Michigan, 1997

Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 22 to 24, 1997

November 22 to 24, 1997 · NWS MQT · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system moved east across Lake Superior on the 22nd bringing cold air over the relatively warmer waters of Lake Superior. This produced heavy lake-effect snow in areas favored by northwest winds that lasted into the morning of the 24th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
6

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 MQT wrote it up.

A strong low pressure system moved east across Lake Superior on the 22nd bringing cold air over the relatively warmer waters of Lake Superior. This produced heavy lake-effect snow in areas favored by northwest winds that lasted into the morning of the 24th. The heaviest snows occurred between Ironwood and the Keweenaw Peninsula and between Munising and Grand Marais. The highest snow total was Trimountain (10 SW of Houghton) with 21.0 inches.Snow totals included:Alger County Baraga County Gogebic CountyMelstrand 15.3 inches Herman 12.0 inches Ramsay 15.5 inchesShingleton 14.0 inches Baraga 11.5 inches Munising 13.3 inchesGrand Marais 10.2 inchesHoughton County Keweenaw County Ontonagon CountyTrimountain 21.0 inches Phoenix 18.0 inches Bergland 15.0 inchesHoughton 18.6 inches Ontonagon 12.5 inchesHancock 18.4 inches

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Alger

When
November 22, 1:00 AM EST to November 24, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Alger forecast zone
Coordinates
46.451, -86.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Baraga

When
November 22, 1:00 AM EST to November 24, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Baraga forecast zone
Coordinates
46.700, -88.352 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Gogebic

When
November 22, 1:00 AM EST to November 24, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Gogebic forecast zone
Coordinates
46.496, -89.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Houghton

When
November 22, 1:00 AM EST to November 24, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Houghton forecast zone
Coordinates
46.992, -88.652 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Keweenaw

When
November 22, 1:00 AM EST to November 24, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Keweenaw forecast zone
Coordinates
47.283, -88.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Ontonagon

When
November 22, 1:00 AM EST to November 24, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Ontonagon forecast zone
Coordinates
46.778, -89.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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, November 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5620090, 5620091, 5620092, 5620093, 5620094, 5620095.