Photos: Remembering the record-setting blizzard of December 2012
A wicked storm dumped up to 21 inches of snow across southern Wisconsin on Dec. 20, 2012, setting a record for snow on that date in many communities, including Madison. The blizzard closed schools and downed trees and power lines, cutting off power to thousands. Some workplaces shut down, and roads were hazardous. Madison's two-day snowfall total was 15.2 inches from the storm, the National Weather Service reported, and the amount was even greater in nearby communities: 21.9 inches in Cottage Grove, 21.5 inches in Mount Horeb and 19.9 inches in Middleton. Here's a look back at scenes from that storm.
Luke McHenry of Madison digs out his vehicle along Fish Hatchery Road with help from his son, Sebastian Wells, after a severe winter storm moved through the upper Midwest on Dec. 20, 2012.Â
Trevor Cox, 18, plows the sidewalk in front of his house using a four-wheeler during a winter snowstorm in Oregon on Dec. 20, 2012.
Lucy Kneifl shovels the sidewalk in front of her house on Main Street in Oregon during a snowstorm Dec. 20, 2012.
Dean Walker, 14, left, shovels the driveway as his dad, Dean, uses the snow blower during a winter snowstorm in Oregon on Dec. 20, 2012.
Raymond Wolf, left, throws a playful shovel of snow at his neighbor, Greg Decker, during a blizzard Dec. 20, 2012.
Barry Jensen clears his sidewalk on Hamlet Place during blizzard Dec. 20, 2012.
Vehicles follow a Dane County snowplow on Highway 51 near Milwaukee Street during a blizzard Dec. 20, 2012.
Playground equipment was covered in snow in a park behind Woodman's East on Dec. 20, 2012.
Lucas Hemming, 11, gets an assist from his dog, Zelda, during a snowstorm Dec. 20, 2012.
Julia Orlowski of Madison takes cover from heavy snow under an umbrella while walking along West Gorham Street on Dec. 20, 2012.
Snow covers a vehicle along Swanton Road during a blizzard Dec. 20, 2012.
A pedestrian crosses Martin Luther King Boulevard in Downtown Madison during a massive snowstorm on Dec. 20, 2012.
Brint Schwerbel of Madison heads to work on skis down Oakridge Avenue on Dec. 20, 2012.
Tom Togstad, with Madison Commercial Landscaping, works on clearing the Capitol Steps. Heavy snow moved into the Madison area Dec. 20, 2012.
Steve Gordon of Madison walks his dogs along Grandview Boulevard on the South Side as a steady snowfall moves through the area Dec. 20, 2012.Â
Williams Duran clears a heavy accumulation of snow and ice from the roof of Famous Dave's restaurant in Madison on Dec. 21, 2012, the day after a huge snowstorm moved through the area.
Jon Janaka sleds down the hill with his daughter, Tulsi, 6, on his back at Olbrich Park in Madison on Dec. 21, 2012, the day after a winter storm hit the state.
A snow-covered Volkswagen bus rests along South Ingersoll Street in Madison on Dec. 21, 2012, following a severe winter storm.
A Dane County snow plow makes its way along Highway M in the town of Westport as cleanup efforts after a blizzard continued Dec. 21, 2012.
Snow plow operators work to clear mailboxes and driveways along Highway K in the town of Springfield as residents cleaned up Dec. 21, 2012, the day after a blizzard inundated southern Wisconsin.
It’s been about a flip of a coin over the last 20 years whether there’s at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on Christmas for southern Wisconsin.
A winter storm watch is in effect for southern Wisconsin for all of Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday, with double-digit snow totals possible.
The blizzard warning is the first for the Madison area in more than 13 years.
If several inches of snow on Thursday aren’t bad enough, strong winds and then dangerously cold wind chills will follow for Wisconsin, according to forecasters.
The storm complexes are expected to gradually weaken as they move across Wisconsin, so the potential for damaging wind and localized heavy rain and flooding is greater over western Wisconsin, according to forecasters.
After a potentially historically warm day across Wisconsin, much of the western half of the state is under a high wind watch for gusts up to 60 miles per hour Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.
Winter storms on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day with bring ice and snow to southern Wisconsin. Up to nine inches is possible.Â
A quick burst of light, powdery snow is expected to overspread much of central and southern Wisconsin between about 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday, likely reducing visibility and causing slippery roads.
While snow projections have come down a bit from the highest early forecasts, the snow, wind and cold still is predicted to make the coming "bomb cyclone" storm part of Christmas lore for years.
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