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Wisconsin snowfall: Mid-season update

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2 years ago

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The mild temperatures we had to end January have continued into February, creating a bit of a snow drought across the state, so how are snow totals stacking up now that the first half of winter is behind us?

What You Need To Know

  • The days of sunsets before 5 p.m. are over

  • We rapidly gain evening daylight through February

  • Sunsets after 7 p.m. are not too far away


Temperatures across Wisconsin have felt anything but winter-like over the last few weeks and the warmer air has done a number on the snowpack around the state.

The melting snow and thawing ground has many Wisconsinites wondering if winter is over. While we still have the second half of winter to go, there’s not much potential for accumulating snow on the horizon.

So far this season, total snowfall accumulation is well below normal in most cities in Wisconsin. Milwaukee measured 21 inches of snow, which is over 9 inches below normal.

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Eau Claire, one of our typically snowier cities, has only measured 11.9 inches of snow, which is over 20 inches below normal for the season.

Here’s a look at seasonal snowfall totals compared to normal so far:

Most of our seasonal snowfall happened between two storm systems during the same week in January on Jan. 9-10 and 12-13.

Looking ahead, it does not appear as if the weather will be favorable for accumulating snowfall.

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) released their monthly temperature forecast for February and temperatures across the Midwest and Great Lakes are expected to be much warmer than normal for this time of year.

The CPC’s monthly precipitation forecast for February also shows a high probability of lower than normal precipitation chances.

Does this mean winter is officially over? The short answer is no. If you remember back in 2023, many of us experienced our highest snowfall totals in March when two rounds of heavy, wet snow blanketed much of the state.

While many things may change between now and the official end of winter, remember that it is not uncommon to see accumulating snowfall in Wisconsin in March and April.

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February may be looking warmer and drier than normal, but we will still have to wait and see what March has in store for us.

Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.



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Wisconsin

School debt repayment should be a priority, not deferred | Opinion

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5 hours ago

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February 21, 2026

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School debt repayment should be a priority, not deferred | Opinion


Debt is not inherently irresponsible. Schools need safe, functional facilities. But when debt becomes permanent, it stops being a tool and starts being a constraint.

Will Flanders
 |  Special to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Each year, Wisconsin property taxpayers contribute more than $6.5 billion in local school levies. Those dollars are commonly understood to support classrooms, teachers and student services. In reality, a large — and growing — portion is diverted to debt service, a non-negotiable financial obligation before a single classroom dollar is spent.

In fact, the debt-service share of the local levy continues to grow, not because students are receiving more, but because past borrowing decisions increasingly dictate today’s budgets. Fortunately, at least one school district is showing that a debt free future is possible.

Statewide, nearly 18% of all local school levies — about $1.18 billion each year — are used to service debt. In practical terms, almost one out of every five local school tax dollars is unavailable for instruction or student support because it has already been committed elsewhere. Unfortunately, long-term debt has become a routine feature of school finance rather than an exception.

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Looking at debt on a per-student basis makes the impact clearer. Across Wisconsin, districts levy an average of $1,483 per student each year simply to service existing debt. In districts that carry any debt at all — roughly 85% of districts statewide —that figure rises to $1,550 per student, before any money is spent in a classroom.

Opinion: It’s time MPS stops funding buildings instead of children

At the same time, Wisconsin is experiencing sustained enrollment decline, and while per-pupil revenue limits may decline with enrollment, existing district debt does not shrink when enrollment falls. The obligation stays fixed, and the burden shifts. Even if no new debt is added, fewer students are left to carry the same costs.

Over a ten-year period, a 1.5% statewide enrollment decline — far slower than the actual current rate of decline — would result in a 16% increase in per-student burden without a single new referendum, project, or improvement.

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Debt-free school districts are rare

Against that backdrop, debt-free districts have become rare — especially among larger systems. Among the 100 largest school districts in Wisconsin, only four operate without any debt service levies. When the Waukesha School District retires its final obligations on April 1, 2026, it will be the largest debt-free school district in the state — by a lot.

Serving 10,600 students, Waukesha will be more than 6,000 students larger than the next-largest debt-free district. The next few —Tomah (67th), followed by Merrill Area (92nd) and Arrowhead (98th) — sit near the bottom of the top-100 by enrollment or just beyond it. No other district operating at Waukesha’s scale is debt-free.

That matters. It shows that operating without long-term debt is not a function of being small or rural. It is a function of choices: how projects are scoped, how debt is structured and whether repayment is treated as a priority rather than deferred indefinitely.

