Snowfall totals since Sunday night vary sharply across Southeast Wisconsin as storm track shifts
A late-winter system delivered a narrow band of heavier snow, with rapid drop-offs over short distances
Parts of Southeast Wisconsin measured several inches of snowfall since Sunday night as a fast-moving spring-season storm swept across the region, producing a distinct gradient in totals from the Milwaukee metro area into nearby inland communities. The pattern reflected a common setup in March: marginal temperatures near the surface, a tight storm track, and localized bursts of steadier snow that can quickly change accumulation amounts between neighborhoods.
Available snowfall reports from communities across Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Walworth and surrounding areas show a corridor of higher totals centered on the Milwaukee-area suburbs and portions of the I-94 corridor. In that zone, several reports clustered in the roughly 4- to 7-inch range, while areas farther west reported substantially lower accumulations.
Selected snowfall reports from Southeast Wisconsin
- Milwaukee: 5.1 inches
- Franklin: 6.5 inches
- Greendale: 6.4 inches
- Muskego: 6.2 inches
- Waterford: 5.0 inches
- Cudahy: 4.9 inches
- Hales Corners: 4.3 inches
- Lake Geneva: 4.0 inches
- West Allis: 3.6 inches
- Wauwatosa: 3.5 inches
- Brookfield: 2.0 inches
- Oconomowoc: 1.2 inches
- Sullivan: 0.6 inches
Why totals can differ so much in March
Storms in mid-March often bring a mix of precipitation types and fluctuating snow-to-water ratios. Even when radar shows widespread coverage, the highest accumulation frequently occurs where snowfall rates intensify for a few hours or where temperatures remain just cold enough for snow to accumulate efficiently. A small shift in the storm’s heaviest band can result in a sharp cutoff—turning a plowable snowfall in one community into a light coating a few miles away.
In spring-transition storms, local conditions—pavement temperature, snowfall intensity, and timing—often matter as much as the broader forecast.
What to know next
As temperatures rise after a March snow, melting can be rapid, but overnight refreezing remains a concern, especially on bridges, ramps and less-traveled roads. Residents should expect that conditions can vary block to block, particularly where drifting or compacted snow develops. Snow totals may continue to be refined as additional spotter and official measurements are compiled.
Totals listed above represent selected reports and are not an exhaustive accounting for every community in Southeast Wisconsin.