Michigan, 2004

Heavy Snow in Michigan, January 26 to 28, 2004

January 26 to 28, 2004 · NWS APX · 22 events in 22 counties and zones

An extended period of heavy snow affected almost all of Northern Lower Michigan, as a strong low pressure system over the southern plains gradually moved toward the state. An initial burst of snow, enhanced by east winds from Lake Huron, produced 6 to 10 inch amounts from Cheboygan to Alpena on the 26th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 21 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
22

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 APX wrote it up.

An extended period of heavy snow affected almost all of Northern Lower Michigan, as a strong low pressure system over the southern plains gradually moved toward the state. An initial burst of snow, enhanced by east winds from Lake Huron, produced 6 to 10 inch amounts from Cheboygan to Alpena on the 26th. A brief lull followed in the early morning hours of the 27th before snow reintensified. Heavy snow was more widespread during the daylight hours of the 27th, with another 6 to 10 inches east of I-75, and 3 to 5 inches to the west. The snow continued into the night, gradually transitioning to lake effect snow overnight (see next event). Total snowfall amounts during this period ranged from around 10 inches near Traverse City and Cadillac, to just over 20 inches near Rogers City and Alpena. The latter area was certainly the hardest hit, with widespread school, government and business closings during the multi-day storm.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Alpena

When
January 26, 9:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Alpena forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
45.064, -83.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cheboygan

When
January 26, 9:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Cheboygan forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
45.473, -84.492 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Emmet

When
January 26, 10:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Emmet forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
45.588, -84.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Presque Isle

When
January 26, 10:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Presque Isle forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
45.398, -83.843 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Alcona

When
January 27, 10:00 AM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Alcona forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.712, -83.344 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Montmorency

When
January 27, 10:00 AM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Montmorency forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
45.028, -84.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Oscoda

When
January 27, 10:00 AM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Oscoda forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.682, -84.130 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Antrim

When
January 27, 10:00 AM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Antrim forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.007, -85.176 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Charlevoix

When
January 27, 10:00 AM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Charlevoix forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow, Leelanau

When
January 27, 6:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Leelanau forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.152, -86.038 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Iosco

When
January 27, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Iosco forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.301, -83.514 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Ogemaw

When
January 27, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Ogemaw forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.335, -84.126 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Arenac

When
January 27, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Arenac forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.043, -83.747 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Crawford

When
January 27, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Crawford forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.684, -84.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Gladwin

When
January 27, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Gladwin forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.991, -84.388 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wexford

When
January 27, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Wexford forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.338, -85.578 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Missaukee

When
January 28, 12:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where
Missaukee forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.337, -85.095 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Benzie

When
January 28, 2:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where
Benzie forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.617, -86.139 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Grand Traverse

When
January 28, 2:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where
Grand Traverse forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.716, -85.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Kalkaska

When
January 28, 2:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where
Kalkaska forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.685, -85.090 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Otsego

When
January 28, 2:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where
Otsego forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
45.021, -84.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Roscommon

When
January 28, 2:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where
Roscommon forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.336, -84.612 (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 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, January 2004

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: 5382608, 5382731, 5382733, 5382740, 5382607, 5382610, 5382612, 5382613, 5382730, 5382737, 5382609, 5382611, 5382614, 5382732, 5382734, 5382742, 5382738, 5382729, 5382735, 5382736, 5382739, 5382741.