Blizzard Warning Issued for West Central Wisconsin: Up to 20 Inches of Snow Expected

Source: NOAA · West Central Wisconsin

This alert is no longer in effect.

NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

A historic March winter storm is forecast to bring blizzard conditions and 12 to 20 inches of heavy snow to west central Wisconsin starting early Sunday morning.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Blizzard Warning
Affected area
West Central Wisconsin
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Twin Cities

Winter notices differ by expected impact and timing. The original notice carries the forecast window and any travel guidance for the named area.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in West Central Wisconsin.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MN, has issued a Blizzard Warning for several counties in west central Wisconsin. This alert is categorized as an extreme severity event with likely certainty, as a historic March winter storm moves across the Upper Midwest.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following Wisconsin counties:

  • Barron
  • Polk
  • Rusk
  • Chippewa
  • Dunn
  • Eau Claire
  • Pepin
  • Pierce
  • St. Croix

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, ensure you have a winter survival kit in your vehicle. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle to remain safe. For the latest road conditions, call 5-1-1 or visit 511wi.gov.

Expected Conditions

  • Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations are expected to range between 12 and 20 inches. Snowfall rates may reach 2 to 2.5 inches per hour at the peak of the storm.
  • Wind: Northwest winds will increase to 35 to 45 mph on Sunday afternoon and evening.
  • Visibility: Widespread blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility, creating dangerous blizzard conditions.
  • Impacts: Travel is expected to become very difficult or impossible. The heavy, wet nature of the snowpack may lead to infrastructure damage and poses a health hazard for those shoveling. Hazardous conditions are expected to impact the Monday morning commute.

Timeline

The Blizzard Warning is effective from 1:00 AM CDT Sunday, March 15, through 7:00 AM CDT Monday, March 16. While snow will taper off gradually throughout Sunday, the strongest winds and most severe blizzard conditions are expected Sunday afternoon and evening.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
A historic March winter storm is forecast to bring blizzard conditions and 12 to 20 inches of heavy snow to west central Wisconsin starting early Sunday morning.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects West Central Wisconsin. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.