Winter Weather Awareness Week - November 7-11, 2005


National Winter Weather Safety and Awareness Site
Winter Outlook: 2005-2006

Biggest Snowstorms across the United States
Biggest Snowstorms across Wisconsin
Memorable Snowstorms in Milwaukee
The Southern Wisconsin Blizzard Of 1881

Public Information Statements

Winter Weather One Page Flyers (.pdf format)

Winter Awareness Week is Jointly sponsored by the State of Wisconsin Emergency Management team and the National Weather Service Offices that serve Wisconsin.

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 period 1982 to 2004.
Graphic of Total Number of Storms
Total # of
Winter Storms
Graphic of Total Number of Ice Storms
Total # of
Ice Storms
Graphic of Total Number of Blizzards
Total # of
Blizzards
Graphic of Total Number of All Winter Events per County
Total # of ALL
Winter Events
Graphic of Yearly average of ALL Winter Events
Yearly average of ALL
Winter Events

According to Wisconsin Department of Transportation statistics, an average of about 19,800 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 78 deaths and 7,500 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. 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


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