Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Richland, Wisconsin

2022-12-22 to 2022-12-25 · Richland, Wisconsin

Event narrative

The combination of arctic air and wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph created wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero across Richland County. The lowest calculated wind chill was -35 near Richland Center.

Wider weather episode

A storm brought an extended period of hazardous winter weather to western Wisconsin ahead of the Christmas holiday. Periods of snow fell from December 21st into the 23rd. Most accumulations were in the 3 to 5 inch range with the highest totals of 6 inches near Blue River (Grant County) and 5.7 inches in Mondovi (Buffalo County). Strong winds of 25 to 40 mph from the 23rd into the 24th created blowing and drifting snow with some whiteout conditions occurring at times. The wind combined with an influx of arctic air to create dangerously cold wind chills from the 22nd into Christmas morning. Values of 25 to 40 below zero were common during this period with the lowest calculated wind chill of -41 at Volk Field (Juneau County). A state patrol officer was injured when another vehicle crashed into the back of a patrol car that was parked along the shoulder of Interstates 90/94 in southern Juneau County. The Governor of Wisconsin declared an energy emergency that allowed suppliers to catch up from weather related delays and for the faster arrival of out of state utility restoration workers. A national food delivery service suspended operations across western Wisconsin during the storm.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1072165. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.