What's the snow like in Wisconsin?

[hank morgan]

Wisconsin is a beautiful state. Especially up north. Snow is much like it is in Mich. and Minn., fluffy, cold and wet. Used to be a lot of Norwegians up that way, and lakes and forest.

And what other way is there to pronounce it??

[MidwesternBookWorm]

I think the best advice I could give you about what you'd see in terms of snow in Wisconsin is "always expect to be surprised."

I live in the south-central part of the state, and we've seen winters with less than 30 inches total of snow all winter; brown Christmas, bare ground for much of January and February, just chilly and cloudy without anything to show for it. We've also had winters with more snow than anyone really wanted, such as the winter of 07-08, when we had about 110 total inches of snow for the season. The old record for Madison was about 70-something inches, and we blew through that and exceeded it by nearly 50%. And in the winters when we don't get much snow, the areas farther north usually get two or three times as much as we do, while this past winter, when we had more than we knew what to do with, the northern tier of the state got about half the total that we did.

So expect the unexpected in a Wisconsin winter, and you are unlikely to be disappointed.

As to the job situation, there are regions where things are still humming along surprisingly well given the economy, and there are other areas that are really struggling. I don't think that overall we're in as bad shape for jobs as Michigan is; we've got family who live there, and we're hearing some pretty grim news. But Wisconsin has some rough times ahead in some areas as well: Janesville is losing its GM plant this coming January, and a lot of the smaller semi-rural communities are struggling to stay afloat.

Depending on the field your spouse is in, your best bet would probably be to look in either the Milwaukee area or the Madison area. You mention wanting to go back to school for a degree in business, and I know that there are a number of colleges in the Madison area that are geared to the adult non-traditional student; I'm fairly certain that there are also a good number in Milwaukee as well, though others who know that area better could comment more knowledgeably on the topic. You might try posting an inquiry in the sub-forums specific to both communities, as well as asking there about job prospects for your spouse's profession.

Good luck, and I hope you find a snowy home that you love!

[susancruzs]

Bookworm has it right, surprise is the key! I moved from NE Illinois to Two Rivers last Sep. and everyone said are you crazy, think of the snow!

The last few years (prior to 2007) had been not bad in terms of snow for the Waukegan area. Winter last year in Manitowoc County was really not that big of a deal, biggest snow fall was maybe 8 inches and people were apologizing to me, saying its usually not this bad. We got all these 4+ snow falls for days on end, every day another 4-6 inches but no big over a foot stuff.

We did not get the snow totals here that central or even southeast Wisc. got. When I drove to Waukegan for a visit, I was shocked at how much snow they had, several snow storms of over a foot of snow. The point of this is, you never know, this year could be the lake shores turn with a bunch of lake effect snow, that happens, too. Key thing, you just can't tell from one year to the next no matter where you are in the state.

[MedTech03]

I live in the Stevens Point area and am from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Up until last year I thought the winters here were no big deal at all. I was used to lake effect snow and tons of it at that. Last winter we got hammered. It seemed like I was shoveling everyday!! At one point, the snow was three feet deep. I have a six foot fence in my yard and I could stand next to it on the snow and it was up to my chest (I'm 6'0"). While it isn't like that every year, there sure is the potential to have big snow years. Over all though, I'd say that winters here aren't too bad, unless you hate cold and wind. It seems likes it's always windy here in the wintertime. But it really doesn't last all that long. By the time March comes around, it usually warms up and the snow melts.

[dreamhunter65]

Last year we had a almost normal snowfall year up in the north,but for past say 10 years been lower than normal snow falls. Eau Claire/Chippewa falls area be close to college and tech for Business Admin and such, but do not expect the big lake effect snowfalls.

[radraja]

As for the job thing...I'd just say beware because jobs in WI can be really hard to come by. MI is a bit worse, but WI still isn't doing too great. I'm in my 20s and am facing this problem right now.

Of the midwest, Minneapolis, Des Moines and Indianapolis may be your best bets in terms of finding work...or at least that's what the situation appears to be right now.

PS: Our accent is the RIGHT way to talk up here. If you come, pick up a local accent ASAP.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by hank morgan

Wisconsin is a beautiful state. Especially up north. Snow is much like it is in Mich. and Minn., fluffy, cold and wet. Used to be a lot of Norwegians up that way, and lakes and forest.

And what other way is there to pronounce it??

Many, maybe even most people outside the upper midwest pronounce it "WEH-SCON-sin" replacing the first "i" sound with a short "e" sound, and with equal emphasis on the first two syllables. I have no idea how this pronunciation became so prominent but it drives me batty.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Megan1967

Yes, almost everyone pronounces the name of our state correctly up here. Would you tell the citizens of Louisville, KY that they live in Loo-is-ville, KY rather than Loo-y-ville, KY? I think not.

Natives get to dictate how things are pronounced.

In that case, you need to start pronouncing Louisville "LOO-vull" since that's how the natives there pronounce it. However, some give faint recognition to a third syllable and pronounce it "LOO-uh-vull" but that second syllable is very short.

[knke0402]

Originally Posted by radraja

As for the job thing...I'd just say beware because jobs in WI can be really hard to come by. MI is a bit worse, but WI still isn't doing too great. I'm in my 20s and am facing this problem right now.

Of the midwest, Minneapolis, Des Moines and Indianapolis may be your best bets in terms of finding work...or at least that's what the situation appears to be right now.

PS: Our accent is the RIGHT way to talk up here. If you come, pick up a local accent ASAP.

Any young 20s people out of college or not are struggling BAD in finding work. Its sad

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by TheTransientTranny

Okay, I'm betting someone on here is getting sick of me asking about snow on the Minnesota and Michigan forums. Any moment now I expect to receive a PM along the lines of "Take Chemistry 101, fool.."

Seriously, I can not believe my geography skills are that bad. For some reason I thought it went like this: ND/SD, WI, MN, MI, yada, yada and yada. Now, after seeing MN situated up there beside ND and away from the Great Lakes, I can see why MN doesn't really get that much snow. Any snow up north is probably going to be of the powdery kind, yes?

So......what I'm wondering is this. Does WI get as much, or close to the amount of, snow as MI? I've been seeing all these pictures of MI over on the MI picture thread, and admit that it is one hell of a beautiful state. The thing that leaves me a bit leery? Yeap, you guessed it. Jobs. Or lack of them.

If WI has a lot of snow and is a great place to live, that is awesome. I would only have one other concern. Does EVERYONE up there say "Wis-cAHn-sin?

.

It varies with the type of storm: Alberta Clippers gives a "dry" snow in limited quantities, while a storm out of the SW can dump 10" (+) of sticky lard.
The greatest average snowfall is in northern Iron County near, you guessed it, the UP border.