The combination of lake effect snow and snow already on the ground in combination with very strong winds resulted in blizzard conditions across western lower Michigan on February 3rd. The maximum snowfall total for a twelve hour period was eight inches and the maximum snowfall for a 24 hour period was 12 inches.
Every event with a place to put it; 15 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS GRR wrote it up.
The combination of lake effect snow and snow already on the ground in combination with very strong winds resulted in blizzard conditions across western lower Michigan on February 3rd. The maximum snowfall total for a twelve hour period was eight inches and the maximum snowfall for a 24 hour period was 12 inches. The highest snowfall total for the entire event was 17 inches in Grandville.|The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids reported visibility at or under a quarter of a mile from 930 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Saturday February 3rd and numerous other observation sites across far western lower Michigan also reported blizzard conditions. The majority of locations within two counties of the Lake Michigan shoreline reported sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third. |The blizzard conditions resulted in numerous road closures, power outages and numerous car accidents.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Grand Rapids, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 2, 4:13 PM EST, 2 hours 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI 413 PM EST FRI FEB 2 2007 .UPDATE... WILL BE CONTINUING THE GOING HEADLINES THROUGH 1000PM. SO...BLIZZARD WARNINGS FOR THE LAKESHORE...EXTENDING EAST THROUGH GRAND RAPIDS... IONIA...CHARLOTTE...BATTLE CREEK AND WEST THROUGH KALAMAZOO AND SOUTH HAVEN. WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM BALDWIN SOUTH THROUGH NEWAYGO AND STANTON. FINALLY...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES IN THE FAR EAST FROM EVART AND CLARE SOUTH THROUGH LANSING AND JACKSON. SURFACE PRESSURE RISE/FALL COUPLET CONTINUES TO HEAD EAST THROUGH SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN WITH WIND GUSTS FLIRTING WITH BLIZZARD WARNING CRITERIA OF 30 KNOTS. VISIBILITIES ARE NEAR AND BELOW A QUARTER MILE STILL AT QUITE A FEW SITES. EXPECT WINDS TO DROP BELOW BLIZZARD CRITERIA OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW HOURS. BETWEEN 500PM AND 900PM...EXPECT THE BLIZZARD GUSTS...IN EXCESS OF 30 KNOTS...TO END. EVENING SHIFT WILL BE CHANGING UP THE HEADLINES FROM BLIZZARD AND WINTER STORM TO ONES THAT WILL DEAL WITH THE ONGOING LAKE EFFECT SNOW AND BORDERLINE WIND CHILL VALUES. EXPECT THE LAKE EFFECT TO CONTINUE...WITH THE SNOW TRANSITIONING TO THE LAKESHORE COUNTIES AND AN INTERSTATE 94 BAND. THE HEAVIEST TOTALS WILL BE IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST FROM HOLLAND TO ALLEGAN TO KALAMAZOO AND BACK WEST TO SOUTH HAVEN AND SAUGATUCK. THE NORTHERN LAKESHORE ZONES FROM MUSKEGON COUNTY NORTHWARD WILL CONTINUE TO SEE LAKE EFFECT SNOW CONTINUE AS WELL...BUT TOTALS WILL PROBABLY NOT BE AS SIGNIFICANT AS THE SOUTHWEST GIVEN THE UPSTREAM FETCH LENGTHS (LONGER INTO THE SOUTHWEST). I-94 BAND WILL BE AIDED BY THE COLD AIR WRAPPING AROUND THE BOTTOM OF LAKE MICHIGAN...WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEE IN QUITE SOME TIME. THE THERMAL DIFFERENCES WILL AID IN CONVERGENCE AND HENCE VERTICAL MOTION. THINKING 2-4 INCHES IN THE NORTHERN LAKE SHORE...3-5 IN THE SOUTHWEST AND 2-4 OVER TOWARD MARSHALL AND JACKSON. ADDITIONAL SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY AS WELL...WITH MUCH THE SAME SCENARIO IN PLACE. SHORTWAVE DROPPING IN FROM THE NORTHWEST WILL LIKELY FLARE UP THE LAKE EFFECT FROM ABOUT MID MORNING ON. FLAKE SIZE WILL BE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED THOUGH BY THE COLD AIR. DENDRITIC GROWTH ZONE IS QUITE SMALL AND VERY LOW IN THE CONVECTIVE BOUNDARY LAYER. LOOKING FOR ANOTHER 2-4 INCHES IN THE SOUTHWEST AND NEAR THE LAKE AND 1-3 INLAND TOWARD JACKSON. LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE IN SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN SUNDAY NIGHT...TAPERING OFF QUITE A BIT INTO MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT AT THE RH DECREASES. .LONG TERM... NOT TOO MUCH TIME TO DIG INTO THE EXTENDED WITH THE ONGOING WINTER HEADLINES IN THE SHORT TERM THIS AFTERNOON. NORTHWEST UPPER CYCLONIC FLOW IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE CWFA PRETTY MUCH THROUGH THE DAY 7 PERIOD. LAKE EFFECT WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE WITH OCCASIONAL FLARE UPS AS HARD TO TIME SHORT WAVES DIVE THROUGH THE AREA. THE PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION WILL BE MAINLY NW WITH SOME FLUCTUATION EXPECTED CENTERED AROUND ANY TROUGH PASSAGES. TWO MAIN WAVES EXPECTED ARE EXPECTED TO COME THROUGH WHICH WILL BRING SOME SYNOPTIC SNOW ALONG WITH LAKE ENHANCEMENT. THESE WAVES AT THIS POINT LOOK TO COME THROUGH DURING THE WED AND FRI PERIODS. && .GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 10 PM... MASON-OCEANA-MUSKEGON-OTTAWA-KENT-ALLEGAN-BARRY-VAN BUREN-IONIA-EATON-CALHOUN-KALAMAZOO WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM... LAKE-NEWAYGO-MONTCALM- WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM... OSCEOLA-CLARE-MECOSTA-ISABELLA-GRATIOT-CLINTON-INGHAM-JACKSON- GALE WARNING FOR OUR NEARSHORE WATERS FROM ST. JOSEPH TO MANISTEE. && DUKE NJJ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI 508 PM EST FRI FEB 2 2007 MIZ037>040-043>046-050>052-056>059-064>067-071>074-031030- MASON-LAKE-OSCEOLA-CLARE-OCEANA-NEWAYGO-MECOSTA-ISABELLA-MUSKEGON- MONTCALM-GRATIOT-OTTAWA-KENT-IONIA-CLINTON-ALLEGAN-BARRY-EATON- INGHAM-VAN BUREN-KALAMAZOO-CALHOUN-JACKSON- 508 PM EST FRI FEB 2 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT OCCASIONAL LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WILL BECOME HEAVIER...ESPECIALLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. BY DAYBREAK ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 4 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE WHERE THE BANDS PERSIST. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL BE A HAZARD...ESPECIALLY EARLY THIS EVENING WITH GUSTY WEST WINDS OF UP TO 30 MPH EXPECTED. WIND CHILL VALUES COULD REACH 10 BELOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY DANGEROUSLY COLD AIR WILL AFFECT THE REGION FROM SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... WITH WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS 25 BELOW AT TIMES. LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE AS WELL. LOCAL ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS THIS WEEKEND COULD TOP 1 FOOT. NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE MAINLY SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS EXPECTED. ROADS MAY BECOME IMPASSABLE. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THE UNSEASONABLY COLD WEATHER WILL PERSIST THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. SUBZERO TEMPERATURES WILL BE POSSIBLE AT NIGHT AND DURING THE MORNINGS. SEVERAL EPISODES OF SNOW SHOWERS...WITH SOME ACCUMULATIONS...WILL BE POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... PLEASE SUBMIT SNOWFALL REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GRR/SPOTTER. LAKE EFFECT SNOWFALL IS TYPICALLY QUITE VARIABLE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER AND THESE REPORTS WILL HELP US WITH STORM VERIFICATION. LMZ844>849-031030- ST JOSEPH TO SOUTH HAVEN-SOUTH HAVEN TO HOLLAND- HOLLAND TO GRAND HAVEN-GRAND HAVEN TO WHITEHALL- WHITEHALL TO PENTWATER-PENTWATER TO MANISTEE- 508 PM EST FRI FEB 2 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT WAVES OF 6 TO 9 FEET ON LAKE MICHIGAN IN ICE FREE AREAS WILL POSE A THREAT TO SMALL CRAFT TONIGHT. STAY AWAY FROM ANY ICE IN THE NEARSHORE WATERS. PIERS WILL ALSO LIKELY BECOME ICE COVERED AND VERY SLIPPERY THROUGH THE WEEKEND. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WAVES OF 4 FEET OR MORE WILL BE COMMON ON LAKE MICHIGAN IN ICE FREE AREAS SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. MEADE MJS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 blizzard, 3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Up to six inches of snow fell along with wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to ten inches of snow fell along with wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to twelve inches of snow fell along with wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to fifteen inches of snow fell along with a wind gust up to 56 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to fifteen inches of snow fell along with sustained winds of 20 to 30 m.p.h. and a wind gust up to 41 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to four inches of snow fell along with sustained winds of 20 to 30 m.p.h. with gusts to 40 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to eighteen inches of snow fell along with sustained winds of 20 to 30 m.p.h. with gusts as high as 56 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to eight inches of snow fell along with sustained winds of 20 to 30 m.p.h. with gusts as high as 40 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to two inches of snow fell along with sustained winds of 20 to 30 m.p.h. with gusts as high as 40 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to twenty inches of snow fell along with sustained winds of 20 to 30 m.p.h. with gusts as high as 40 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to four inches of snow fell along with sustained winds of 20 to 30 m.p.h. with gusts as high as 40 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
Up to three inches of snow fell along with sustained winds of 20 to 30 m.p.h. with gusts as high as 40 m.p.h. which resulted in visibility at or below a quarter of a mile during the late morning and afternoon hours of the third.
A winter storm resulted in storm total snowfall up to six inches and wind gusts up to 40 m.p.h.
A winter storm resulted in storm total snowfall up to ten inches and wind gusts up to 40 m.p.h.
A winter storm resulted in storm total snowfall up to six inches and wind gusts up to 40 m.p.h.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, February 2007
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 18466, 18467, 18468, 18470, 18471, 18472, 18473, 18474, 18475, 18476, 18477, 18478, 18479, 18480, 18481.