Historic March 14-16, 2026 Winter Storm

Overview

A historic, record-setting winter storm impacted northeast Wisconsin from Saturday evening, March 14, 2026, through Monday evening, March 16. A potent Colorado low deepened as it tracked from the central Plains toward Chicago and eventually Lake Huron, placing a long duration of heavy precipitation directly over the region. The storm began as snow Saturday evening before transitioning to a wintry mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet across central and east-central Wisconsin after 3 AM Sunday. This mix produced a few hundredths of an inch of ice in east-central Wisconsin before changing back to all snow early Sunday afternoon.

Snow became very heavy over central Wisconsin early Sunday morning with snowfall rates up to 4 inches per hour. Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were observed at times in thundersnow and thundersleet. These heavy snowfall rates shifted east through the morning, reaching northeast Wisconsin around midday Sunday. Near-blizzard conditions developed Sunday afternoon, fueled by northeast winds gusting between 35 and 50 mph. Peak gusts reached 59 mph at the Green Bay Airport and 60 mph in De Pere. This combination of heavy falling snow and high winds created whiteout conditions and massive drifting.

After a brief lull in snowfall Sunday evening, heavy snow redeveloped from south to north early Monday morning. This second round of precipitation was intense, with snowfall rates reaching one to three inches per hour at times across the Fox Valley and lakeshore. The combination of this heavy snow and powerful north winds, gusting between 40 and 55 mph, resulted in a return to blizzard conditions. Visibility frequently dropped to a quarter-mile or less, creating whiteout conditions that made travel impossible. By Monday morning, this overnight surge had dumped an additional 6 to 12 inches of snow on top of what had already fallen.

Final snowfall totals were historic, with a widespread 1 to 2 feet across the area and localized amounts exceeding 30 inches from Wausau to Marinette and Door County. Green Bay recorded 26.6 inches, marking its second-largest snowstorm on record, while the Wausau area saw reports as high as 30.9 inches. Impacts were severe and wide-reaching. Travel became nearly impossible, leading to numerous flight cancellations and significant road drifting, including a 10-foot drift reported in Ephraim. Roads were severely impacted throughout the event with tow bans in place and some municipalities suspending plowing. "No Travel Advised" was posted for an extended period on the Wisconsin DOT webpage. The heavy snow load and high winds caused widespread power outages, most notably in Door and Marinette Counties, and building collapses were reported in Sturgeon Bay and Kewaunee County. Many schools and businesses remained closed through Monday.

Animation of radar imagery from March 14-16.

Animation of KGRB radar imagery from 6:30 PM March 14, 2026 until 6:00 PM March 16, 2026

Snow Totals
Wind Gusts
Photos

Snow Totals

Storm total snow reports received at NWS Green Bay Observed Snowfall Graphic

Storm total snow reports received at NWS Green Bay (left) and Observed Snowfall graphic (right) for the winter storm.

...SNOWFALL REPORTS...

Location                     Amount    Time/Date       Lat/Lon              

...Wisconsin...

...Brown County...
Suamico                      27.5 in   0856 AM 03/16   44.63N/88.05W        
2 WNW Ashwaubenon            26.1 in   0100 PM 03/16   44.49N/88.11W        
4 W New Franken              26.0 in   0905 AM 03/16   44.52N/87.91W                      
1 ESE Green Bay              24.0 in   1043 AM 03/16   44.50N/87.98W        
Denmark WWTP                 22.6 in   0830 AM 03/16   44.35N/87.81W        
4 WNW New Franken            22.0 in   0916 AM 03/16   44.55N/87.91W        
Wrightstown                  20.8 in   0927 AM 03/16   44.33N/88.16W        
2 WNW Green Bay              20.0 in   1011 AM 03/16   44.52N/88.03W               
2 E Greenleaf                17.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.31N/88.05W        
Green Bay 2.3 E              17.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.52N/87.94W               

...Calumet County...
1 NE Darboy                  18.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.24N/88.36W                
Brillion                     17.8 in   0859 AM 03/16   44.18N/88.06W        
1 SW Darboy                  17.0 in   0915 AM 03/16   44.22N/88.39W                

