Most often in Wisconsin, blizzards don’t hit the whole state. Typically, only parts of the state suffer from a winter storm; however, that’s not always the case. On November 11 and 12, 1940, for example, Wisconsin’s worst blizzard, otherwise known as the Armistice Day Blizzard, wreaked havoc on the entire state. Striking out of nowhere, Wisconsin’s worst blizzard dumped a foot of snow on the state and was accompanied by 50 to 80 mph winds that created 20-foot drifts. When all was said and done, the blizzard claimed the lives of more than 150 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in Wisconsin. It wasn’t just one of the worst natural disasters in Wisconsin, though. The storm was so big that it stretched across Wisconsin and Minnesota and into Illinois and Michigan, devastating the Midwest.

The reason this storm was so deadly is that it seemed to come out of nowhere. The day it hit, temperatures were in the 50s and 60s!
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People left their houses in light jackets and without any of the things they'd need to survive the cold, wind, and snow. Cold northern air collided with warm Gulf Coast moisture to create what meteorologists call a "bomb" - or massive drop of air pressure. Winds whipped up above 50 miles per hour and created what were basically hurricane-like conditions.
Trains collided in the white-out, cars were stuck and stranded, and more than 60 men died on Lake Michigan as five boats sank in the storm.
Weather.gov
Parts of Minnesota saw more than two feet of snow. Temperatures dropped about 40 degrees from the morning to the late afternoon. Folks left for work or school dressed for a warm fall day and were totally unprepared to be outside in the cold winter conditions that arrived.
As it was a warm fall day, duck hunters were out and having a fabulous hunt.
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Out on boats, they were caught out in the rising winds and struggled to return to shore. Dozens of men were stranded and froze to death, as they could not escape the storm and were not dressed or prepared to be in it.

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Those who remember the storm talk about the moisture in the air, making the cold extra painful and difficult to breathe.
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It's a running joke to never leave the house in the winter without a full trunk of winter accessories, but for our grandparents, that was a concept that originated with the Armistice Day Blizzard. Girls only wore skirts at this time and many of them were in light sweaters and bare legs the day of the blizzard. Getting caught out in this storm taught them to be prepared for anything when it comes to Wisconsin winters.
Cars had to be abandoned and streetcars were stuck.
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Tow trucks couldn't keep up and families had to walk home in the wind and snow to get out of the conditions. Many homes were warmed by coal, which was manually added. As it had been warm early in the day, no one was prepared to have their houses warm in this storm. So even when they finally got inside, soaked and freezing cold, it took a long time for their homes to heat up.
This likelihood of another storm like this one is low, though not impossible.
Weather.gov
A similar drop in pressure on Halloween in 1991 created another super storm. Though technology and knowledge had advanced 50 years between the two storms, in the end, it can be difficult to know or prepare for this kind of crazy storm occurrence.
When people left home on November 21, the forecast was for a small weather change and maybe an inch of snow overnight.
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Meteorologists grossly underestimated the storm and misread the situation. According to Wikipedia, "Prior to this event, all of the weather forecasts for the region originated in Chicago. After the failure to provide an accurate forecast for this blizzard, forecasting responsibilities were expanded to include 24-hour coverage and more forecasting offices were created, yielding more accurate local forecasts." It's a shame that it took such a tragic storm to make these changes that likely saved lives in the future.

So, did you already know the story of Wisconsin’s worst blizzard? Have any relatives that experienced the blizzard first hand? Remember another record snowfall in Wisconsin? Tell us!

This may be Wisconsin’s worst blizzard, but it’s not the state’s only blizzard. We’ve had our fair share of winter storms here in Wisconsin. Read about 12 of the worst right here.

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Wisconsin's Worst Blizzard

Daniella DiRienzo | September 28, 2021

What are some other history-making natural disasters in Wisconsin?

Of all the natural disasters in Wisconsin, the Peshtigo Fire remains one of the worst natural disasters, not only in the state’s history, but in the nation’s history. The wildfire began blazing on October 8, 1871, and quickly spread due to a combination of extremely dry conditions and high wind. The village of Sugar Bush was first hit and completely demolished by the fire. The 200-foot flames then raced toward the community of Peshtigo. Within a 2-hour period, both Peshtigo, as well as the neighboring community of Brussels, were completely obliterated. When all was said and done, roughly 1,500 people lost their lives and just as many were injured. Property loss was also substantial. At least 3,000 people were left homeless.

Are there any fun things to do during winter in Wisconsin?

Winter in Wisconsin means lots of snow and lots of opportunities for seasonal fun! A winter enthusiast’s dream come true, Wisconsin boasts great skiing, ice skating, ice biking, ice bowling, and tons more cold-weather adventures. One of the best things to do in winter in Wisconsin, though, is dog sledding. You’ll find several dog sledding outfitters in the Badger State, including Siberian Outpost. Fun for all ages, the outpost offers demonstrations, tours, and tailor-made dog sled rides.

Aside from Wisconsin’s worst blizzard, what’s another record-making winter storm in the state?

Many years before the Armistice Day Blizzard, there was another record snowfall in Wisconsin, which would later become known as the Big Snow of 1881. The history-making storm began as a light rain on February 26, 1881. Over the next seven days, Wisconsin was hit by two blizzards, which dumped massive amounts of snow on the state. According to reports, residents had to dig tunnels to their front doors and the snow shoveled from sidewalks was piled so high that it reached the second story of adjacent buildings.

 

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