some tree damage and power outages, most notably over northern WI and Door County. Most of the accumulating snow will taper off late tonight into Monday morning, but winds are not expected to decrease much until later in the day or evening, so blowing and drifting snow will likely continue. Treacherous travel conditions are likely through the event, but especially tonight. A clipper system passes north of the region Tuesday afternoon and night, bringing a chance of snow followed by a surge of arctic air for the New Year. This will bring renewed chances for lake- effect snow in north central WI, as well as wind chills as low as 10 to 20 below zero later in the work week. && .AVIATION...for 18Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1142 AM CST Sun Dec 28 2025 Poor flying conditions are expected through the TAF period. IFR/LIFR conditions to continue through today and tonight. A potent low pressure system will bring a mix of rain and snow to the region this afternoon. A transition to all snow will occur from west to east as a cold front moves through in the late afternoon and evening. The snow will become moderate to heavy at times, especially over northern WI. LIFR/VLIFR vsbys will accompany the heaviest snow. Plowing operations will be needed at all area airports. Behind the cold front winds will shift to the northwest and increase tonight into Monday. Gusts of 30-40 knots will be possible late tonight into Monday, resulting in considerable blowing and drifting snow. LLWS will overspread the region tonight. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 PM CST Monday for WIZ005. Winter Storm Warning from 3 PM this afternoon to noon CST Monday for WIZ010-018-030-035-036. Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening to 3 PM CST Monday for WIZ011>013. Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Monday for WIZ019>021-031-037-045. Blizzard Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Monday for WIZ022. Winter Storm Warning from 9 AM to 6 PM CST Monday for WIZ022. Winter Storm Warning from 9 PM this evening to 3 PM CST Monday for WIZ038-039-048-049-073-074. Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 6 PM CST Monday for WIZ040-050. && DISCUSSION.....Kieckbusch AVIATION.......Kotenberg
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 427 AM CST Sun Dec 28 2025 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-291030- 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- 427 AM CST Sun Dec 28 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Areas of fog, locally dense, will occur across the forecast area today. Patchy freezing fog or freezing drizzle could result in locally icy roads in north central WI this morning. A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the entire area starting late this afternoon and continuing through Monday, due to heavy snowfall, northwest winds gusting to 35 to 50 mph, and considerable blowing and drifting snow. Treacherous travel conditions are likely. Some tree damage and power outages will also be possible, especially in northern Wisconsin and Door County. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Although accumulating snow will taper off Monday morning, strong winds will continue to produce blowing and drifting snow for much of the day. A surge of arctic air arrives for the New Year's holiday next week, with periods of wind chill values as low as 10 to 20 below zero anticipated Thursday and Friday mornings. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to report any occurrences of dense fog or icy roads today, and snowfall accumulations tonight into Monday. LMZ521-522-541>543-291030- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 427 AM CST Sun Dec 28 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Gale and Storm Warnings are in effect starting around midnight tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Northwest gales or storm force gusts are expected through Monday evening. The best potential for storm force gusts will be near Deaths Door. Freezing spray will also be possible during this time frame. Kieckbusch
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Green Bay WI 657 AM CST Sun Dec 28 2025 WIZ005-010>012-018-019-281600- Vilas-Oneida-Forest-Florence-Lincoln-Langlade- 657 AM CST Sun Dec 28 2025 ...Light Freezing Drizzle and Locally Icy Roads Possible this Morning... Light rain and drizzle can be expected across north central Wisconsin this morning. With air and road temperatures hovering near freezing, there is potential for patchy freezing drizzle and locally icy roads. Untreated secondary roads, bridges and overpasses will be most likely to become ice covered. In addition, there may also be some patchy dense fog, with visibilities as low as 1/4 mile. Motorists traveling through north central Wisconsin should be prepared for locally hazardous travel conditions due to patchy freezing rain and fog. Slow down and keep a safe distance from other vehicles, as icy patches may make it very difficult to stop quickly. Kieckbusch
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
13 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The highest snowfalls across Oneida County included 12 inches in Minocqua as well as near Goodnow and 10.9 inches in Rhinelander.
The highest snowfall totals across Lincoln County included 10.2 inches in Bradley and 7.4 inches near Merrill.
The highest snowfalls across Vilas County included 16.5 inches in Rest Lake, 14 inches in Land O Lakes as well as near Boulder Junction, 13.5 inches in Saint Germain, 13 inches in Eagle River, and 12 inches near Sayner.
Snowfall totals ranged from 6 to 10 inches across Langlade County.
The highest snowfall total in Forest County was 11.9 inches in Argonne.
The highest snowfall total in Marathon County was 6.3 inches near Sunset.
The highest snowfall totals across Wood County included 8.2 inches in Marshfield, 7 inches in Hewitt, and 6.5 inches near Port Edwards.
The highest snowfall total in Portage County was 6.3 inches in Rudolph.
The highest snowfall total in northern Oconto County was 6 inches near Townsend.
The highest snowfall totals across Florence County included 12 inches in Florence, 10.5 inches in Spread Eagle, and 7.8 inches in Fence as well as Aurora.
The highest snowfall totals in northern Marinette County included 11 inches in Dunbar, 8.5 inches in Athelstane, and 6.5 inches in Amberg.
The highest snowfall total in southern Marinette County was 6.2 inches in Marinette.
The highest snowfall totals across Door County included 10 inches in Ellison Bay as well as Sister Bay and 9 inches in Egg Harbor as well as Fish Creek.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, December 2025
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: 1300955, 1300946, 1300954, 1300956, 1300944, 1300948, 1300952, 1300953, 1300951, 1300945, 1300950, 1300949, 1300947.