Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin

Events

105

Deaths

5

Injuries

10

Damage

None recorded

• Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Wisconsin, March 12 to 14, 20175 deaths · 10 injured · 20 eventsA significant lake effect snowstorm occurred over eastern WI with snowfall totals of 1 to 2 feet. Hundreds of vehicles were involved in accidents and slide-offs including several large chain-reaction accidents on I-41 and I-43 on March 13th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, January 6 to 9, 20104 eventsA long lasting lake effect snow event affected much of the south shore of Lake Superior, with a general 6 to 12 inches of total snowfall. Localized amounts of up to 19 inches fell in Gile, with 14.5 inches falling in Oulu.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, December 21 to 23, 20134 eventsA long duration lake event snow storm resulted in heavy snow across parts of northwest Wisconsin. The heaviest snow fell over northeastern Douglas County and the Ashland area.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, January 16 to 17, 20144 eventsNorth to northwest winds over western Lake Superior brought heavy lake effect snow to parts of northwest Wisconsin near Lake Superior late January 16th through midday January 17th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, December 16 to 17, 20164 eventsSnow spread into northwest Wisconsin Friday (December 16th) afternoon and evening, with light to moderate snowfall rates continuing overnight into early Saturday (17th) morning.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, December 4 to 5, 20073 eventsLake effect snow fell over northwest Wisconsin. Snowfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour were common in the early evening hours, especially from Superior to Ashland. Snowfall totals ranged from 5 to 7 inches from Superior to Mason to northern Ashland County.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, January 13 to 14, 20083 eventsHeavy lake effect snow developed over much of northwest Wisconsin, especially from the Bayfield Peninsula east into the Gogebic Range, during the midday hours of January 13, and persisted through late evening on January 14.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, January 6 to 9, 20113 eventsA cold flow across Lake Superior began January 6th. Snow showers came and went, with heavy snow first being reported in the Gogebic Range during the morning of January 7th, with first reports of heavy snow occurring further west nearly 24 hours later.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, December 3, 20062 eventsHeavy lake effect snow fell in about a 15 hour period across parts of northwest Wisconsin on December 3rd. Six to 10 inches of snowfall were the rule across Bayfield and Iron counties. Cornucopia had 8 to 10 inches of snow while 8 inches fell in Bayfield.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, December 6 to 7, 20062 eventsCold arctic air flowing over the relatively warm surface of Lake Superior allowed heavy snow bands to develop and fall across Iron and Ashland counties in northwestern Wisconsin. Snow began around noon on Dec. 6th and ended during the mid afternoon hours on Dec. 7th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, January 14 to 15, 20072 eventsCold northwest winds blowing over Lake Superior brought heavy lake effect snow to the snowbelt region of Ashland and Iron counties. Eight to 16 inches of snow fell, with the heaviest occuring from late evening on January 14th through the overnight hours.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, January 27 to 28, 20072 eventsHeavy lake effect snow fell during the evening of January 27th through the early morning hours of the 28th. Seven to 18 inches of snow fell, with the heaviest amounts in the higher terrain of eastern Ashland County through northern Iron County.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, November 5 to 6, 20072 eventsThe first significant lake effect snow event of the season affected northwestern Wisconsin beginning during the early morning of December 5, and ended by early afternoon on the following day.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, December 4 to 5, 20072 eventsAn Alberta-Clipper low pressure tracked from South Dakota, to Iowa, to southern Illinois, to southern Indiana from the morning of Tuesday, December 4 to the early morning on Wednesday, December 5.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, April 6 to 7, 20072 eventsNortherly winds and moisture combined with unseasonably cold April air to create heavy lake effect snow for parts of northwest Wisconsin.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, December 5 to 6, 20082 eventsHeavy lake effect snow fell across the Gogebic Range of Ashland and Iron counties. Along with the 6 to 9 inches of accumulation, windy conditions caused blowing and drifting of the snow.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, February 17 to 19, 20082 eventsSnowfall totals generally ranged from 6 to 9 inches, with locally higher amounts, including 10 inches at High Bridge and 12 inches at Mellen.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, January 14, 20092 eventsA couple bands of lake-effect snow developed over southern Lake Michigan in association with a meso-low pressure, and then moved inland to affect the counties of Racine and Kenosha.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, December 31, 20092 eventsHeavy lake effect snow fell across the snow belt of northwest Wisconsin through the New Year. Fifteen to 20 inches of new snow were common across the Gogebic Range of Ashland and Iron Counties.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, February 23 to 24, 20102 eventsLake effect snow fell across Ashland and Iron counties. Amounts ranged from 8 inches at Mellen and Saxon, to 19 inches in Gile. Hurley recorded 12 inches of snow.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, December 25 to 26, 20102 eventsA persistent band of lake-effect snow set up on the afternoon of December 25th and lingered into the early, pre-dawn morning hours of December 26th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, January 1 to 2, 20102 eventsHeavy lake effect snow fell across the snow belt of northwest Wisconsin through the New Year. Fifteen to 20 inches of snowfall were common across the Gogebic Range of Ashland and Iron Counties.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, February 14 to 15, 20102 eventsWidespread snow fell on Valentine's Day, and continued into the next day. Cold north winds blew across Lake Superior, enhancing the snow across the northwest Wisconsin snow belt.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, February 6 to 7, 20112 eventsA cold outbreak beginning on the evening of February 6th resulted in convective snow showers developing over Lake Superior and moving into coastal areas of northern Wisconsin around and east of the Bayfield Peninsula, with locally heavy snow amounts.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, January 11 to 12, 20112 eventsLake effect snowfall ranged from 9 to 15 inches across Ashland and Iron counties. Specific amounts included 7 at Gurney and Hurley, 9 at Montreal, 10.2 at Upson, and 15.3 at Gile.

Lake-Effect Snow everywhereEvery kind of event in Wisconsin

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.