More than 20 Wisconsin counties are under a winter storm warning on Dec. 9

More than 20 Wisconsin counties are under a winter storm warning on Dec. 9

Maia Pandey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Tue, December 9, 2025 at 3:09 PM UTC

4 min read

More than 20 Wisconsin counties are under a winter storm warning Tuesday, Dec. 9 with as much as eight inches of snow expected in some areas.

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service offices in Duluth, Minnesota and Green Bay have issued winter storm warnings across most of northwest and central Wisconsin. Counties affected include: Burnett, Eau Claire, Dunn, St. Croix, Douglas, Sawyer, Washburn, Price, Marathon, Portage, Wood, Langlade, Lincoln, Menominee, Northern Oconto County, Shawano, Waupaca, Barron, Polk, Rusk and Chippewa counties.

For most impacted counties, the warning is in effect from 3 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. You can find the full list of warnings and advisories here.

The snow will largely fall overnight, but hazardous road conditions may affect the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes, according to Josh Sandstrom, a meteorologist for the Duluth NWS office. During the storm, winds could gust up to 25 mph.

"The winds will be a bit blustery out there and could keep visibility low as heavy snow is moving through," Sandstrom said. "If you are driving, be careful and go slow."

The NWS also predicts the snow will be fairly wet and heavy, which could result in sporadic tree damage and power outages.

Most counties are forecast to get between 4 to 6 inches of snow, but Sandstrom said northwest areas of the state are likely to be hit hardest with a "heavy narrow band" of snow. In particular, northern Eau Claire up to Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer and Rice Lake counties could see heavy snow.

On the northern tip of the state, lake-effect snow could also bump snow totals into the 6- to 8-inch range, Sandstrom said.

"We are expecting a good lake effect component to this," Sandstrom said. "Places along the south shore of Lake Superior are going to see additional snowfall that will bring them in line with the places that will see the heaviest snow fall."

The winter storm comes just weeks after a Thanksgiving week storm that left some far northern counties with more than two feet of snow. Sandstrom said the heavy snow is "pretty typical" in a La Niña winter, which is currently in effect across the country.

In Wisconsin, clipper systems from Canada have also been steadily bringing 1 to 3 inches of snow to the state every few days. After the snowfall ends Wednesday, northern Wisconsinites can expect a cold snap over the weekend with light snow and widespread below-zero temperatures, Sandstrom said.

"We’ve been able to see a real winter this year," he said. "This isn’t super unusual or anything. This is typical of what we get in a good, solid winter around this area."

More: Stay up to date on Wisconsin's winter weather with USA TODAY Network text message updates

See the weather radar for Wisconsin

What to do in a winter storm

During a winter storm, NWS advises staying inside, stocking up on food and water, and charging essential devices in case of power outages.

If you are without shelter, you can visit the 211 Wisconsin website or call 211 to locate nearby warming services.

Wisconsin road conditions

NWS advises against driving during a storm, as snow, sleet or ice can create dangerous driving conditions. For live updates on winter road conditions and accidents in Wisconsin, check out the 511 Wisconsin map .

If you must drive, here are some guidelines for navigating icy roads, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation :

Keep safe distances between snow plows and large trucks. Stay at least 200 feet behind any working plow to make sure your visibility isn't obscured. Also keep a safe distance behind trucks on the highway, since pieces of snow or ice can fly off the top of commercial vehicles driving fast.
Clear snow and ice from your vehicle's windows, roof, hood and front and rear lights. You can do this by warming up the car and then using a snow brush and ice scraper to clear the snow and ice.
Drive slowly, allowing extra travel time and leaving extra distance between vehicles.
Turn on your low-beam headlights. State law requires drivers to turn on their vehicle's low-beam headlights any time weather or other conditions make it difficult to see objects 500 feet ahead, WisDOT says.
Use brakes early and carefully. With anti-lock-brakes, use firm, steady pressure and gently steer. Never use cruise control in winter weather.
Watch out for bridge decks and overpasses. These areas can be especially slippery when the roads ice over.

What is a winter storm warning?

A winter storm warning is more severe than a watch or advisory. Here are what the different alerts mean, according to NWS:

A Winter Storm Warning means snow, sleet or ice is expected, so take action.
A Winter Storm Watch means those conditions are possible, so be prepared.
A Winter Weather Advisory means wintery weather is expected, so be careful.

This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor.

See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Winter storm warning issued for most of northwest, central Wisconsin

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