A blizzard brought record double-digit snowfall to much of South-Central and a portion of Southeast Wisconsin.  Winds gusted to between 40 and 48 mph during the peak of the storm...bringing near-zero visibilities and severe drifting across the region.  Major highways as well as a majority of side roads became nearly impassible as plowing operations were greatly limited, or completely suspended as plows became stuck in the heavy, wet, drifting snow.  Area airports suspended all flight operations.  A maximum wind gust of 48 mph (42 knots) was measured at the Monroe Airport in Green County.  A new daily snowfall record was set at Madison Truax Field with 13.3 on calendar day December 20th (old record was 4.6 in 2000).  This is the 2nd highest total for any single calendar day.  The greatest calendar day snowfall in Madison was 17.3 inches on December 3, 1990.  The UW-Arlington Experimental Farm in Columbia County measured 14.0 inches for the 24-hour period ending 700 AM CST December 21st, which tied the 1-Day snowfall record for that county.  The 2-day (19) and 3-Day (21) at this location were new records.  The 2-day (21.5) and 3-Day (21.8) snowfall totals in Mt. Horeb established new records for Dane County.  The 2-day (20.5) and 3-Day (21.2) snowfall totals in Dodgeville established new records for Iowa County.   The 2-day (20.1) and 3-Day (24.1) snowfall totals in the Town of Westford established new records for Dodge County.  The 2-day (16.6) and 3-Day (18.2) snowfall totals in New Glarus established new records for Green County.  Elsewhere in south-central and parts of Southeast Wisconsin several other sites were within 10% of their county's 1-Day, 2-Day and 3-day records.  In addition to the heavy snow and near-zero visibilities, the strong gusty winds downed tree limbs and power lines, with utility companies reporting 34,500 customers without power at the height of the storm.  This blizzard was triggered by a strong low pressure which tracked from southeast Kansas to near Chicago the evening of December 20th...reaching the southern tip of Lake Huron by the morning of December 21st.  Warm air wrapping into the system initially brought rain into parts of south-central and southeast Wisconsin before changing over to all snow.  A new daily precipitation record was set in Madison...1.16 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation on Thursday, December 20th, which broke the previous record of 0.80 inches, set in 1882.

Blizzard in MARQUETTE, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 10:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Blizzard in GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 15:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Blizzard in FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 16:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:39:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: ASOS

A portion of Highway 41 was closed due to severe blowing and drifting snow.

Blizzard in SAUK, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 10:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in IOWA, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 10:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in LAFAYETTE, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 10:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Blizzard in COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A couple of Columbia County sheriff deputies, trying to aid stranded motorists, became stuck themselves in the drifting snow. Plow crews had difficulty reaching the deputies, as well as the stranded motorists they were trying to help.

Blizzard in DANE, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in GREEN, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in ROCK, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:39:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard in DODGE, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 15:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 00:39:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS