DECEMBER

Overall, December 2013 went down in the record books as cold and snowy. At Green Bay, the average temperature was 15.0 F tying for the 12th coldest December on record, while snowfall for the month was 26.4 inches (8^th snowiest).

At Rhinelander, it was the 8th coldest December on record with an average temperature of 7.5 F.

Wausau recorded the 10^th coldest December on record with an average temperature of 11.1 F.

The first four days of December 2013 started out mild with high temperatures in the 30s and 40s, peaking at 45 F at Green Bay on December 4. 

A sharp cold front moved across the state on December 5, bringing a blast of arctic air to the region. Bitter cold temperatures were noted on the December 6 as Rhinelander recorded the third coldest high temperature of all-time at -17 F, falling just short of the record of -19 F on January 18, 1994.

The high temperature at Wausau was -14 F, which tied for the sixth coldest high temperature on record all-time. The record is -19 F set on January 18, 1994. The arctic air lingered across the region until December 16.

Several rounds of snow and cold were noted during the latter half of December. The most severe arctic outbreak was noted on the December 30 and 31.  Some of the colder low temperatures on December 30 include:

-27 F at Antigo

-26 F at Merrill and Minocqua

-25 F at Rhinelander

High temperatures remained below zero across the north during the afternoon, including:

-5 F at Minocqua

-4 F at Eagle River

-3 F at Rhinelander and Wausau

-2 F at Marshfield

- 1 F at Green Bay.

JANUARY

Heading into 2014, with a deep snow pack and arctic air in place, the New Year started out cold with low temperatures in the single digits and teens below zero. High temperatures during the afternoon were in the single digits to around 10 above zero. The coldest temperatures were noted from January 6 through 9. 

Low temperatures on the 6^th dropped to:

-31 F at Minocqua

-30 F at Rhinelander and Willow Reservoir

-28 F at Eagle River

-27 F at Antigo and Merrill.

A January thaw was noted from January 11 through 13 with highs in the 30s with a few 40s on January 12. The arctic air returned on January 15, with several surges of arctic air on January 21 through 23, and again on the 26 through 28.

Overall, January went down in the record books as the 9th coldest at Rhinelander, 12th coldest at Wausau, and 17th coldest at Green Bay.  Snowfall was above normal for the month.

FEBRUARY

The first twelve days of February started out cold, with the daily average temperature running 10 F to 20 F below normal on most days. 

A February thaw was noted on the 18th through the 21st before another severe plunge of arctic air was noted from February 25 through 28.  High temperatures on February 27 were not very spring like with readings mainly in the single digits above zero. 

The low temperatures on February 28 plunged to:

-31 F at Florence

-30 F at Antigo

-29 F at Merrill

-27 F at Stevens Point

-26 F at Merrill and Minocqua.

The bitter cold lingered into the first few days of March.

February 2014 went down in the record books as the third coldest at Green Bay, and the fifth coldest at Rhinelander and Wausau. Snowfall was well above normal.  

THE ENTIRE WINTER

What made the winter of 2013-14 more remarkable was the number of days below zero.

Green Bay established a new record with 54 days below zero, breaking the old record of 48 days set during the winter of 1976-77.

A new record was also established at Wausau with 56 days, breaking the old record of 55 days set in 1916-17.

At Rhinelander, the total of 66 days below zero fell just short of the record of 74 days set in 1985-86.

Along with the brutal cold, above normal snowfall was noted. At Rhinelander, it was the snowiest winter on record at the time with 107.6 inches, which was recently eclipsed in 2018-19 with 116.3 inches.

At Wausau, the seasonal total of 84.3 inches was the 7^th snowiest winter on record while Green Bay recorded the 14^th snowiest on record with 72.1 inches.