Winter Weather — Pierce, Wisconsin

2022-12-23 to 2022-12-24 · Pierce, Wisconsin

Event narrative

Whiteout conditions were expected from a deep fresh snow pack and forecast winds of 40 to 50 mph. However, wind gusts ended up being less than forecast, so this event did not verify the Blizzard Warning. Roads were ice-covered, and very cold wind chills of -25 to -35 were observed.

Wider weather episode

Several inches of snow followed by rapid intensification of a low-pressure system over the Great Lakes led to a multi-day winter storm for Western Wisconsin. Part 1 of this system was widespread fluffy snow with high snow-to-liquid ratios across west central Wisconsin. There was a break, and then part 2 of this system with strong arctic winds developed in wrap-around circulation of the low-pressure system. Wind gusts of 30-40 mph ended up being about ten miles per hour less than forecast, but these winds together with the arctic air led to dangerous wind-chills near -25 to -35F. Roads became ice-covered, but overall the poor conditions did not verify the second half of the winter weather headlines across west central Wisconsin.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1064192. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.