Michigan, 1997

Ice Storm in Michigan, March 14, 1997

March 14, 1997 · NWS GRR · 19 events in 19 counties and zones

An Ice Storm lasting slightly more than 12 hours blanketed much of West Central Lower Michigan and all of Southwest Lower Michigan. The northern edge of accumulated ice included the south half of Muskegon County, the northern border of Kent County, the southern third of Montcalm County, and the northern border of Clinton County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 18 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
19

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GRR wrote it up.

An Ice Storm lasting slightly more than 12 hours blanketed much of West Central Lower Michigan and all of Southwest Lower Michigan. The northern edge of accumulated ice included the south half of Muskegon County, the northern border of Kent County, the southern third of Montcalm County, and the northern border of Clinton County. The storm covered all of the County Warning Area south of that line. The worst hit areas included the counties of Jackson, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Branch, and Hillsdale. Ice accumulations in these areas were near 1 inch. Power was out, up to 24 hours, in Kalamazoo County (29,000 customers) and Jackson County (38,000 customers). Statewide, over 250,000 customers were without power at the height of the storm. Trees and power lines were downed throughout the County Warning Area. Automobile accidents occurred almost continuously throughout the storm. Two multi-car accidents occurred along I-94; one 10 car mishap near Benton Harbor, and a 15 car pileup between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. In some areas it took 15 days to complete the cleanup with County Emergency Manager and Highway Department budgets being destroyed in the process.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Muskegon

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Muskegon forecast zone
Coordinates
43.219, -86.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Montcalm

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Montcalm forecast zone
Coordinates
43.311, -85.152 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ottawa

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Ottawa forecast zone
Coordinates
43.003, -86.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Kent

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Kent forecast zone
Coordinates
43.032, -85.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ionia

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Ionia forecast zone
Coordinates
42.945, -85.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Clinton

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Clinton forecast zone
Coordinates
42.944, -84.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Allegan

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Allegan forecast zone
Coordinates
42.518, -85.910 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Barry

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Barry forecast zone
Coordinates
42.595, -85.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Eaton

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Eaton forecast zone
Coordinates
42.596, -84.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ingham

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Ingham forecast zone
Coordinates
42.597, -84.373 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Van Buren

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Van Buren forecast zone
Coordinates
42.285, -86.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Kalamazoo

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Kalamazoo forecast zone
Coordinates
42.245, -85.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Calhoun

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Calhoun forecast zone
Coordinates
42.247, -85.006 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Jackson

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Coordinates
42.249, -84.423 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Berrien

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Berrien forecast zone

Ice Storm, Cass

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Coordinates
41.915, -85.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, St. Joseph

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
St. Joseph forecast zone
Coordinates
41.914, -85.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Branch

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Branch forecast zone
Coordinates
41.916, -85.059 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hillsdale

When
March 14, 1:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Hillsdale forecast zone
Coordinates
41.888, -84.593 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Michigan in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, March 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5595275, 5595276, 5595277, 5595278, 5595279, 5595280, 5595281, 5595282, 5595283, 5595284, 5595285, 5595286, 5595287, 5595288, 5595289, 5595290, 5595291, 5595292, 5595293.