This was the 3rd major winter storm of the 2008-09 winter season for south-central and southeast Wisconsin.  It dumped 8 to around 14 inches, but the impact on society was significant since there was a lot of blowing and drifting of the snow.  Bands of heavy convective snow had snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour.  The winds were generally east becoming northeast and then north at 13 to 22 knots (15 to 25 mph) with gusts to 26 knots (30 mph).  However, along the Lake Michigan shoreline, a few winds gusts peaked at 30 to 35 knots (35 to 40 mph), which resulted in near-blizzard conditions in that area.  Snow drifts were reported to be 2 to 4 feet in height across southern Wisconsin.  In the middle of the night a small plane skidded of a runway at Milwaukee Mitchell Field, but there were no injuries.  Mitchell Field was closed for a couple hours due to the incident.  Additionally, many airplane flights were delayed or cancelled at the airports in Madison and Milwaukee.  Numerous schools and civic functions were cancelled.  Media reports indicated that dozens of vehicle accidents occurred.  A 2-car accident in the Town of Bristol in Dane County claimed the life of a 16-year old girl (indirect death) on December 18th.
Specific snowfall measurements include 14.3 inches in West Allis (Milwaukee Co.); 13.3 inches in Brookfield (Waukesha Co.); 13 inches in Argyle (Lafayette Co.); 12.5 inches near Richland (Washington Co.); 12 inches near Sheboygan (Sheboygan Co.) and far northwestern Ozaukee County; Union Grove (Racine Co.); 12.3 inches in Paddock Lake (Kenosha Co.); 11.5 inches in Middleton (Dane Co.); 11.2 inches in Jefferson (Jefferson Co.); 11 to 12 inches in far northwestern Iowa County and far west-central Green County; 11 inches in far south-central Columbia County and in Beaver Dam (Dodge Co.); 10.9 inches in East Troy (Walworth Co.); 10.8 inches in Afton (Rock Co.); 10.2 inches in Reedsburg (Sauk Co.); 10 inches near Campbellsport (Fond du Lac Co.); 8.6 inches in Markesan (Green Lake Co.), and 8 to 8.5 inches in southern Marquette County.  Synoptically, a strong low pressure moved from southeast Colorado to eastern Kansas to northeast Missouri to Indiana. Surface dewpoints were in the 55 to 60 range on the southeast side of the low pressure.

Winter Storm in GREEN, WISCONSIN
From 18-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 19-DEC-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in ROCK, WISCONSIN
From 18-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 19-DEC-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in WALWORTH, WISCONSIN
From 18-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 19-DEC-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
From 18-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 19-DEC-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in RACINE, WISCONSIN
From 18-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 19-DEC-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in KENOSHA, WISCONSIN
From 18-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 19-DEC-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 18-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 19-DEC-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in IOWA, WISCONSIN
From 18-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 19-DEC-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in LAFAYETTE, WISCONSIN
From 18-DEC-08 21:00:00 to 19-DEC-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer