Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in Michigan, January 14 to 15, 2007

Name: Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in Michigan, January 14 to 15, 2007
Start: 2007-01-14T21:00
End: 2007-01-15T08:00
Location: Michigan

January 14 to 15, 2007 · NWS DTX · 14 events in 14 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $2.0 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 14

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 DTX wrote it up.

A strong and developing low pressure system lifted northeast out of the Plains and tracked across northwest Ohio and eventually into upstate New York. Cold arctic air, drawn from the north, clashed with warm moist air from the Gulf to create a favorable setup for all types of winter precipitation across Southeast Michigan. An ice storm ensued from I-69 south to I-94. Widespread ice accumulations of a quarter to a half inch brought down numerous trees, power poles and power lines. Over 150,000 customers were without power at one time during the ice storm. Many were without power for 2 days, and some for over 3 days. Several senior homes lost power and 200 residents had to be evacuated from one of them. Most of the damage and associated power outages occurred between M59 and I94. Although roads were just warm enough to remain mainly wet, patchy slick spots and downed tree debris made traveling very hazardous. Along and just north of the I-69 corridor, a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow fell, where reports confirmed up to 5 inches of snow and one tenth of an inch of ice. Mostly all snow fell across the Tri-Cities and Thumb, where 4 to 6 inches of snow accumulated across portions of these areas. Although many schools were already closed to observe Martin Luther King Jr Day, nearly all of the other schools in Southeast Michigan closed on Monday due to the storm, with the exception of Monroe county schools, where precipitation fell as mostly rain. Over 50 Detroit metro area schools remained closed on Tuesday due to power outages. Numerous car accidents occurred across the affected areas. Several vehicles were destroyed by large trees that fell under the extra weight of the ice and there were at least two incidents of trees falling onto moving vehicles. Most injuries (all indirect) were minor. Total property damage was roughly estimated in excess of $2M. This included damage to vehicles, homes, businesses, and electrical poles and transformers. Downed power lines also sparked several garage fires. In addition, many businesses in the hardest hit areas reported losses due to the extended power outages.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 ice storm, 4 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Washtenaw

When: January 14, 9:00 PM EST to January 15, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Washtenaw forecast zone
Property damage: $350,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.253, -83.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

By 0300 EST on the 15th, spotters were reporting up to 1/2 inch of ice on vegetative and elevated surfaces across the central and northern sections of the county. Numerous tree branches and power lines were downed across the area due to the extra weight of the ice. Approximately 30,000 customers lost power and area hotels reported a substantial increase in bookings from those who remained without power Monday night. Total property damage was roughly estimated at $350K, mostly caused by ice weighted trees and live power lines falling on homes and businesses.

Ice Storm, Wayne

When: January 14, 9:00 PM EST to January 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.285, -83.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

By 0300 EST on the 15th, spotters were reporting up to 1/4 inch of ice on vegetative and elevated surfaces across the county. Numerous tree branches were downed across the area due to the extra weight of the ice. Approximately 20,000 customers lost power. Total property damages were roughly estimated at $300K.

Winter Weather, Lenawee

When: January 14, 9:00 PM EST to January 15, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Lenawee forecast zone
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.895, -84.066 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A local newspaper included pictures of trees down in Hudson, crushing at least one vehicle. Ice accumulations up to 2/10 of an inch were reported.

Ice Storm, Shiawassee

When: January 14, 10:00 PM EST to January 15, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Shiawassee forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.954, -84.147 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

By 0300 EST on the 15th, spotters were reporting 3/10 of an inch of ice on vegetative and elevated surfaces mainly across the central and southern sections of the county. Numerous tree branches were downed across the area due to the extra weight of the ice. One to two inches of snow fell on top of the ice around sunrise.

Ice Storm, Genesee

When: January 14, 10:00 PM EST to January 15, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Genesee forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.022, -83.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

By 0300 EST on the 15th, spotters were reporting up to 3/10 of an inch of ice on vegetative and elevated surfaces across the central and southern sections of the county. Numerous tree branches were downed across those areas due to the extra weight of the ice. Total damages were roughly estimated at $100K.

Ice Storm, Lapeer

When: January 14, 10:00 PM EST to January 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Lapeer forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.090, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

By 0300 EST on the 15th, spotters were reporting 1/4 inch of ice on vegetative and elevated surfaces mainly across the central and southern sections of the county. Numerous tree branches were downed across the area due to the extra weight of the ice. An inch of snow fell on top of the ice around sunrise. Total property damages were roughly estimated at $75K.

Ice Storm, Livingston

When: January 14, 10:00 PM EST to January 15, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.603, -83.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

By 0200 EST on the 15th, spotters were reporting 3/10 of an inch of ice on vegetative and elevated surfaces across the county. Several trees, along with numerous tree branches and power lines, were downed due to the extra weight of the ice. Around 10,000 customers in Livingston County lost power. Several vehicles sustained substantial damage from trees and branches that fell on top of them. Total property damage was roughly estimated at $300K.

Ice Storm, Oakland

When: January 14, 10:00 PM EST to January 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Oakland forecast zone
Property damage: $450,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.660, -83.386 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

By 0300 EST on the 15th, spotters were reporting 1/4 inch of ice on vegetative and elevated surfaces across the county. Ice accumulations of a half inch were observed across southern portions of the county during the morning of the 15th. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Approximately 60,000 customers lost power. Numerous vehicles sustained damage. At least two vehicles were totaled after being crushed by large trees. No injuries were reported. Total property damage was roughly estimated at $450K.

Heavy Snow, Huron

When: January 14, 11:00 PM EST to January 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Huron forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.910, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter reported 5.9 inches of snow between 2300 EST on the 14th and 0800 EST on the 15th.

Ice Storm, St. Clair

When: January 14, 11:00 PM EST to January 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where: St. Clair forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.931, -82.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

By 0200 EST on the 15th, spotters were reporting 3/10 of an inch of ice on vegetative and elevated surfaces across the county. Several trees were downed across the area due to the extra weight of the ice. Up to 2 inches of snow fell on top of the ice around sunrise across the northern sections of the county. Total property damages were roughly estimated at $100K.

Ice Storm, Macomb

When: January 14, 11:00 PM EST to January 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Macomb forecast zone
Property damage: $325,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.673, -82.910 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

By 0200 EST on the 15th, spotters were reporting 3/10 of an inch of ice on vegetative and elevated surfaces across the county. Numerous tree branches were downed across the area due to the extra weight of the ice. Approximately 30,000 customers lost power. Total property damages were roughly estimated at $325K.

Winter Weather, Midland

When: January 14, 11:00 PM EST to January 15, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Midland forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.647, -84.388 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trained spotters reported 5 inches of snow across the county. Nearly all Midland County schools cancelled classes on Monday, January the 15th, due to the snow.

Winter Weather, Bay

When: January 14, 11:00 PM EST to January 15, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Bay forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.721, -83.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trained spotters reported 4 to 5 inches of snow and minor icing across the county.

Winter Weather, Saginaw

When: January 14, 11:00 PM EST to January 15, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Saginaw forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.335, -84.053 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trained spotters reported a mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow across the county. Up to 5 inches of snow and a tenth of an inch of ice was reported in Saginaw county. The northern portions received more snow and the southern portions received more ice.

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
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

Every storm in Michigan in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history Warnings in Michigan, January 2007

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: 8275, 8276, 13004, 8266, 8268, 8270, 8272, 8273, 8267, 8271, 8274, 10374, 10438, 10439.