Heat and Fire Weather Concerns in the West; Excessive Rainfall Possible in the South-Central U.S.

Heat will build over the Intermountain West and the Southwest the next couple of days. Lightning from dry thunderstorms can create new fire starts and combined with gusty winds may cause a fire to rapidly grow in Oregon and northern California. Flash flooding will be possible in New Mexico and west Texas today, as well as parts of the southern and central Plains due to slow moving thunderstorms. Read More >

Winter Weather Awareness Week November 18-22, 2024

Winter Awareness Week is jointly sponsored by the State of Wisconsin Emergency Management team and the National Weather Service Offices that serve Wisconsin. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the planned events and become more aware of the dangers of winter weather in Wisconsin. Winter hazards include heavy snows, blizzards, ice storms, extreme cold and low wind chills, widespread high winds, glazing of freezing drizzle or freezing rain, dense fog, and indirectly the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Tips for surviving our harsh winters from ReadyWisconsin.

An update has occurred for extreme cold/wind chill headlines for the 2024-2025 Winter Season:

Renaming Wind Chill Watch/Warning and Wind Chill Advisory

Below are a series of graphics highlighting the frequency of various winter weather events across Wisconsin for the winter seasons of 1982-83 to 2023-2024.
Total # of Winter Storms	Total # of Ice Storms	Total # of Blizzards
Total # of Extreme Cold Events		Average Season Snowfall

Winter Weather Awareness - Southern Wisconsin

What Is Winter Weather
Winter Travel Safety
Preparedness
Get Involved

What Is Winter Weather

What is Winter Weather

Hydrograph

Winter Weather Patterns:

Winter Forecasting Part 1

Winter Forecast Part 2

NWS Winter Headlines and Products:

NWS Winter Products

Winter Storms and Blizzards:

Snow Squalls:

Ice/Freezing Rain:

Wind Chills & Cold Temps:

NWS Milwaukee Winter Weather Videos:

Winter Travel Safety

According to Wisconsin Department of Transportation statistics, an average of about 50,000 vehicle accidents occur in the state each winter season when roads are covered with snow, ice, or slush. This results in an average of about 45 deaths and 5,000 injuries each winter. Nationally, an average of about 950 people die in winter-related road accidents each year. Many of these accidents can be avoided.

In addition, Wisconsin DOT statistics indicate that on average, about 1,200 vehicle accidents occur in the state each year when dense fog is a factor. This results in about 16 deaths and 700 injuries. Dense fog is more likely during the cooler part of the year. On Friday, October 11th, 2002, a multiple-vehicle accident in southern Sheboygan County resulted in 10 fatalities due to white out conditions in dense fog on I-43, and another accident in northern Ozaukee County resulted in one fatality. Dense fog can occur at any time of the year, but is most common in the cooler part of the year. Many of the accidents related to dense fog can also be avoided.