Heavy Snow in Michigan, December 17, 2000

...Synoptic and mesoscale conditions on December 17th...The last in a series of strong upper level disturbances and associated upper level jet streaks moving northward out of the lower Mississippi valley combined with another arctic cold front dropping down out of southern Canada on the 17th. Developing surface low pressure along the advancing arctic front was initially quite weak...however as the strong upper level low ejected out of the mean long wave trough through the central US and two distinct upper jet streaks coupled...the surface low bombed as it moved northeast from Louisville Kentucky to Toledo Ohio late that evening. Very heavy snow developed within the developing mid level deformation zone due in part to considerable moisture wrapping westward in advance of the upper level low, increasing deep upward vertical motion as the jet streak coupling occurred and rapid intensification of the system in general. Several locations reported thunder snow with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour for a 6 hour period during the early morning hours of the 17th. Some notable storm total snowfall reports included 10.5 inches in Lagrange... 9 in Sturgis and Albion, 8 in Warsaw and La Otto, 7 in Columbia City, Cromwell, Kendallville and Middlebury and 6 inches in Rochester, Royal Center, Logansport and Fort Wayne.