A fierce, late-winter storm produced heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds across much of central and northern Wisconsin on February 23-24 as an area of low pressure rapidly deepened across the Great Lakes. At the height of the storm on the 24th, travel was not recommended across parts of central and northern Wisconsin as blizzard conditions made travel nearly impossible. The combination of ice, snow, and strong winds caused power outages and tree damage in many locations.
Strong winds and near-blizzard conditions shut down a few rural stretches of heavily traveled highways across east-central Wisconsin on February 24, including I-41 in Neenah (Winnebago Co.), where one motorist was killed and 71 others injured in a chain-reaction pileup involving 131 vehicles. This was the largest traffic accident in Wisconsin history.
The accident happened around 11:20 AM CST in the southbound lanes of I-41 at Highway G in Neenah. Cars, pickups, and semitrailers smashed together and sandwiched underneath each other. The interstate wasn't reopened until 3 AM on February 25.
Some of the highest snowfall totals with the two-day storm included 18.9 inches near Eagle River (Vilas Co.), 16.1 inches at Rice Reservoir (Lincoln Co.), 15.9 inches near Argonne, 15.7 inches near Merrill (Lincoln Co.), 15.4 inches in Rhinelander (Oneida Co.), 12.7 near Boulder Junction (Vilas Co.), and 12.5 in Spread Eagle (Florence Co.). Parts of central and east-central Wisconsin received up to one-half inch of ice accumulation in addition to the snow.
Measured wind gusts in the 50 mph to 60 mph range were recorded at many locations, including: 60 mph in Green Bay (Brown Co.); 58 mph in Wausau (Marathon Co.); 57 mph in Kewaunee (Kewaunee Co.); 56 mph in Omro (Winnebago Co.); 53 mph near Zittau (Winnebago Co.), near Monico (Oneida Co.), in Marshfield (Wood Co.), and in Rhinelander (Oneida Co.); 52 mph in Wisconsin Rapids (Wood Co.) and in Manitowoc (Manitowoc Co.); and 51 mph in Appleton (Outagamie Co.) and in Wautoma (Waushara Co.).
New daily snowfall records were set for February 24 in Rhinelander and Wausau. The 10.9 inches in Rhinelander broke the previous record of 5.8 inches that was set in 2017, and the 7.6 inches in Wausau broke the previous record of 7.3 inches that was set in 2017.

High Wind in BROWN, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 15:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High winds blew from the west. Sustained wind speeds were as high as 44 mph, with a gust to 60 mph.

High Wind in KEWAUNEE, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 15:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

High winds blew from the west, gusting as high as 60 mph.

Blizzard in VILAS, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 14:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Snow and blowing snow caused whiteout conditions in Vilas County for most of the afternoon. A gust to 44 mph was recorded at Eagle River Union Airport.

Blizzard in ONEIDA, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 14:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Snow and blowing snow caused whiteout conditions in Oneida County for most of the afternoon. Gusts to 53 mph were recorded near Monico and at Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport.

Blizzard in FOREST, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 14:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snow and blowing snow caused whiteout conditions in Forest County for most of the afternoon. A gust to 41 mph was recorded near Wabeno.

Blizzard in LINCOLN, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 14:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Snow and blowing snow caused whiteout conditions in Lincoln County for most of the afternoon. Some power lines were downed by strong winds, and gusts to 43 mph were recorded at both Merrill Municipal Airport and Tomahawk Regional Airport.

Blizzard in LANGLADE, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 14:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Snow and blowing snow caused whiteout conditions in Langlade County for most of the afternoon. A gust of 37 mph was recorded at Langlade County Airport in Antigo.

Blizzard in MARATHON, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 14:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Snow and blowing snow caused whiteout conditions in Marathon County for most of the afternoon. Some power lines were downed by strong winds around Weston and Schofield, and a gust of 58 mph was recorded at Wausau Municipal Airport.

Blizzard in WOOD, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 14:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Snow and blowing snow caused whiteout conditions in Wood County for most of the afternoon. Some power lines were downed by strong winds, and a gust of 53 mph was recorded at Marshfield Municipal Airport.

Blizzard in PORTAGE, WISCONSIN
From 24-FEB-19 14:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Snow and blowing snow produced whiteout conditions in Portage County for most of the afternoon, and strong winds caused power outages.

Winter Storm in VILAS, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The highest measured snowfall totals in Vilas County included 18.9 inches 4 miles east of Eagle River, 18.2 inches in Eagle River, and 12.7 inches near Boulder Junction.

Winter Storm in ONEIDA, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The highest measured snowfall totals in Oneida County were 15.4 inches in Rhinelander, 13.4 inches in Hazelhurst, and 10.0 inches in Minocqua.

Winter Storm in LINCOLN, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The highest measured snowfall totals in Lincoln County were 16.1 inches at Rice Reservoir Number 2, and 15.7 inches west of Merrill.

Winter Storm in MARATHON, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The highest measured snowfall totals in Marathon County included 11.2 inches from the Eau Pleine Tender, 9.5 inches in Wausau, and 8.7 inches in Mosinee.

Winter Storm in FOREST, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A storm total snowfall of 15.9 inches was measured near Argonne.

Winter Storm in LANGLADE, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A total of 6.1 inches of snow fell near Antigo.

Winter Storm in MENOMINEE, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Winter Storm in SHAWANO, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Winter Storm in WOOD, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Winter Storm in PORTAGE, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The storm produced a total of 7.7 inches of snow fell and there was also 0.5 inch of ice accumulation in Plover. The combination of ice, snow and wind caused power outages and tree damage.

Winter Storm in WAUPACA, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The storm produced 0.3 inch of ice accumulation and 5.2 inches of snow in New London, along with winds estimated as high as 58 mph. The combination of the wind, ice and snow caused considerable tree damage in the area.

Winter Storm in FLORENCE, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

The highest measured snowfall totals in Florence County were 12.5 inches near Spread Eagle, and 6.9 inches in Aurora.

Winter Storm in NORTHERN MARINETTE, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The highest measured snowfall total in northern Marinette County was 7.0 inches in Athelstane.

Winter Storm in NORTHERN OCONTO, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN MARINETTE, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN OCONTO, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Winter Storm in WAUSHARA, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Winter Storm in WINNEBAGO, WISCONSIN
From 23-FEB-19 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A massive chain-reaction pileup occurred in localized whiteout conditions along a stretch of I-41 in Neenah. A total of 131 vehicles were involved in the accident, 71 people were hospitalized and one person was killed after he exited his vehicle.