An arctic cold front moved through during the afternoon and early evening hours of December 14th. With the frontal passage, temperatures dropped as much as 20 degrees in 2 to 3 hours at many locations. In fact, a temperature change of around 40 degrees was common from the morning to the evening hours of December 14th.
The cold was made more significant as northwest winds increased into the 20 to 30 mph range, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph. These strong winds, coupled with plummeting temperatures, created dangerous wind chills of 20 below to 40 below. Bitter cold conditions persisted through the day and into the evening on December 15.

Cold/Wind Chill in CRAWFORD, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 15:00:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

On December 14 at the Prairie du Chien airport, the temperature dropped from 46F at 2 p.m. to 12F at 9 p.m. In addition, there was a peak wind gust of 35 mph recorded. Lowest wind chill readings included -29F at Mount Sterling and -26F at Prairie du Chien.

Cold/Wind Chill in LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 15:20:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

At the La Crosse airport on December 14, the temperature dropped from 43F at 2 p.m. to 9F at 9 p.m. In addition, there was a peak wind gust of 39 mph recorded. The lowest wind chill values included -34F at the National Weather Service office and -29F at the airport.

Cold/Wind Chill in TREMPEALEAU, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 15:30:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The lowest unofficial wind chill values included -32F at Arcadia with a peak wind gust of 43 mph.

Cold/Wind Chill in GRANT, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 16:00:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The lowest unofficial wind chill values included -31F at Fennimore with peak wind gusts of 37 mph at Dickeyville and 36 mph at Boscobel.

Cold/Wind Chill in VERNON, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 15:00:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Cold/Wind Chill in BUFFALO, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 15:00:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The lowest unofficial wind chill readings included -31F at Alma and -30F at Buffalo.

Cold/Wind Chill in ADAMS, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 17:30:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The lowest unofficial wind chill reading included -32F at Friendship.

Cold/Wind Chill in RICHLAND, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 16:00:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The lowest unofficial wind chill observed included -29F at Richland Center.

Cold/Wind Chill in CLARK, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The lowest unofficial wind chill value included -29F at Loyal.

Cold/Wind Chill in TAYLOR, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Lowest unofficial wind chill values included -30F at Diamond Lake and -29F at Medford, with peak wind gusts around 35 mph.

Cold/Wind Chill in JUNEAU, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 16:55:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Lowest wind chill readings included -28F at Volk Field and Necedah with peak wind gusts around 33 mph.

Cold/Wind Chill in JACKSON, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 16:00:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The lowest unofficial wind chill readings were -25F at Black River Falls with peak wind gusts of 28 mph.

Cold/Wind Chill in MONROE, WISCONSIN
From 14-DEC-08 16:00:00 to 16-DEC-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Lowest wind chill values included -25F at Sparta and Tomah with peak wind gusts around 33 mph.