Heavy Snow in Michigan, March 13 to 14, 1998

A fast-moving Alberta Clipper low pressure system and associated cold front tracked southeast across Michigan's Lower Peninsula during the overnight hours of Friday, March 13th and early Saturday, March 14th. Snow first spread across west central Lower Michigan during mid afternoon Friday, then spread east-southeast across southwest, central, and south central during the early evening hours. Southwest winds blowing across Lake Michigan ahead of the system resulted in lake enhancement across much of west central Lower Michigan, including Ottawa, Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Lake, Newaygo, Kent, and Osceola Counties. Gusty winds associated with the system, first southwest ahead of the front, then northwest behind it, resulted in blowing and drifting. Wind speeds were sustained at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 35 mph. Snowfall rates approached 1 inch per hour with this system and total accumulations ranged from 2.5 to 10 inches in the listed counties. Snow accumulations south of Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Lansing were 2 inches or less. The timing of the onset of heavy snow across the Muskegon - Grand Rapids - Holland metropolitan area coincided with the Friday afternoon rush hour. Numerous weather-related accidents were reported, many of which involved minor injuries. Scattered power outages were reported in Muskegon County, where wind gusts to nearly 40 mph downed some tree limbs and branches on power lines. Up to 650 people were without power for a short time. Snowfall reports included 10 inches in central Newaygo County; 8 inches in New Era (Oceana County),Fremont (Newaygo), and Cedar Springs (Kent); 6 inches in Irons (Lake), Kent City (Kent), and across much of Osceola, Lake and Muskegon Counties; 5.5 inches in Muskegon; 4.8 inches in Grand Haven; 4.0 inches in Holland and Saugatuck; 3.8 inches in downtown Grand Rapids; and 3.5 inches at the National Weather Service Office in Grand Rapids.