Green Bay, Wis. (WFRV) – Northeast Wisconsin experienced a weekend that was not only warm but broke records for daytime highs in multiple cities. This lasted from Friday, February 13, to Monday, February 16.
While some enjoyed the warm weather that coincidentally landed on the same weekend as sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago, the sudden warmup has posed its fair share of issues. Following the all-weekend event, which features heavy traffic on the ice, many vehicles and shanties have managed to fall through. Ice conditions will improve as temperatures return to normal, below-freezing conditions midweek.
Friday, February 13, set off the start to a record-breaking day, with multiple cities breaking records. Green Bay reached 47 degrees, while the previous record sat at 45 degrees in 2023. Appleton reached the 50-degree mark, surpassing the previous record of 47 degrees, which was also set in 2023. Manitowoc managed to tie its record of 48 degrees, which was set in 1990.
February 14 was one of the warmest Valentine’s Days we have seen in a while, with two ties and one new record. Green Bay tied its 2023 record of 47 degrees, and Antigo tied its 2002 record of 44 degrees. Appleton did manage to set a new record for the second day in a row, with a daytime high of 48 degrees, beating the record of 47 degrees set in 2023.
A sunny Sunday completed the weekend with more warm conditions. Antigo broke another record by 1 degree, passing a high that was set over a century ago. The previous record was 46 degrees in 1921, but a daytime high of 47 degrees ended the 105-year run. Appleton also ended a 105-year record, as a daytime high of 55 degrees beat the previous record high of 53 degrees in 1921. A new location also found its way into the pool, with Sturgeon Bay reaching 47 degrees. Its previous record was 44 degrees in 2023.
Monday, February 16, was the warmest day of the stretch, with some areas reaching the upper 50s. Appleton and Oshkosh both reached 57 degrees, and their previous record highs were 55 degrees. Appleton’s previous record was set in 1981, while Oshkosh’s was set in 1921, another record over a century old. Manitowoc was slightly cooler, with a high of 56 degrees, passing the 1981 record of 52 degrees. Sturgeon Bay also managed another record-setting day, with a high of 48 degrees, passing its 47-degree day in 2011.
Warm temperatures lasted through the start of the workweek but will drop as we head through the rest of the week, leaving Tuesday as the last day reaching 50 degrees. While it will be warm, a record-setting day will be unlikely, as the previous record in Green Bay was 57 degrees in 2017. This event is what many refer to as a “false spring,” an occurrence many Wisconsinites are used to and will not be surprised to see again.
