Winter Storm Warning Issued for Western Wisconsin: Up to 20 Inches of Snow Expected
This alert is no longer in effect.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).
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A major winter storm is forecast to bring 12 to 20 inches of heavy, wet snow and 40 mph wind gusts to western Wisconsin starting Saturday night.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Winter Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Western Wisconsin
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Twin Cities
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Western Wisconsin.
Alert Details
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MN. The alert is in effect from 10:00 PM CDT Saturday, March 14, through 7:00 AM CDT Monday, March 16.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following counties in western Wisconsin:
- Barron
- Chippewa
- Dunn
- Eau Claire
- Pepin
- Pierce
- Polk
- St. Croix
What You Should Do
Residents are advised that travel could become very difficult to impossible. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. For the latest road conditions, call 5 1 1 or visit 511wi.gov. Additionally, the snow is expected to be wet and very heavy; use caution when shoveling as it may pose a health hazard and lead to infrastructure damage.
Expected Conditions
- Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations between 12 and 20 inches are expected. A broad area will likely see 10 to 16 inches, while a narrow swath could receive 15 to 20 inches. Some portions of western Wisconsin could see totals approaching 2 feet.
- Snowfall Rates: Heavy snow will fall Saturday evening and overnight, with rates of up to 2 inches per hour possible.
- Wind and Visibility: Winds will initially blow from the northeast at 20 to 30 mph, shifting to the northwest on Sunday with gusts between 35 and 45 mph. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds will reduce visibility and create periods of blizzard conditions.
- Commute Impact: Hazardous conditions are expected to significantly impact the Monday morning commute.
Timeline
The Winter Storm Warning begins at 10:00 PM CDT on Saturday, March 14. The heaviest snowfall is expected Saturday night. While snow will diminish on Sunday, increasing winds will create blowing snow hazards throughout the day. The alert is scheduled to expire at 7:00 AM CDT on Monday, March 16.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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