...Door County...
2 ENE Egg Harbor             33.0 in   1224 PM 03/16   45.05N/87.24W              
Ephraim                      30.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   45.15N/87.16W        
Fish Creek 1 E WWTP          28.5 in   0850 AM 03/16   45.12N/87.23W        
Forestville 4 E              28.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.70N/87.40W        
Ellison Bay 0.0 SE           21.0 in   1100 AM 03/16   45.25N/87.07W        

...Florence County...
Florence 0.5 E               21.3 in   1230 PM 03/16   45.92N/88.24W        

...Manitowoc County...
Mishicot 0.1 NNW             16.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.23N/87.64W        
1 NE Two Rivers              15.0 in   0851 AM 03/16   44.16N/87.55W              

...Marathon County...
Nutterville                  31.5 in   0800 AM 03/16   45.00N/89.49W        
Wausau                       30.9 in   0100 PM 03/16   44.96N/89.63W                
1 WSW Brokaw                 28.0 in   0845 AM 03/16   45.02N/89.68W               
3 NNW Rib Mountain State Par 22.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.96N/89.69W                

...Marinette County...
Peshtigo                     30.0 in   0907 AM 03/16   45.05N/87.75W        
2 SSW Mcallister             28.5 in   1042 AM 03/16   45.30N/87.74W        

...Oconto County...
5 NW Underhill               29.0 in   1117 AM 03/16   44.93N/88.44W        
5 S Hayes                    29.0 in   1117 AM 03/16   44.93N/88.44W        
Oconto Falls                 25.2 in   0930 AM 03/16   44.87N/88.14W        
Sobieski                     22.5 in   0930 AM 03/16   44.72N/88.07W        

...Oneida County...
Lake Tomahawk                9.5 in    1103 AM 03/16   45.81N/89.59W        
Rhinelander                  7.9 in    1004 AM 03/16   45.63N/89.41W        

...Outagamie County...
Appleton                     27.5 in   0900 AM 03/16   44.26N/88.40W        
2 WNW Hortonville            18.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.34N/88.66W                

...Portage County...
Almond                       25.0 in   0904 AM 03/16   44.26N/89.41W        
4 W Plover                   22.5 in   1142 AM 03/16   44.45N/89.62W        
Rosholt                      20.2 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.63N/89.31W        

...Shawano County...
Pella                        30.0 in   0845 AM 03/16   44.74N/88.80W        
Split Rock 1 NNW             25.5 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.72N/89.02W        
Leopolis                     25.0 in   0849 AM 03/16   44.76N/88.83W        
Shawano 2 SSW                24.3 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.76N/88.62W        
Morgan                       23.0 in   0923 AM 03/16   44.88N/88.81W        

...Waupaca County...
Waupaca                      28.0 in   0927 AM 03/16   44.34N/89.06W        
Clintonville                 26.5 in   1240 PM 03/16   44.61N/88.75W        
Weyauwega                    25.0 in   0948 AM 03/16   44.31N/88.93W               
3 SSW Sheridan               23.8 in   0920 AM 03/16   44.34N/89.22W        
New London                   19.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.38N/88.75W              
Clintonville 0.9 N           15.0 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.62N/88.75W        

...Winnebago County...
2 NW Menasha                 25.3 in   1013 AM 03/16   44.22N/88.47W        
Winneconne                   22.0 in   0854 AM 03/16   44.11N/88.71W        
Neenah                       21.0 in   1029 AM 03/16   44.19N/88.46W        
Neenah 0.8 SE                17.2 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.16N/88.46W        
Neenah 0.8 SE                16.7 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.16N/88.46W        
Oshkosh                      14.5 in   0945 AM 03/16   44.01N/88.55W        

...Wood County...
Marshfield                   26.0 in   1047 AM 03/16   44.66N/90.16W        
Marshfield 6.5 S             21.6 in   0800 AM 03/16   44.57N/90.18W        

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers 
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.

$$

Wind Gusts

Max wind gusts March 15 2026 Max wind gusts March 16 2026

Max wind gusts observed on March 15, 2026 (left) and March 16, 2026 (right)

...HIGHEST WIND GUSTS OVER THE PAST 48 HOURS...

