A strong area of low pressure moved out of the Central Plains into Illinois and the Great Lakes region on December 19th and 20th. As this storm moved by, it produced a period of blizzard conditions during the morning and afternoon of the 20th as sustained north winds of 25 to 35 mph with higher gusts created poor visibility from falling and blowing snow. Impacts from the blizzard included closed roads, trapped vehicles, power outages, region wide school closings on the 20th with some schools remaining closed on the 21st or started 2 hours late.  The accumulating snow started in southwest Wisconsin during the middle of the evening on the 19th and did not reach north central Wisconsin until the early morning hours of the 20th. Accumulations reached winter storm criteria of 6 inches between midnight and 7 a.m. on the 20th. Two bands of heavy snow, with accumulations of 10 or more inches, occurred. The first was from Grant County northeast through Richland County into the southern sections of Adams and Juneau Counties. The second was across northern Buffalo and Trempealeau Counties into northwest Jackson and southwest Clark Counties. The highest reported snow total in the southern band was 14.5 inches in Sinsinawa (Grant County) with 15.0 inches in the northern band just west of Whitehall (Trempealeau County). The Governor issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency before the storm hit. This placed the state emergency management, National Guard, State Patrol and other state and county agencies on high alert. National Guard troops were used to help rescue stranded drivers. Commercial flights in and out of the La Crosse Municipal Airport were canceled through the evening of the 20th. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse officials kept residence halls open an extra day before the Christmas break to house stranded students.

Winter Storm in TAYLOR, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 01:30:00 to 20-DEC-12 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports across Taylor County indicated up to 6 inches of snow fell across parts of the county. North winds between 25 and 35 mph created blowing and drifting snow and produced very poor driving conditions. The highest reported snow total was 6.0 inches in Medford.

Blizzard in GRANT, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 08:50:00 to 20-DEC-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

North winds between 25 and 35 mph with higher gusts, created a period of blizzard conditions across Grant County, especially on the ridge tops and higher terrain, during the morning and afternoon of the 20th. As a result of the blizzard, roads were closed, vehicles became trapped in the snow, some power outages occurred and all schools in the county were closed. The highest reported snow total was 14.5 inches in Sinsinawa.

Winter Storm in TREMPEALEAU, WISCONSIN
From 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports across Trempealeau County indicated between 6 and 15 inches of snow fell across much of the county. North winds between 25 and 35 mph created blowing and drifting snow and produced very poor driving conditions. The highest reported snow total was 15.0 inches just west of Whitehall.

Winter Storm in CLARK, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports across Clark County indicated between 7 and 11 inches of snow fell across much of the county. North winds between 25 and 35 mph created blowing and drifting snow and produced very poor driving conditions. The highest reported snow total was 11.0 inches in Neillsville and Rock Dam Lake.

Winter Storm in VERNON, WISCONSIN
From 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports across Vernon County indicated between 6 and 10 inches of snow fell across much of the county. North winds between 25 and 35 mph created blowing and drifting snow and produced very poor driving conditions. The highest reported snow total was 10.3 inches in La Farge.

Winter Storm in BUFFALO, WISCONSIN
From 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports across Buffalo County indicated between 8 and 10 inches of snow fell across much of the county. North winds between 25 and 35 mph created blowing and drifting snow and produced very poor driving conditions. The highest reported snow total was 10.3 inches in Mondovi.

Blizzard in CRAWFORD, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 08:30:00 to 20-DEC-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

North winds between 25 and 35 mph with higher gusts, created a period of blizzard conditions across Crawford County, especially on the ridge tops and higher terrain, during the morning and afternoon of the 20th. As a result of the blizzard, roads were closed, vehicles became trapped in the snow, some power outages occurred and all schools in the county were closed. The highest reported snow total was 13.9 inches in Prairie du Chien.

Winter Storm in MONROE, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports across Monroe County indicated between 6 and 8 inches of snow fell across much of the county. North winds between 25 and 35 mph created blowing and drifting snow and produced very poor driving conditions. The highest reported snow total was 8.3 inches in Four Corners.

Winter Storm in JACKSON, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 01:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports across Jackson County indicated between 8 and 12 inches of snow fell across much of the county. North winds between 25 and 35 mph created blowing and drifting snow and produced very poor driving conditions. The highest reported snow total was 12.0 inches just north of Northfield.

Blizzard in JUNEAU, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 09:20:00 to 20-DEC-12 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

North winds between 25 and 35 mph with higher gusts, created a period of blizzard conditions across Juneau County during the morning and afternoon of the 20th. As a result of the blizzard, roads were closed, vehicles became trapped in the snow, some power outages occurred and all schools in the county were closed. The highest reported snow total was 9.0 inches in Mauston.

Winter Storm in LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN
From 19-DEC-12 23:00:00 to 20-DEC-12 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports across La Crosse County indicated between 6 and 8 inches of snow fell across much of the county. North winds between 25 and 35 mph created blowing and drifting snow and produced very poor driving conditions. The highest reported snow total was 8.0 inches just southeast of the city of La Crosse. Viterbo and Globe Universities canceled classes on Thursday the 20th. The La Crosse County Aging Unit was forced to shut down its Senior Nutrition Program making it unable to deliver meals to about 250 homebound residents.

Blizzard in ADAMS, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 09:20:00 to 20-DEC-12 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

North winds between 25 and 35 mph with higher gusts, created a period of blizzard conditions across Adams County during the morning and afternoon of the 20th. As a result of the blizzard, roads were closed, vehicles became trapped in the snow, some power outages occurred and all schools in the county were closed. The highest reported snow total was 11.0 inches in the town of Adams.

Blizzard in RICHLAND, WISCONSIN
From 20-DEC-12 09:03:00 to 20-DEC-12 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

North winds between 25 and 35 mph with higher gusts, created a period of blizzard conditions across Richland County, especially on the ridge tops and higher terrain, during the morning and afternoon of the 20th. As a result of the blizzard, roads were closed, vehicles became trapped in the snow, some power outages occurred and all schools in the county were closed. The highest reported snow total was 10.8 inches in Richland Center.