A powerful winter storm raked south-central and southeast Wisconsin during the afternoon hours of January 29th into the pre-dawn hours of January 30th.  The precipitation started off as rain and thunderstorms but then changed to freezing rain and sleet which then changed to snow and blowing snow with plunging temperatures.  Peak sustained northwest winds were on the order of 26 to 33 knots (30 to 38 mph) with peak gusts of 39 to 49 knots (45 to 56 mph).  There was one isolated peak gust of 54 knots (62 mph) at a Wisconsin DOT site on Interstate 94 west of the City of Racine.  Visibilities were occasionally reduced to 1/4 to 1/2 mile in open areas.  Dozens of vehicle accidents and slide-offs were noted by the media due to very slippery roads.  Afternoon temperatures in the mid 30s to lower 40s quickly dropped through the 20s into the teens and then into the single digits by the evening hours, and eventually down to the -4F to -8F by the pre-dawn hours of the 30th.  Although new snow amounts were only 1 to 3 inches, County Emergency Management Directors noted that this event was perceived as a winter storm due to the combination of thunderstorms, freezing rain, sleet, snow, blowing snow, strong winds, poor visibilities, and fast-falling temperatures.  Synoptically, a strong low pressure moved northeast through Minnesota while a strong cold front swept southeast through Wisconsin.  Another low pressure developed along the cold front while it was over northern Illinois, which led to a tightening pressure gradient and stronger winds over southern Wisconsin.

Winter Storm in SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in WALWORTH, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in KENOSHA, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in RACINE, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in MARQUETTE, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in OZAUKEE, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN
From 29-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JAN-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer