A combination of heavy snow and high winds Wednesday afternoon and evening resulted in blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibility on the road and causing a number of crashes throughout the area.
Our snowfall grew heavy and blustery enough to warrant a snow squall warning for a large portion of Northeast Wisconsin. That warning has since expired, but severe winds of up to 45 mph will continue to blow from the northwest.
Shortly before 5 p.m., Outagamie County declared a tow prohibition on Interstate 41 and Highway 441. With this wintry storm system, temperatures will also decrease, with wind chills reaching negative digits by Thursday morning.
Early Wednesday, the winds had not yet begun to whip. Snowflakes dropped slowly over a frigid downtown Green Bay. Most are grateful that the wind was still reasonably quiet, as they are familiar with how winter winds feel.
“About this time, I seriously question why I still live here,” joked Green Bay’s Beth Barnstorff. “The wind, the cold, the snow—all of it. “It’s simply… unpleasant.”
Tricia Stevens of Green Bay recognizes the impact it has on her daily life. “It makes a huge difference when the wind is part of it because that’s when the cold just seems to go right through you if you’re not dressed for it,” Stevens told me.
When a snow squall hit later in the afternoon, the winds played a significant role. And at this time of year, it can feel like the wind never stops blowing… and with good reason.
As it turns out, winter and spring are the windiest months of the year. The Green Bay National Weather Service’s long-term records show that December is historically the windiest month in terms of average wind speed.
The average wind speed is approximately 11 mph (10.8).
That may not sound amazing, but when compared to our generally leisurely summer months, it is twice as strong as the average wind speed in August. And it’s four or five mph faster than the rest of the summer.
The only month that comes close is April, with an average speed of just more than 10 mph.
Every other winter month in between—January, February, and March—is tied for third place with an average speed of more than nine miles per hour.