Other parts of the country including Denver, the Pacific Northwest, and the Northeast U.S. have all been slammed with snowstorms already.  Around here, we are still waiting.  While some of you are happy about that it is only a matter of time until Old Man Winter shows up with a punch.  With this in mind, Winter Weather Awareness week starts in Wisconsin November 7th.  I’ll be passing on plenty of winter weather information and safety tips next week but let’s wet our appetites with some interesting Wisconsin winter weather facts with this blog.

AVERAGE DATES OF FIRST MEASURABLE SNOWFALL

Below are average first measurable snowfall dates for locations in northeast and north-central Wisconsin.  The average dates were compiled from 30 years of data (1981-2010). 

                       Avg Date      Avg Date      Avg Date
Location               0.1 Inch      1.0 Inch      3.0 Inches

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Antigo                 Nov  9        Nov 13        Nov 28

Appleton               Nov 15        Nov 27        Dec 20

Chilton                Nov 17        Nov 22        Dec 16

Clintonville           Nov 16        Nov 25        Dec 15

Green Bay              Nov 13        Nov 23        Dec 16

Kewaunee               Nov 27        Nov 29        Dec 14

Lac Vieux Desert       Oct 20        Oct 25        Nov  9

Laona                  Oct 21        Nov  4        Nov 17

Manitowoc              Dec  9        Dec 11        Dec 26

Marinette              Nov 20        Nov 28        Dec 22

Marshfield             Nov  9        Nov 12        Dec  2

Merrill                Nov  7        Nov 15        Nov 29

Oconto                 Nov 18        Nov 22        Dec 17

Oshkosh                Nov 27        Dec  2        Dec 22

Rhinelander            Nov  5        Nov  9        Nov 27

St Germain             Oct 31        Nov  2        Nov 20

Shawano                Nov 18        Nov 21        Dec  6

Stevens Point          Nov 17        Nov 25        Dec 14

Sturgeon Bay           Nov 20        Nov 25        Dec 16

Two Rivers             Nov 27        Dec  1        Dec 16

Washington Island      Nov 26        Dec  1        Dec 16

Wausau                 Nov  3        Nov 12        Nov 29

Wisc. Rapids           Nov 17        Nov 21        Dec  2

There are many factors that can influence the average date at a particular location.  During the fall and early winter, storm tracks can play a significant role between snow and rain. Along Lake Michigan and the waters of Green Bay, the warmer waters tend to keep the region several degrees above freezing resulting in a slower changeover to all snow during the fall and early winter.

Other factors than can influence the average dates include the location of the observing location that may be enclosed by trees or are in a wide open area.  In addition, during the fall and early winter, volunteer observers may not measure the snowfall for several hours after the event which may allow for the snow to melt.  This is especially true during the overnight hours early in the season where snow occurs and then melts before the observer makes their measurement.

FACTS FROM WINTER 2010-11 

• The coldest temperature in the winter of 2010-11 was -37° Fahrenheit (F) at Ladysmith 3SW (Rusk Co.) on January 22, 2011.
• The Hurley, WI–Ironwood, MI, area in Iron County had the most snow of 167 inches in the winter of 2010-11, while Waunakee in Dane County had the least with only 37.2 inches. Most of the northern two-thirds of the state had 60 to 95 inches, while the southern third had 40 to 60 inches. The 92.6″ in Green Bay during the ’10-’11 winter was the highest amount in modern-day history. Only the winters of 1889-90 and 1887-88 had more snow.
• Wisconsin’s all-time, lowest temperature is -55°F on February 2 & 4, 1996, near Couderay (Sawyer Co.). Readings of -30°F or colder have been recorded in every month from November through April. Of course, brief readings in the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s are possible during winter as well!
• Average annual snowfall ranges from 35 to 40 inches near the Illinois border to 135 to 165 inches in the Iron County snow-belt from Gurney to Hurley.

Official ALL-TIME snowfall records

• Greatest daily total – 26.0 inches of snow, at Neillsville on Dec. 27, 1904, and Pell Lake on Feb. 2, 2011.
• Greatest single storm total – Superior, 31.0 inches over Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 1991.
• Greatest monthly total – Hurley, 103.5 inches in Jan. 1997.
• Greatest seasonal total – Hurley, 301.8 inches in winter of 1996-97.
• Deepest snow on ground (excluding drifts) – Hurley, 60.0 inches on Jan. 30, 1996.

Here is an interesting map.  It shows the average number of major winter storms in each county per year (taken from the past 30 years or so of data).  Most of the TV-9 viewing area gets 3 to 4 major storms in the winter with over 6 in parts of the Lake Superior Snowbelt.

As far as blizzards go, I found it interesting that eastern through southern Wisconsin actually has had more blizzards than the rest of the state.  Part of this stems from the fact that when strong low pressure systems intensify just south of Wisconsin, strong northeast winds develop in Wisconsin.  The winds speeds are typically higher in east- southeast Wisconsin because of less friction as the air crosses Lake Michigan.  Plus the terrain includes a  lot of farmland with open fields.  This favors stronger winds as well.  Thirdly lake enhancement may increase snow rates in this part of the state with certain storms which helps to reduce visibility.

Well, be sure to check in next week for more winter weather related information.

Posted under Seasonal Items, Storms, Weather History, Weather NEws, Weather Safety, Winter Weather