MONROE — What was predicted as “light flurries and a dusting” turned into three inches of snow in some local areas on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Monroe received 2.5 inches of snow, while Darlington had about an inch of snow and Brodhead 3.7 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The snowfall was one of only a few locally to occur this winter, which has been dry for much of Wisconsin in December and January. Brown grass and plants littered residential properties and countryside fields for weeks. 

The snow arrived with slightly warmer weather than had been observed in the previous days. The continental United States received one of the coldest polar vortexes in recorded history earlier this past week, and local schools canceled instruction and after school activities with wind chill temperatures ranging from -20-37 below zero, Fahrenheit.

Along the U.S. coastline of the Gulf of Mexico, a rare blizzard occurred, dropping 4-8 inches — and in some cases even more — in the South. In Milton, Florida, near Pensacola, 8-9 inches of snow fell, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis, which is more than double the previous state record of 4 inches, set in 1954. 

About 10 inches of snow fell on the New Orleans metropolitan area, the most since 14.4 inches fell in 1909. Since 1948, New Orleans International Airport had only ever received 2.7 inches in one snowfall (1963).

Temps will warm up in a hurry in southern Wisconsin. Saturday, Jan. 25, the high is expected to be 37 degrees, which will begin melting some of the fresh snow. Sunday will be 28 degrees, and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 27-29) are all expected to be right around 40. Low temperatures over the next week are supposed to stay relatively mild, between 11-25 degrees. However, gusty winds will make it feel between 15-20 degrees cooler.