Michigan, 2005

Winter Storm in Michigan, January 18 to 19, 2005

January 18 to 19, 2005 · NWS APX · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

Low pressure moved east across Lake Superior and far northern Lake Huron. Southwest winds ahead of the system brought snow to northern Michigan.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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.

Low pressure moved east across Lake Superior and far northern Lake Huron. Southwest winds ahead of the system brought snow to northern Michigan. The snow was drastically enhanced by Lake Michigan, with heavy snow near and downwind of the lake. Snowfall totals of six to ten inches were common along the Lake Michigan shoreline of eastern Upper and northwest Lower Michigan. Frankfort had the highest snowfall total, with around a foot. Strong southwest winds produced considerable blowing and drifting snow, and very low visibilities. Near blizzard conditions occurred near Lake Michigan, where winds gusted to around 40 mph.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Chippewa

When
January 18, 10:00 PM EST to January 19, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Chippewa forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm, Mackinac

When
January 18, 10:00 PM EST to January 19, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Mackinac forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm, Benzie

When
January 18, 10:30 PM EST to January 19, 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)

Winter Storm, Leelanau

When
January 18, 10:30 PM EST to January 19, 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)

Winter Storm, Manistee

When
January 18, 10:30 PM EST to January 19, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Manistee forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.238, -86.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Charlevoix

When
January 18, 11:00 PM EST to January 19, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Charlevoix forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm, Emmet

When
January 18, 11:00 PM EST to January 19, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Emmet forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.588, -84.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Grand Traverse

When
January 18, 11:00 PM EST to January 19, 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)

Winter Storm, Cheboygan

When
January 19, 12:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where
Cheboygan forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.473, -84.492 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Michigan in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, January 2005

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: 5434975, 5434976, 5434977, 5434982, 5434983, 5434978, 5434980, 5434981, 5434979.