Blizzard in Racine, Wisconsin

The first blizzard since 1999 affected locations within about 5 miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline in the counties of Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha. The blizzard was generated by a strong low pressure moving northeast along a frontal boundary that stretched across northern Illinois to northern Indiana. Northeast to east winds gusting to 35 to 40 mph hleped to reduce visibilities to less than 1/4 mile, and created snow drifts of 2 to 5 feet in height. Many vehicle accidents were reported, and many vehicles were reported to be stuck in snow drifts. Dozens of airplane flights were delayed or cancelled at Milwaukee's Mitchell Field (Milwaukee Co.) where 10.1 inches of snow were measured. Maximum snow accumulations include 13.5 inches in Hales Corner (Milwaukee Co.), 15 inches in Union Grove (Racine Co.), and 17 inches at the Kenosha U.S. Coast Guard Station (Kenosha Co.). An elderly man in the city of Racine died from a heart attack while shoveling snow (indirect-related death).