Homeowners shocked by schools’ part of tax bills

While many homeowners have been shocked to see the school portions of their property tax bills increase exponentially in recent years, Waukesha’s has declined, on average, with fluctuations that reflect the year-to-year complexity of the funding formula.

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The school tax levy increased by 2.25% this past year because of shifts in state aid allocation beyond the district’s control, including millions more going to Milwaukee for passing it’s own massive referendum. While the board could have taken steps to keep the levy flat, instead, they followed through to retire debt and recognized a 26% savings on total borrowing costs ($1.5M less than the anticipated $6 million 10-year repayment).

Meanwhile, referenda themselves have become routine. Last year, dozens of operating and capital referenda passed across Wisconsin. This spring’s ballot again includes districts seeking additional authority — often not for discrete, time-limited projects, but to cover ongoing maintenance, capital costs, or basic operations. Increasingly, districts are asking voters for more money simply to operate. Over the past three election cycles (spring 2024-spring 2025), Wisconsin districts have placed $3.8 billion in operating and capital borrowing referendum requests on local ballots.

Opinion: Many MPS families suffer in silence. We’re here to help.

There are consequences to this approach. When districts rely on recurring referenda and long-term debt to sustain basic functions, strategic consolidation and shared-service models become far more difficult. Few communities are willing to absorb another district’s long-term debt, particularly when those obligations were incurred under different assumptions and governance.

Debt is not inherently irresponsible. Schools need safe, functional facilities. But when debt becomes permanent, it stops being a tool and starts being a constraint. And when nearly one-fifth of all local school taxes are treated as a non-negotiable obligation before student and classroom needs are even considered, flexibility disappears.

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Fiscal discipline is not measured by how easily costs are added. It is measured by whether leaders are willing — and able — to start paying them off.

Will Flanders is the Research Director for the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.



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Ski trails for Birkebeiner in Wisconsin ready to go, organizers say

Published

17 hours ago

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February 20, 2026

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Ski trails for Birkebeiner in Wisconsin ready to go, organizers say


The weather is looking a bit more cooperative for Saturday’s American Birkebeiner ski race in northern Wisconsin. Officials earlier this week had to change the date and location of a few events due to the unusual warmth. NEXT Weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso spoke to an executive director about the condition of the race trails.



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7 events happening in Wisconsin Feb. 20-22

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1 day ago

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February 20, 2026

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7 events happening in Wisconsin Feb. 20-22


WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) -Here’s a look at the 7 big events happening this weekend in Wisconsin.

Marshfield Area Cultural Fair

The Marshfield Area Cultural Fair kicks off at 10 a.m. on Saturday. People of all ages and from many cultures will share stories, music, performances, and food. It’s happening at the UW-Stevens Point at Marshfield campus.

Ben Mulwana at the Grand Theater

Ugandan-born artist Ben Mulwana is taking center stage Friday night at the Grand Theater. Expect soulful lyrics and a diverse range of musical inspiration. You’ll be up close, on-stage with the artist for the show, in a cabaret-style setting. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Celebrate commUNITY

Get ready to celebrate diversity at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds. The Celebrate commUNITY event will be an exciting day of cultural immersion. You can check out more than 50 booths, representing different countries, religions, and community organizations. It starts at 11 a.m. Saturday.

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Oshkosh Boat Show

Head on over to the EAA Grounds Friday through Sunday for the Oshkosh Boat Show. Check out a lineup of boats, new and used. You’ll also be able to learn more about RV rentals, campgrounds, docks, lifts, and more.

American Birkebeiner

It’s time for North America’s largest and most prestigious cross-country skiing marathon. 12,000 skiers of all ages, genders, and nationalities will take part in the American Birkebeiner. The adventure continues Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Manawa Snodeo

Snowmobile racing is taking center stage at the Bear Lake Campground and Resort Saturday and Sunday, at the Manawa Snodeo. You can check out four racing tracks, a vintage snowmobile show, hot air balloons, and much more. You can check out all the excitement for $20 a day, or $30 for the full weekend.

Disney on Ice at the Resch Center

The magic of Disney is making its way to Green Bay this weekend. You can see Disney on Ice at the Resch Center. Enter the magical worlds of ‘Frozen’ and ‘Encanto’ as they come to life like never before. sing-along to your favorite songs, while watching world-class skating, aerial acrobatics, and more.

For more local events across central and north central Wisconsin, check out our Community Calendar.

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Click here to download the WSAW news app or WSAW First Alert weather app.

Click here to submit a news tip or story idea.

Copyright 2026 WSAW. All rights reserved.



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