National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Everyone is encouraged to participate in the planned events and become more aware of the dangers of winter weather in Wisconsin. Winter hazards include heavy snows...blizzards...ice storms...extreme cold and low wind chills, widespread high winds, glazing of freezing drizzle or freezing rain, dense fog, and indirectly the affects of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Below are a series of graphics highlighting the frequency of various winter weather events across Wisconsin for the 25 winter seasons of 1982-83 to 2007-08.
Total # of Winter Storms	Total # of Ice Storms	Total # of Blizzards
Total # of ALL Winter Events	Yearly average of ALL Winter Events	Normal Seasonal Snowfall

 According to Wisconsin Department of Transportation statistics, an average of about 17,000 vehicle accidents occur in the state each winter season when roads are covered with snow...ice...or slush. This results in an average of about 75 deaths and 7,000 injuries each winter. Nationally, an average of about 950 people die in winter-related road accidents each year. Many of these accidents can be avoided.

In addition, Wisconsin DOT statistics indicate that on average, about 1,200 vehicle accidents occur in the state each year when dense fog is a factor. This results in about 16 deaths and 700 injuries. Dense fog is more likely during the cooler part of the year.  On Friday, October 11th, 2002, a multiple-vehicle accident in southern Sheboygan county resulted in 10 fatalities due to white out conditions in dense fog on I-43, and another accident in northern Ozaukee County resulted in one fatality. Dense fog can occur at any time of the year, but is most common in the cooler part of the year. Many of the accidents related to dense fog can also be avoided.

Planned Winter Awareness Week activities include...

* Winter weather safety tips broadcast on NOAA Weather Radios that have coverage in Wisconsin.

* Public Information Statements sent on NOAA Weather Wire covering a variety of winter-related issues.

* Information package distributed to Emergency Managers and media outlets