Winter Weather — Southern Marinette, Wisconsin

2022-12-22 to 2022-12-24 · Southern Marinette, Wisconsin

Event narrative

A long duration winter storm brought 2 to 4 inches of snow to southern Marinette County by Thursday morning (12/22), with a two-day total of 6 to 8 inches by Friday morning (12/23). Winds gusted to 30 to 40 mph at times from Thursday night (12/22) through Saturday (12/24), causing blowing and drifting snow. The combination of cold temperatures and gusty winds caused wind chills to fall to -20 to -30 degrees Thursday night (12/22) into Friday morning (12/23).

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system across the central Plains tracked northeast towards the western Great Lakes on Wednesday (12/21). The low tracked through the western Great Lakes during the morning hours on Thursday (12/22), bringing a cold front through Wisconsin. The low deepened over central Lake Superior on Thursday (12/22), then continued deepening as it tracked across the central Great Lakes Thursday night (12/22) and western Quebec Friday afternoon (12/23). The low continued to deepen as it slowly drifted north towards James Bay on Saturday (12/24).

An initial band of snow developed across northeast Wisconsin Wednesday afternoon (12/21) through Thursday morning (12/22) with 3 to 6 inches across the region. There was a lull in the light snow on Thursday (12/22) as temperatures dropped precipitously behind the cold front and west winds increased throughout the day.

Winds increased to 30 to 50 mph Thursday night (12/22) into Friday (12/23) with considerable blowing and drifting snow as well as additional light snow. Wind chills dropped to 25 to 45 below zero during this period, with the coldest values along and west of the Fox Valley. Two-day snowfall totals by Friday had increased to 4 to 8 inches across much of the area, with up to 10 inches in northern Door County.

High winds, blowing and drifting snow, and cold wind chills continued into Saturday (12/24). Winds of 30 to 50 mph continued into Saturday (12/24) with wind chills of 15 to 25 below zero. While the heaviest snow had ended across the region by Saturday (12/24), additional lake effect snow continued into Saturday morning; boosting three-day totals up to 12 to 15 inches in the lake effect snowbelt region of Vilas County.

The highest three-day snowfall totals were 15.4 inches in Presque Isle (Vilas Co.) and 12.2 inches in Lac Vieux Desert (Vilas Co.) ending Saturday morning (12/24). The highest two-day snowfall totals were 10.8 inches near Egg Harbor (Door Co.) and 9.1 inches in Washington Island (Door Co.) ending Friday morning (12/23). The highest one-day snowfall total was 9 inches in Presque Isle (Vilas Co.) ending Saturday morning (12/24). The highest wind speed recorded during the event was 52 mph at Gills Rock (Door Co.) on Saturday morning (12/24).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1063854. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.