Location                     Speed     Time/Date       Lat/Lon/Elev (ft.) 

...Wisconsin...

...Brown County...
De Pere                      59 MPH    1040 AM 03/16   44.44N/88.05W/643    
Green Bay Airport            59 MPH    0543 PM 03/15   44.48N/88.13W/686    
De Pere                      48 MPH    0420 AM 03/16   44.33N/87.97W/895    
Green Bay 1 N                45 MPH    0730 PM 03/15   44.54N/88.00W        
Wrightstown                  42 MPH    1001 AM 03/16   44.33N/88.17W/652    
Denmark                      41 MPH    1135 AM 03/16   44.39N/87.86W/859    

...Calumet County...
Brillion                     47 MPH    0335 AM 03/16   44.10N/88.05W/833    
Forest Junction              41 MPH    0424 PM 03/16   44.21N/88.21W/833    

...Door County...
Washington Island Airport    53 MPH    0615 AM 03/16   45.38N/86.92W/658    
Ellison Bay 2.2 S (MAWN)     51 MPH    0320 PM 03/16   45.22N/87.07W/691    
Ephraim Airport              48 MPH    0215 PM 03/16   45.13N/87.18W/747    
Sturgeon Bay Airport         46 MPH    0139 AM 03/16   44.85N/87.42W/685    
Egg Harbor 3.1 SE (MAWN)     46 MPH    1230 PM 03/16   45.01N/87.23W/728    
Carlsville 4.1 SW (MAWN)     45 MPH    0825 AM 03/16   44.88N/87.33W/731    
Maplewood 1.4 W (MAWN)       41 MPH    1155 AM 03/16   44.79N/87.46W/688    
Southern Door                37 MPH    0640 AM 03/16   44.78N/87.36W/699    
Egg Harbor 1.2 NE (MAWN)     35 MPH    0525 AM 03/16   45.05N/87.26W/734    

...Florence County...
Fence                        36 MPH    0420 PM 03/16   45.76N/88.56W/1493   

...Forest County...
Crandon                      41 MPH    0225 PM 03/16   45.52N/88.92W/1621   
Wabeno 2 NNW                 37 MPH    0230 PM 03/16   45.46N/88.68W/1560   

...Kewaunee County...
Kewaunee MET, WI             58 MPH    0942 PM 03/15   44.47N/87.50W/583    
Luxemburg 2.0 NE (MAWN)      46 MPH    0500 AM 03/16   44.56N/87.65W/714    
Kewaunee                     40 MPH    0450 AM 03/16   44.40N/87.66W/750    

...Langlade County...
Antigo                       46 MPH    0825 PM 03/15   45.16N/89.12W/1512   
Antigo Airport               43 MPH    0235 AM 03/16   45.15N/89.12W/1518   
Antigo 2 ENE                 40 MPH    0205 PM 03/16   45.16N/89.11W/1499   

...Lincoln County...
Merrill Airport              38 MPH    0255 PM 03/15   45.20N/89.72W/1310   
Gleason                      36 MPH    0315 AM 03/16   45.30N/89.50W/1459   

...Manitowoc County...
Manitowoc Airport            46 MPH    0728 AM 03/16   44.12N/87.67W/618    
Valders                      42 MPH    0205 PM 03/16   44.00N/87.82W/810    
Reedsville                   39 MPH    0330 PM 03/16   44.23N/87.96W/869    

...Marathon County...
Wausau Airport               44 MPH    1002 PM 03/15   44.93N/89.62W/1208   
Moon 6 SW                    43 MPH    0905 PM 03/15   44.70N/89.87W/1149   
Marshfield                   41 MPH    0900 AM 03/16   44.76N/90.10W/1312   
Mosinee Airport              39 MPH    0135 AM 03/16   44.78N/89.67W/1282   
Sth Wb 29 0.4 Mi West Of Ros 38 MPH    0949 AM 03/15   44.95N/90.27W/1365   
Wausau                       35 MPH    0354 PM 03/16   44.95N/89.64W/1240   

