Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 19 to 22, 2000

Low pressure tracked from Iowa to the Straits of Mackinac. Snow began falling on the 19th as the low approached Michigan's Upper Peninsula, mixing with rain across the southern counties. As the low passed to the east on the 20th, northeast winds flowing across the still relatively warm waters of Lake Superior produced lake effect snow squalls which persisted into the 22nd over Alger County. The greatest portion of the snowfall occurred overnight on the 19th and during the day on the 20th with lesser amounts on the 21st and still more on the 22nd in Alger County. Snowfall reports on the morning of the 20th included 12 inches at Ironwood, with another 7 inches reported on the morning of the 21st. Nine inches fell at Rockland with another 5 inches the next day. Bergland reported 9 inches plus an additional 7 inches reported the next morning. On the 20th, 10 inches fell in Phoenix and Herman, 11 in Baraga, 13 inches at Watton, 14 in Ishpeming, 17 in Gwinn and at the National Weather Service Office in Negaunee. Chatham and Shingleton recorded 17 inches from the 19th to the 22nd. Munising received 19 inches during the same period, and Wetmore reported 14 inches. The snowfall total from the 19th to the 22nd reached 23 inches in Melstrand. Most of the schools in the Lake Superior snowbelt were closed and some businesses as well. State and County snowplow drivers worked overtime to keep roads cleared.