A storm system began to organize across the southwestern United States Tuesday morning, February 28th, and quickly moved northeast across the Plains and into the Upper Midwest Wednesday morning. Bands of light snow developed on the leading edge of the precipitation, but quickly turned over to a mixture of sleet, snow and freezing rain, before turning back over to snow early Wednesday morning.
There were two bands of heavier precipitation with this event. Although some light snow fell the morning of Tuesday, February 28th, the main band developed early Tuesday afternoon, along the Iowa border, with light snow mixed with sleet. It quickly moved northward across most of southern Minnesota, into west-central Wisconsin by the late afternoon.
Most of the precipitation was in the form of snow from west-central into central Minnesota, as well as west-central Wisconsin. Although some sleet, freezing rain and rain was noted prior to midnight as far north as Willmar, St. Cloud, Forest Lake in Minnesota, and around New Richmond, Menomonie and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, heavier bands of snow developed during the evening. Snowfall rates as high as 2 inches per hour were noted with the first band of precipitation prior to midnight.
The second band of precipitation moved into far southern Minnesota prior to midnight, and moved north and northeast across all of southern and into west-central Wisconsin by morning.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 12 to 18 inches around Cumberland, Haugen, Rice Lake, Chetek, and north of Ladysmith, to a general 6 to 10 inches from Osceola, to Menomonie, Bloomer and Chippewa Falls.  Snowfall amounts decreased substantially around 1 to 2 inches from River Falls to Durand and Augusta.

Winter Storm in BARRON, WISCONSIN
From 28-FEB-12 17:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Periods of heavy snow fell across Barron County from Tuesday evening, through Wednesday morning. Locally 12 to 16 inches fell, with the highest totals north of Rice Lake.

Winter Storm in CHIPPEWA, WISCONSIN
From 28-FEB-12 16:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Periods of heavy snow fell across Chippewa County from Tuesday evening, through Wednesday morning. Locally 8 to 12 inches fell, with the highest totals near Holcombe.

Winter Storm in DUNN, WISCONSIN
From 28-FEB-12 15:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Periods of heavy snow fell across Dunn County from Tuesday evening, through Wednesday morning. Locally 8 to 12 inches fell, with the highest totals near Ridgeland.

Winter Storm in POLK, WISCONSIN
From 28-FEB-12 17:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Periods of heavy snow fell across Polk County from Tuesday evening, through Wednesday morning. Locally 8 to 14 inches fell, with the highest totals north of Luck.

Winter Storm in RUSK, WISCONSIN
From 28-FEB-12 17:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Periods of heavy snow fell across Rusk County from Tuesday evening, through Wednesday morning. Locally 14 to 18 inches fell, with the highest totals north of Ladysmith.