Blizzard — Ashland, Wisconsin

2023-04-17 · Ashland, Wisconsin

Event narrative

A prolonged period of snowfall fell across the northern part of the county starting on the 16th and continued into the 17th. Winds picked up the morning of the 17th leading to blizzard conditions for a 5 hour period near Lake Superior and Chequamegon Bay. Snowfall totals of 6 to 12 inches were reported across the northern part of the county with a high report of 15.1 inches near High Bridge.

Wider weather episode

A slow moving, deepening area of low pressure located over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan affected the Northland on the 16th into the 17th bringing a period of freezing rain before changing over to snow. Areas closer to the low in northwest Wisconsin received the brunt of the snow with upwards of 10 to 15 inches in areas near Lake Superior where lake enhancement occurred. As the low deepened the night of the 16th into the 17th, winds increased and became quite breezy along the South Shore leading to a period of blizzard conditions the morning of the 17th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1095125. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.