Michigan, 2006

Heavy Snow and Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, February 3 to 6, 2006

February 3 to 6, 2006 · NWS MQT · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A low pressure area over northern Lake Michigan dropped heavy snow over portions of south central Upper Michigan on the evening of the 23rd and morning of the 24th. Reported 12-hour snow amounts included 8 inches at Powers in Menominee County and 8-10 inches in the Gladstone area of Delta County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 MQT wrote it up.

A low pressure area over northern Lake Michigan dropped heavy snow over portions of south central Upper Michigan on the evening of the 23rd and morning of the 24th. Reported 12-hour snow amounts included 8 inches at Powers in Menominee County and 8-10 inches in the Gladstone area of Delta County. Deepening low pressure over the eastern Great Lakes and eastern Ontario helped draw colder Canadian air across Lake Superior from the 24th through the 26th. As a result, heavy lake effect snows off Lake Superior occurred over portions of west and central Upper Michigan. Ironwood measured 10 inches of snow in 24 hours on the 4th and 5th while Newberry received 10 inches in 12 hours on the 5th. Blowing and drifting of snow on side roads forced the closure of Tahquamenon Area schools on the 6th.

The radar

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

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Event by event

2 heavy snow, 2 lake-effect snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Delta

When
February 3, 5:00 PM EST to February 4, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Delta forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.792, -86.871 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Menominee

When
February 3, 4:00 PM CST to February 4, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Menominee forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.525, -87.510 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Gogebic

When
February 4, 4:00 AM CST to February 5, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Gogebic forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.496, -89.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Luce

When
February 5, 1:00 AM EST to February 6, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Luce forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.368, -85.509 (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.
Lake-Effect Snow
Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Michigan in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, February 2006

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5492785, 5492786, 5492788, 5492787.