email: ckoplien@todaystmj4.com
Updated: 4:45pm Thursday, Feb 7th
These snow totals are from a combination of TMJ4 and National Weather Service Observers, as well as unofficial viewer reports:
20.7"...Cedarburg...(Ozaukee county)
20.1"...Saukville (Ozaukee county)
20.0"...Jackson (Washington county)
20.0"...Beloit (Rock county)
18.0"...Glendale (Milwaukee county)
18.0"...West Allis (Milwaukee county)
17.1"...Beaver Dam (Dodge county)
17.0"...Milwaukee- Near UW-Milwaukee (Milwaukee county)
16.3"...Sullivan-Nat'l Weather Service (Jefferson county)
16.0"...Brookfield (Waukesha county)
16.0"...Waukesha (Waukesha county)
16.0"...Johnson Creek (Jefferson county)
16.0"...Janesville (Rock county)
15.0"...Thiensville (Ozaukee county)
15.0"...Muskego (Waukesha county)
15.0"...Jefferson (Jefferson county)
14.7"...Random Lake (Sheboygan county)
14.5"...Watertown (Jefferson county)
14.5"...Grafton (Ozaukee county)
14.5"...Palmyra (Jefferson county)
14.0"...Pewaukee (Waukesha county)
14.0"...Cedarburg (Ozaukee county)
14.0"...Holy Hill (Washington county)
14.0"...Richfield (Washington county)
14.0"...Pleasant Prairie (Kenosha county)
14.0"...Lake Mills (Jefferson county)
14.0"...Sheboygan (Sheboygan county)
14.0"...Waterford...(Racine county)
14.0"...Williams Bay (Walworth county)
13.7"...Racine (Racine county)
13.7"...West Bend (Washington county)
13.4"...Lake Mills (Jefferson county)
13.3"...Madison (Dane county)
13.0"...Waterford (Racine county)
13.0"...Pell Lake (Walworth county)
12.9"...Mitchell Int'l Airport (Milwaukee county)
12.5"...Caledonia (Racine county)
12.5"...Lannon (Waukesha county)
12.2"...Sturtevant (Racine county)
12.0"...Milwaukee-southwest side (Milwaukee county)
12.0"...Oconomowoc (Waukesha county)
12.0"...Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac county)
11.0"...Taycheedah (Fond du Lac county)
Below is a review of the storm, along with a snow totals map, written and produced by the meteorologists at our local National Weather Service office in Sullivan.
February 5-6, 2008 Winter Storm Story
A major winter storm impacted south-central and southeast Wisconsin on February 5-6, 2008. This was a long duration event coupled with strong gusty winds and some thunder thrown in. Blowing and drifting snow compounded the effects of the heavy snow. Total new snow accumulations in excess of 12 inches occurred in the area southeast of a line from Dubuque, Iowa to Madison to Beaver Dam to West Bend to Sheboygan. Up to 16 inches is likely in the area from Monroe and Janesville to the Port Washington and Milwaukee area...with isolated 18 to 21 amounts occurred. Some spots around Milwaukee will pick up 11 to 13 inches. Total snow amounts tapered off to 6 to 8 inches north of Wisconsin Dells.
The accumulating snow gradually decreased from west to east in the late afternoon and early evening hours...and finally ended near Lake Michigan by around midnight. Occasional heavy snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour were observed in that area where a total of 12 inches or more were measured. The winds were out of the north at 15 to 25 mph with some gusts to 35 mph...although some brief, isolated gusts to 60 mph were noted. These winds generated blowing and drifting snow, especially in open areas. Visibilities dropped to below 1/4 mile at times, and west-east orientated roads experienced considerable drifting, and 2 to 4 foot drifts. Some brief blizzard conditions occurred near Lake Michigan where the winds were stronger, as well as in open, exposed areas over the remainder of southern Wisconsin.
Some roads become impassable due to the blowing and drifting snow.
On the weather map, a strong low pressure area over northwestern Indiana moved from Missouri to central Illinois and then to northern Indiana and lower Michigan. Some moisture from Lake Michigan did manage to enhance the snowfalls over parts of southeast Wisconsin.
Weather spotters sent an unbelievable number of snow reports to the Milwaukee/Sullivan office - thanks a bunch! WOW...what dedication and volunteer spirit!
THE LAST TIME LARGE PARTS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN
HAD A SNOWSTORM PRODUCING 15 TO 20 INCHES OF SNOW WAS WITH THE
JANUARY 2-3, 1999 WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD. IN THAT STORM...20.5 INCHES
FELL AT SLINGER IN WASHINGTON COUNTY AND 20 INCHES IN WEST ALLIS.
MILWAUKEE MITCHELL FIELD PICKED UP 15.4 INCHES.
ANOTHER STORM WITH 15 TO 17 INCHES AFFECTED RACINE AND KENOSHA
COUNTY ON DECEMBER 1, 2006. HOWEVER...THE AREA AFFECTED BY SNOWFALLS
OVER 15 INCHES WAS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THE FEBRUARY 5-6, 2008
STORM.
BOTH MILWAUKEE AND MADISON SET SNOWFALL RECORDS FOR THE DATE WEDNESDAY WITH MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT TOTALS OF 11.9 INCHES AT MADISON AND 11.6 FOR MILWAUKEE. THIS WAS THE 8TH HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY TOTAL ON RECORD FOR MADISON...WHILE MILWAUKEE’S TOTAL TIED WITH FEBRUARY 25, 1935 AND APRIL 9, 1973 FOR 16TH ON THE CALENDAR DAY SNOW TOTAL LIST.
THE 73.7 INCHES OF SNOW THAT HAS FALLEN SO FAR THIS SEASON IN MADISON TIES IT FOR THIRD PLACE WITH THE WINTER OF 1993-1994 ON THE LIST FOR MOST SNOWFALL IN A SEASON. THE GREATEST SEASONAL SNOWFALL WAS 76.1 INCHES DURING THE WINTER OF 1978-1979.
AT MILWAUKEE MITCHELL FIELD, 65.7 INCHES OF SNOW HAS BEEN MEASURED IN THE 2007-08 WINTER SEASON. THE GREATEST SEASONAL SNOWFALL WAS 109.8 INCHES IN THE 1886-87 WINTER.
