Low pressure tracked through the western Great Lakes on Sunday (3/23), bringing a swath of heavy snow and gusty winds as it tracked through the region. Snowfall totals across northern and central Wisconsin were generally 6 to 10 inches.
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.
Low pressure tracked through the western Great Lakes on Sunday (3/23), bringing a swath of heavy snow and gusty winds as it tracked through the region. Snowfall totals across northern and central Wisconsin were generally 6 to 10 inches. Winds gusted to 30 to 40 mph Sunday afternoon (3/23) and evening, leading to blowing snow.
Some of the highest snowfall totals included 10 inches in Stevens Point (Portage Co.), 9.2 inches near Birnamwood (Shawano Co.), 9 inches in Spread Eagle (Florence Co.), 8.5 inches near Polonia (Portage Co.), 8.2 inches in Wausau (Marathon Co.), 8 inches near Townsend (northern Oconto Co.), 7.9 inches in Split Rock (Shawano Co.), 7.8 inches in Merrill (Lincoln Co.), 7.6 inches in Argonne (Forest Co.), and 7.2 inches in Rhinelander (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 Mar 23, 5:38 AM CST, 4 hours 22 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 638 AM CDT Sun Mar 23 2025 Updated aviation portion for 12Z TAF issuance .KEY MESSAGES... - Winter Storm Warnings have been expanded to include all of north-central and far northeast Wisconsin, including Marathon and Shawano Counties, where 5 to 9 inches of snow is expected today through tonight. Heaviest snowfall occurs this afternoon into this evening with 60+ percent chance of snowfall rates up to 1" per hour, especially in far northeast Wisconsin. - Winter Weather Advisories have been expanded southward by a tier of counties including Wood, Portage, Waupaca, Outagamie, Brown and Kewaunee counties. A sharp cut off in snowfall is expected south of Highway 29, where the snow will be mixed with rain at times. Snowfall amounts in the advisory area will be from 1 to 4 inches, except in Door and southern Oconto County where 2 to 6 inches is expected. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 417 AM CDT Sun Mar 23 2025 Short Term...Today...Tonight...and Monday An impactful spring storm will bring another round of snow to the area, with the highest totals north of Highway 29. Air and road temperatures at or above freezing during the event will impact snowfall amounts. Snowfall rates will play a significant factor in accumulation on roads, especially during the day. Bufkit soundings off the NAM/GFS are a tad bit colder than would support higher snowfall amounts across the area. With this in mind, new snowfall totals would support expanding the Winter Storm Warning to including Vilas, Oneida and Lincoln counties, and across Marathon and Shawano counties. Snowfall totals were the highest in northeast Marathon and northwest Shawano counties, thus not everyone will see 6 inches. A Winter Weather Advisory has been posted for Wood, Portage, Waupaca, Outagamie, Brown and Kewaunee counties due to expected low visibilities in the heavier snow this afternoon and accumulations of 1 to 4 inches. The highest totals will be found across the northern portion of each county. As the system drops southeast across the area, warmer air will move towards the area, which will result in snowfall totals dropping off sharply south of Highway 29. The low is expected to track southeast across the area, and as the system pivots will result in the snow diminishing across central and east- central Wisconsin by 1 am Monday, with light snow continuing across the north towards daybreak on Monday. Gusty westerly winds are expected on the backside of the system, with gusts to around 35 mph possible across central and east-central Wisconsin. High temperatures should reach the middle 30s to around 40, then drop back one the heavier precipitation arrives later this morning and afternoon. Lows tonight will drop into the 20s tonight, so any melting snow or treated roads could become icy in spots. Clouds will gradually decrease on Monday with highs in the middle 30s to lower 40s. Long Term...Monday Night Through Saturday Minimal impacts are anticipated through the majority of this forecast period with low chances for precipitation until sometime next weekend. Precipitation...The forecast area will remain under an upper-level northwest flow following today through Monday's system. This will bring weak disturbances to the region throughout the week. The first being Tuesday as a disturbance slides southeast across the Upper Mississippi Valley region. Models indicate this should pass far enough south of the forecast area to not receive any precip. The southwest portions of the forecast area may be the only area to see any precip from this disturbance, which would be in the form of snow. By the end of the work week, the upper-level northwest flow looks to flatten slightly and may allow for a southern stream system to lift into the region, bringing the next chance for precip. However, models are not in agreement with timing, placement, or magnitude of this system. Despite this disagreement continuing into the weekend, long-range models are showing signs of agreement in the general pattern with another upper-level trough and surface low lifting northeast across the central Plains for the weekend. This will be the next time frame to watch as