Wisconsin, 2025

Extreme Cold in Wisconsin, February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025 · NWS DLH · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A very cold airmass was located over the central CONUS the night of the 17th into the morning of the 18th. Air temperatures dropped into the teens and 20s below zero over much of the area under clear skies.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS DLH wrote it up.

A very cold airmass was located over the central CONUS the night of the 17th into the morning of the 18th. Air temperatures dropped into the teens and 20s below zero over much of the area under clear skies. Light winds were also observed with a pressure gradient overhead. This led to wind chills in the 30s and 40s below zero.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

5 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Bayfield

When
February 18, 12:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Bayfield forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.635, -91.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind chills as low as -40F were reported in the county.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Burnett

When
February 18, 12:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Burnett forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.863, -92.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind chills as low as -40F were reported in the county.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Washburn

When
February 18, 4:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Washburn forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
45.899, -91.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind chills as low as -36F were reported in the county.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sawyer

When
February 18, 4:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Sawyer forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
45.880, -91.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind chills as low as -36F were reported in the county.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Douglas

When
February 18, 6:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Douglas forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.464, -91.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind chills as low as -37F were reported in the county.

What these are

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, February 2025

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1227683, 1227684, 1227685, 1227686, 1227682.