Does it Snow in Wisconsin - Destination Scanner...

It’s no surprise that in Wisconsin, we have a lot of snow. When winter comes, everything from north to south, east to west is covered with fluffy white stuff. However, one area appears to collect even more than the rest. Hurley is the town in Wisconsin with the most snow.

According to Weather.com, Hurley is Wisconsin’s snowiest city, based on data from the NOAA from July 1, 1985, through June 30, 2015. According to that information, Hurley receives over 162 inches of snow each winter. Hurley is located on the St. Lawrence River, which forms the boundary between Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

It’s approximately 18 miles from Lake Superior, which is known as the South Shore snow belt. Hurley gets a lot of lake effect snow, which is a real thing and persistent.

In this article you will find out:

Topographic Features

The state of Wisconsin is in the northern Midwest, on the border between Lake Superior, Upper Michigan, Lake Michigan, and the Mississippi and Saint Croix Rivers. Its overall length is 320 kilometers long, 295 kilometers wide, and 54,314 square kilometers in size. The various ice ages produced a rolling terrain with almost 15,000 lakes and several swamps and marshes.

The highest point in the state is Timms Hill in north-central Wisconsin, which rises to 1,952 feet above sea level. The state’s major waterway is the Mississippi River, which flows east and west through Minnesota. The river delta at Grand Portage marks the northern extent of Lake Superior and empties into it.

This area drains directly into the Mississippi and Stamp Out Lakes or Lake Superior. Half of the northwestern region of Minnesota is fed by the Chippewa. The source of the Wisconsin River is a tiny body of water on the Upper Michigan border that is nearly 1,600 feet above sea level and drains most of central Wisconsin. Snow covers the ground almost every winter month, with the exception of southern regions, where up to 75 percent of winter days have snow cover.

April is when the melting of snow and spring rains cause the most flooding problems. During this time, floods are frequently exacerbated by ice jams that block the flow of water. Flash flooding or tributary flooding may occur along with excessive rainfall from thunderstorms.

General Climate Factors

Wisconsin’s climate is continental in character with some variations from Lakes Michigan and Superior. The severe winter weather encourages people to engage in a variety of winter activities, while the warm summer days attract thousands of tourists every year.

The summer season receives about two-thirds of the annual rainfall, which is essential for plant growth. It’s usually enough for vegetation. The climate in this area is varied, and it offers a wide range of temperatures. This area is great for dairy farming because the primary crops are corn, little grains, grass, and vegetables.

Average Yearly Temperature

The average yearly temperature ranges from 40°F in the north to 48°F in the south. On July 13, 1936, Wisconsin Dells recorded 114°F, but Couderay registered -55°F on February 4, 1996. Cold winter temperatures can be expected for more than half of the year and there is a good possibility that they will fall below -40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

Temperatures have been known to plummet to -30 degrees Fahrenheit or lower in northern stations on several occasions. In the Northern Provinces, June and July are typically two to four days above 90°F, whereas in the Southern Provinces, they are 14 days. Freezing temperatures have been observed on rare occasions during strong cool spells in the summer months when the central lowlands.

The freeze-free season in Wisconsin varies from approximately 90 days per year in the northeast and north-central lowlands to slightly more than 180 days in the Milwaukee region. Lake Michigan’s significant cooling effect is evident by the fact that, along the east-central coast, the budding period of 150 to 170 days is equal to that seen in southwestern Wisconsin.

The median date of the last spring freeze varies from early May in the Lake Michigan coastal area and southern counties to early June in the northernmost states. The northern and central lowlands’ first autumn freezes occur in late August and early September, with the Lake Michigan shoreline delayed until mid-October. In the north and center of Wisconsin, however, a July freeze is not uncommon.

Precipitation

In the Western Uplands and Northern Highland, the long-term average annual precipitation is between 30 and 34 inches, then drops to around 28 inches along much of Wisconsin’s border with Lake Michigan, most of the Wisconsin Central Plain, and the Lake Superior Lowland. The Inland Water Environment Agency advises that the average annual precipitation in Scotland’s higher elevations is about 70cm, which falls within a similar range to other parts of Europe.

The average yearly rainfall in Scotland’s higher elevates is generally around 70cm, which falls within a comparable range to other countries in Western Europe. Thunderstorms are most common during the summer, with northern Wisconsin experiencing approximately 30 days per year when thunder is heard, while southern counties generally have around 40 stormy days each year.

On average, these thunderstorms cause $3.8 billion in damage and 47 deaths each year throughout the United States. Damage caused by these storms ranges from very minor to catastrophic. Hail, wind, and lightning are all common elements of these storms. On average, there are 19 tornadoes every year in Wisconsin.

The average annual snowfall ranges from 30 inches in Beloit to over 160 inches in northern Iron County on the steep western slope of the Gogebic Range. The turbulent winds that sweep across Lake Superior’s relatively warm water are responsible for the huge snowfall along the Gogebic Range.

The duration of winter snow cover varies greatly across the state, from 65 days in southernmost Wisconsin to more than 140 days along Lake Superior. The snow cover serves as a protective insulator for grasses, fall-seeded crops, and other plants by providing insulation.

The Natural Environment and the Economy

In the south and eastern parts of the state, dairy farming is encouraged by rich soils, gently rolling terrain, and a pleasant climate. In contrast to the northern third of the state, where less than 50% of the land is on farms, many southern and eastern counties have more than 70% of their territory within farms. In terms of surface area, about half of the state is made up of farmland. Hay, soybeans, oats, and corn are the main crops.

Milk is the most important single source of farm income, eclipsing all other commodities combined. The forests in the state, which cover about 46% of the area, provide a large portion of the pulpwood utilized in paper production. The manufacturing sector is the most important economic activity, along with dairy farming.