Wisconsin Winter Climate
(December, January, and February)

News/Events/Other

• Winter Road Conditions from Wisconsin DOT
• Wind Chill Chart from National Climatic Data Center
• Interactive weather calculator from MRCC
• Survival in cold water from University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program
• The week of 12-17 November 2007 is  Winter Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin


• Many related graphs and links may be found below and on the Climate Watch page.
• A winter travel hazard -- Dense Fog (NWSFO Milwaukee Sullivan)
  
• Winter weather information in surrounding states

  • Seasonal snowfall for the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan from NWS in Marquette for 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 snow seasons.

  • Weekly snow depth maps for Minnesota
  • Winter Weather Forecasts from NOAA
  • Winter Weather Terms from NOAA
  • Recent snowfall data from NWS:
    • Duluth local snow storm reports and public information statements
    • Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) local snow storm reports and public information statements
    • Marquette local snow storm reports and public information statements

Temperature

• Map of Mean Winter Temperatures (1971-2000 normals)


• Long-term Variation in average winter temperatures Statewide and:
  

  Northwest	North Central	Northeast
  West Central	Central	East Central
  Southwest	South Central	Southeast



• Graph of Wisconsin's Top 20 Coldest Winters and Top 20 Warmest Winters arranged by decade
• Map of average lowest minimum winter temperatures (1971-2000 averages)


• Map of average number of days with zero-degree or lower minimum temperatures (1971-2000 averages)


• Temperature Data for Major Wisconsin Cities:
  

  Eau Claire	Green Bay	La Crosse
  Madison	Milwaukee	Wausau



• Long-term Variations in the Numbers of days with 0 degree or lower minimum temperatures for Major Wisconsin Cities
  

  Eau Claire	Green Bay	La Crosse
  Madison	Milwaukee	Wausau

Heating Degree Days

• State Map of Heating degree day units  (1971-2000 normals)


• Weekly summaries of total heating degrees by:
  • major city
  • population weighted by state (from Climate Prediction Center)


• Monthly summaries of total heating degrees by:
  • major city
  • population weighted by state (from Climate Prediction Center)


• Archives of last three weeks and last three months of total heating degrees


• List of weekly total heating degrees forecasts by state (from Climate Prediction Center)


• Heating Degree Data for Major Wisconsin Cities:
  

  Eau Claire	Green Bay	La Crosse
  Madison	Milwaukee	Wausau

Precipitation

• Map of Mean Winter Precipitation (1971-2000 normals)


• Long-term Variation in Average winter precipitation Statewide and:
  

  Northwest	North Central	Northeast
  West Central	Central	East Central
  Southwest	South Central	Southeast



• Precipitation Data for Major Wisconsin Cities:
  

  Eau Claire	Green Bay	La Crosse
  Madison	Milwaukee	Wausau



• Graph of Wisconsin's Top 20 Driest Winters and Top 20 Wettest Winters arranged by decade

Snow

• Current Midwest Snow Watch Maps (MRCC)
  • Snowfall for today, yesterday,...7 days ago
  • Snow depth for today, yesterday,...7 days ago


• Current snow conditions
  • Recent Snow information from the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC)
    • National Snow Analysis and Animations
    • National Interactive Snow Information
  • Other daily snow cover products from NOAA
  • Snow conditions report for recreation from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism


• Average Snowfall
  • Monthly snowfall normals (1971-2000)
  
  
  • Statewide monthly average and departures from 1971-2000 normals in recent snow seasons
    • Averages: 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05
    • Departures: 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05
  • Statewide maps of annual number of days of 1-inch, 3-inch, 5-inch, and 10-inch snow cover (1971-2000 normals)


• Snow climatology from the National Climatic Data Center
  • Snowfall climatology for Wisconsin
  • Snowfall extremes for Wisconsin


• Snowfall maps of Wisconsin (from NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan): Normal Seasonal Snowfall and

  Winter 1996-97	Winter 2002-03
  Winter 1997-98	Winter 2003-04
  Winter 1998-99	Winter 2004-05
  Winter 1999-2000	Winter 2005-06
  Winter 2000-01	Winter 2006-07
  Winter 2001-02

  
  
• Long-term Variation in statewide and divisional average snowfall for winter season Statewide and:
  

  Northwest	North Central	Northeast
  West Central	Central	East Central
  Southwest	South Central	Southeast



• Seasonal snowfall data for Major Wisconsin Cities:
  

  Eau Claire	Green Bay	La Crosse
  Madison	Milwaukee	Wausau



• Hemispheric Snow maps and other snow data from Global Snow Lab (Rutgers University)

Ice

• NOAA Great Lakes Ice Atlas (1973-2002)


• Madison Lakes Ice Summary


• Wisconsin Lake Ice Duration


• Wisconsin Frost Depths
  • Daily Comprehensive Morning Summary (see list at end)
  • Maps of Midwest soil temperature-frost depth from North Central River Forecast Center (only available during this season)

Severe Winter Weather

• Severe Winter Weather Climatology from NWS Field Office Milwaukee/Sullivan
  

  Winter Storms	Blizzards
  Ice Storms	Yearly Average for All Events
  All Winter Events



• History of Major Ice Storms in Wisconsin since 1972
  (Courtesy of NWS Field Office Milwaukee/Sullivan
  

Sunrise/Sunset

• Time of sunrise on: 21 December, 21 January, and 21 February.
  


• Time of sunset on: 21 December, 21 January, and 21 February.
  


• Duration of sunshine on: 21 December, 21 January, and 21 February.
  

Holidays

• Christmas: Check the probability of a White Christmas across Wisconsin and the nation (National Climatic Data Center).