this could be another messy spring system with widespread precip. Temperatures...A subtle warming trend looks to occur throughout the work week starting around normal on Tuesday with highs in the upper 30s to middle 40s, rising to the middle 40s to middle 50s by Thursday. Depending on how the late week/weekend system sets up, locations across central and east-central WI could potentially see highs in the middle to upper 50s to end the week. && .AVIATION...for 12Z TAF Issuance Issued at 630 AM CDT Sun Mar 23 2025 A strong spring storm will bring rain, snow, mixed precipitation and low level wind shear. For today, low level wind shear from the southeast at 40 to 45 knots can be expected through the mid to late afternoon hours. For the KRHI/KAUW/KCWA TAF sites, a little wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain be expected at the onset of the event early this morning before changing over to all snow. For the KGRB/KATW/KMTW, precipitation will not likely arrive until the afternoon. Boundary layer temperatures and precipitation intensity will determine precipitation type. Current forecast would indicated a band of heavier snow moving over these sites between 19z and 23z with visibilities down to a half mile. Once the heavier band exits the area, some light snow will linger during the late evening and overnight. Snow will linger across the north overnight into Monday morning. Gusty southeast winds are expected today with gusts around 30 knots possible. The winds should diminish some late this afternoon or early evening, then veer to the west with gusts between 25 and 35 knots later tonight into Monday morning. CIGS will fall into the IFR category or lower from west east today and then gradually improve from west to east on Monday. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 7 AM CDT Monday for WIZ005-010>012- 018>021. Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 AM CDT Monday for WIZ013-073. Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 AM CDT Monday for WIZ022-074. Winter Storm Warning until 1 AM CDT Monday for WIZ030-031. Winter Weather Advisory until 1 AM CDT Monday for WIZ035>037. Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 1 AM CDT Monday for WIZ038>040. && DISCUSSION.....Eckberg/Kruk AVIATION.......Eckberg
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Green Bay WI 408 AM CDT Sun Mar 23 2025 WIZ005-010>013-018>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-240915- 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- 408 AM CDT Sun Mar 23 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north-central and northeast Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Significant snow accumulations of 5 to 9 inches are expected across north-central and far northeast Wisconsin today through late tonight. Snowfall amounts will drop off sharply south of Highway 29. Hazardous travel conditions are expected, especially this afternoon into tonight due to snow covered roads and low visibilities. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Hazardous travel is still possible Monday morning due to the recent snowfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward snowfall measurements to the National Weather Service in Green Bay. LMZ521-522-541>543-240915- The Bay of Green Bay south of a line from Cedar River MI to Rock Island Passage-Lake Michigan from Washington Island to Sheboygan- 408 AM CDT Sun Mar 23 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A few westerly gale force gusts are possible late tonight mainly south of Algoma. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday A few westerly gale force gusts are possible Monday morning mainly south of Algoma. Eckberg/Kruk
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
13 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The highest snowfall totals across Lincoln County included 7.8 inches in Merrill and 6 inches in Tomahawk.
The highest snowfall total in Marathon County was 8.2 inches in Wausau.
The highest snowfall totals across Shawano County included 9.2 inches near Birnamwood and 7.9 inches in Split Rock.
The highest snowfall total in Wood County was 7.5 inches in Hewitt.
The highest snowfall totals across Portage County included 10 inches in Stevens Point, 8.5 inches near Polonia, and 6.4 inches near Amherst.
The highest snowfall total in Vilas County was 6 inches near Woodruff.
The highest snowfall totals across Oneida County included 7.2 inches in Rhinelander, 6.5 inches in Pelican Lake, and 6 inches near Goodnow.
The highest snowfall total in Forest County was 7.6 inches in Argonne.
The highest snowfall totals across Langlade County included 7.5 inches in White Lake and 7 inches in Phlox as well as in Antigo.
Snowfall totals were 6 to 8 inches across Menominee County.
The highest snowfall totals across northern Oconto County included 8 inches near Townsend and 6.5 inches in Mountain.
The highest snowfall total in northern Marinette County was 7.5 inches in Amberg.
The highest snowfall totals across Florence County included 9 inches in Spread Eagle, 7 inches in Florence, and 6 inches in Aurora.
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, March 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: 1233165, 1233171, 1233172, 1233173, 1233174, 1233161, 1233162, 1233163, 1233166, 1233167, 1233168, 1233169, 1233164.