...Marinette County...
Menominee                    58 MPH    0630 AM 03/15   45.10N/87.59W/580    
Crivitz                      42 MPH    0140 PM 03/16   45.17N/88.00W/688    
Wausaukee 2 NW               38 MPH    0205 PM 03/16   45.39N/87.97W/763    

...Oconto County...
Breed 5 NE                   43 MPH    0830 AM 03/16   45.12N/88.37W/910    
Suring                       42 MPH    0815 AM 03/16   45.00N/88.34W/839    
Lena                         40 MPH    1035 AM 03/16   45.01N/88.03W/688    
GILLETT                      40 MPH    0740 AM 03/16   44.89N/88.32W/849    
Oconto Airport               38 MPH    0255 PM 03/16   44.87N/87.92W/602    

...Oneida County...
Rhinelander Airport          43 MPH    0323 PM 03/15   45.63N/89.48W/1599   
Rhinelander                  40 MPH    0730 PM 03/15   45.65N/89.27W/1598   
Tomahawk 3 W                 37 MPH    0410 PM 03/15   45.59N/89.72W/1535   

...Outagamie County...
Appleton Airport             43 MPH    0255 AM 03/16   44.27N/88.52W/888    
Seymour                      42 MPH    0935 AM 03/16   44.54N/88.25W/830    
Grand Chute                  39 MPH    0844 AM 03/16   44.31N/88.42W/801    

...Portage County...
Plover                       39 MPH    1007 PM 03/15   44.44N/89.55W/1082   
Stevens Point Airport        38 MPH    0335 PM 03/15   44.55N/89.53W/1106   

...Shawano County...
Shawano Airport              40 MPH    0315 AM 03/16   44.78N/88.57W/814    
Wittenberg                   38 MPH    0915 PM 03/15   44.87N/89.02W/1131   
Keshena 2 WNW                36 MPH    0931 PM 03/15   44.85N/88.63W/876    

...Vilas County...
Arbor Vitae Airport          40 MPH    0615 AM 03/16   45.93N/89.73W/1620   
Eagle River Airport          39 MPH    0635 PM 03/15   45.93N/89.27W/1641   
Manitowish Waters            38 MPH    0855 PM 03/15   46.08N/89.84W/1613   
Land O Lakes Airport         36 MPH    0355 PM 03/16   46.15N/89.22W/1694   
Phelps 2 SW                  35 MPH    1131 PM 03/15   46.04N/89.10W/1770   

...Waupaca County...
Waupaca                      41 MPH    0158 AM 03/16   44.34N/89.11W/889    
Clintonville Airport         40 MPH    1030 PM 03/15   44.62N/88.73W/816    
Iola                         39 MPH    0920 PM 03/15   44.50N/89.02W/878    
Waupaca Airport              38 MPH    0455 AM 03/16   44.33N/89.02W/809    

...Waushara County...
Wautoma Airport              39 MPH    0103 PM 03/16   44.03N/89.30W/855    
Hancock                      35 MPH    0140 AM 03/16   44.12N/89.53W/1096   

...Winnebago County...
Oshkosh Airport              52 MPH    0647 PM 03/15   43.97N/88.55W/794    
Ripon                        40 MPH    0610 AM 03/16   43.91N/88.85W/850    
Omro                         35 MPH    1001 PM 03/15   44.07N/88.69W/748    

...Wood County...
Marshfield Airport           48 MPH    0603 AM 03/16   44.63N/90.18W/1241   
Wisconsin Rapids Airport     46 MPH    0652 AM 03/16   44.37N/89.83W/1020   
Babcock                      41 MPH    0455 AM 03/16   44.25N/90.27W/940    

...Maritime Stations...
Gills Rock 1 ENE             63 MPH    0300 PM 03/16   45.29N/86.98W        

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers 
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.

$$

Photos

Photos coming soon...


Caption (source)	Caption (source)	Caption (source)	Caption (source)

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