2019 is Wausau's snowiest year ever, breaking 110-year-old record

Natalie Brophy
Wausau Daily Herald
Jim Hanh, of Weston, clears snow off from his neighbor's driveway Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. T'xer Zhon Kha/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

WAUSAU – Does it seem like there's been a lot of snow in Wausau this year?

You're right. There has been.

A day full of snow brought 5.9 inches to Wausau on Thursday, bringing the city's yearly snow total to 106.2 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Green Bay.  

That makes 2019 the snowiest year ever in Wausau. 

The previous record of 101.7 inches was set 110 years ago in 1909, according to the National Weather Service. 

On average, Wausau gets about 60 inches of snow per year, according to the National Weather Service. In 2018, Wausau had 77.9 inches of snow.

Most of this year's snow came in February, which was Wausau's snowiest month ever with 54.3 inches of snow. Wausau also recorded its snowiest day ever in February, when 15.7 inches of snow fell on Feb. 12.

RELATED: The cost to clear roads during a snow storm? For Marathon County, it's $100,000 or more.

Don't expect this to be the new normal though, National Weather Service meteorologist Timm Uhlmann said. The region has seen above-average levels of precipitation for the past couple years and this coming winter will be no exception. But things will eventually return to normal, Uhlmann said. 

"It's unlikely these record-setting years will set the benchmark," he said. 

As for the rest of December, there may be some light snowfalls around Christmas, Uhlmann said, but no large snowstorms are forecasted. Looking ahead to springtime, expect to see flooding similar to this past spring, he said. 

Top five snowiest winters in Wausau 

  • 2019: 106.2 inches
  • 1909: 101.7 inches 
  • 1996: 99.2 inches 
  • 2008: 98.4 inches 
  • 1950: 97.1 inches 

RELATED: More than 50 inches of snow fell in Wausau in February, breaking record for snowiest month

RELATED: More than 15 inches of snow fell in Wausau Feb. 12, breaking an over 110-year-old record

Contact Natalie Brophy at (715) 216-5452 or nbrophy@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @brophy_natalie or Facebook at facebook.com/bynataliebrophy