Winter Storm — Northern Oconto, Wisconsin

2012-02-28 to 2012-02-29 · Northern Oconto, Wisconsin

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system that moved from Colorado to Wisconsin produced a large area of heavy, wet snow across parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota. A widespread snowfall of 8 to 16 inches, with locally higher amounts along with frequent wind gusts over 30 mph, affected much of north-central and far northeast Wisconsin. Snow fell at the rate of two to three inches per hour in the heaviest bands. Less snow fell in central and east-central Wisconsin as milder air surged north in advance of the storm system.

The wet snow and strong winds caused power outages to as many as 14,000 homes and businesses at the height of the storm. In addition, some roads in northern Wisconsin were nearly impassable during the heaviest snowfall.

North-central Wisconsin received the most snow from the storm. Some totals there included: 21.0 inches near Minocqua (Oneida Co.), 20.2 inches in Rhinelander (Oneida Co.), 19.0 inches at Laona (Forest Co.), 18.3 inches at St. Germain (Vilas Co.), and 17.9 inches at Crandon and near Argonne (Forest Co.). Totals from northeast Wisconsin included: 15.0 inches near Athelstane (Marinette Co.), 14.5 inches at Wausaukee (Marinette Co.), 14.0 inches near Beaver (Marinette Co.), 13.0 inches at Caldron Falls Reservoir (Marinette Co.), 10.1 inches at Washington Island (Door Co.), and 10.0 inches at Oconto (Oconto County).

The storm system that generated the heavy snow also produced killer tornadoes and severe thunderstorms from Kansas into Kentucky.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 360013. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.