An area of low pressure moved from Kansas City, Missouri to north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. m.
Every event with a place to put it; 23 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.
An area of low pressure moved from Kansas City, Missouri to north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Snow spread into southwest lower Michigan out ahead of the low, starting in South Haven at around 2:00 a.m. on the nineteenth.
The snow quickly spread north and began in Mount Pleasant at around 4:30 a.m. Heavy Snow occurred across most of the area between 5:00 a.m. and 1:00 pm, with snowfall rates reaching 1 to 2 inches per hour at times. Thundersnow was even reported at locations across southern lower Michigan, evidence to the instability in place with this system.
Some sleet and freezing rain mixed in along the Interstate 94 corridor. The heaviest snow occurred in a swath from Pentwater south to Holland, east through Newaygo, Grand Rapids, Alma and St. John's. Another maximum of snow was found across south central lower Michigan from Bellevue in Eaton county southeast to Vandercook Lake in Jackson county.
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 Dec 18, 11:20 PM EST, 3 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI 1120 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008 LATEST UPDATE...AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS...(345 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008) A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. A SNOWSTORM WILL DROP 6 TO 9 INCHES OF SNOW ACROSS SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN BEGINNING TONIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON FRIDAY. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON. A CLIPPER TYPE STORM WILL DROP MORE SNOW OVER THE WEEKEND. THE LONG RANGE OUTLOOK FOR CHRISTMAS DAY SHOWS COLD BUT FAIR WEATHER. && .SHORT TERM...(837 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008) (TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY) WE HAVE UPDATED LOW TEMPERATURES FOR THE TONIGHT PERIOD...AND ADJUSTED CLOUD COVER A BIT FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS. SOME BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE NE AND SE PORTIONS OF THE CWFA EARLY THIS EVENING. THIS ALONG WITH INITIALLY LIGHT WINDS HAVE ALLOWED TEMPS TO FALL BACK INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS OVER OSCEOLA AND CLARE COUNTIES...WITH TEENS OVER THE SE CORNER. TEMPS WILL RISE IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS AS CLOUD COVER THICKENS AND AS WINDS INCREASE WITH THE APPROACH OF THE STORM SYSTEM. EVERYTHING ELSE REMAINS ON TRACK ATTM. HAVE DELAYED THE ONSET OF THE WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 06Z AS MODELS ARE SHOWING A LATER ONSET OF THE SNOW. STILL EXPECTING WARNING CRITERIA ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THE ONLY POSSIBLE EXCEPTIONS WILL BE ACROSS AREAS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 94 WHERE SOME SLEET COULD MIX IN AT TIMES TOMORROW MORNING...WHICH WOULD HOLD TOTALS DOWN...OR ACROSS AREAS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 10...ALONG THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE SNOW SHIELD. SNOW TOTALS WERE TWEAKED DOWN SLIGHTLY...BUT ARE SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. THE TWEAKING WAS BASED ON THE HEIGHT OF THE DGZ WHICH BOTH THE NAM AND GFS SHOW TO BE UP NEAR 15 KFT AT THE TIME OF BEST OMEGA. THIS WOULD TEND TO RESULT IN LOWER SNOW TO LIQUID RATIOS. ENDED UP GOING WITH ABOUT AN 11 TO 1 RATIO. FOR TONIGHT...SNOW WILL BREAK OUT AROUND MIDNIGHT ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST FORECAST AREA AND SPREAD NORTHEAST...WITH ONE TO TWO INCH AND HOUR SNOWFALL RATES POSSIBLE AS MID LEVEL FGEN FORCING RESULTS IN OMEGA BULLSEYE OF 20 TO 25 MICROBAR/SEC INTERSECTING THE DGZ BETWEEN 08Z AND 12Z. TWEAKED MIN TEMPS DOWN A BIT BASED ON GUIDANCE AND CURRENT TEMPS. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE UNTIL AROUND 18Z AS THE DGZ STAYS SATURATED AND FGEN FORCING REMAINS...AND THEN WIND DOWN QUICKLY AS THE DGZ BECOMES UNSATURATED. BLOWING AND DRIFTING WILL BE A PROBLEM AS MODEL PROFILES SHOWING AT LEAST 30 KTS OF WIND IN THE MIXING LAYER BETWEEN 12Z FRIDAY AND 00Z SATURDAY. QUIET WEATHER EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...WITH LOWER MICHIGAN IN WEAK SFC RIDGING IN BETWEEN STORMS. && .LONG TERM...(345 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008) (SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY) THE ACTIVE PERIOD WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK. NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STREAM SYSTEMS MERGE SATURDAY NIGHT AS A CLIPPER AND GULF MOISTURE COME TOGETHER. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE ANOTHER HEADLINE EVENT...BUT WE WILL WAIT UNTIL THE PRESENT SYSTEM IS THROUGH. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WITH THIS SYSTEM SHOULD OCCUR ACROSS THE NW CWA WHERE THERE WILL BE SOME LAKE ENHANCEMENT. LESSER SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE SE CWA. LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST INTO SUNDAY NIGHT...BUT SHOULD WIND DOWN ON MONDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE APPROACHES. THE HIGH PRESSURE THAT COMES IN BY MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT WAS OVER THE YUKON TODAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY THERE WILL BE A VERY COLD AIR MASS THAT COMES IN WITH THE HIGH. TEMPS WILL DROP INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND ONLY RECOVER TO THE TEENS ON MONDAY. THE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO DISRUPT THE LAKE EFFECT TO ONLY FLURRIES BY MONDAY AFTERNOON AND MONDAY NIGHT. RETURN FLOW ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH WILL BRING A RETURN TO GULF MOISTURE. MORE SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE INTO TUESDAY ON THE HEELS OF WARM ADVECTION. THE SNOW FALL COULD BECOME RATHER STEADY ONCE AGAIN TUESDAY NIGHT AS GENEROUS AMOUNTS OF GULF MOISTURE IS FED TOWARD THE GREAT LAKES AS A COLD FRONT IS PROGGED TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA. ANOTHER SURGE OF COLD AIR WILL BRING MORE LAKE EFFECT ON CHRISTMAS EVE...THAT SHOULD WIND DOWN ON CHRISTMAS DAY WITH ANOTHER HIGH MOVING IN. && .MARINE...(345 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008) EAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT AND ON FRIDAY AS THE WINTER STORM MOVES THROUGH. THE OFFSHORE WIND WILL MEAN WAVES SHOULD BE AT OR BELOW 4 FEET THROUGH SATURDAY. && .AVIATION...(1120 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008) NO BIG CHANGES MADE TO GOING TAFS. LOW CLOUDS AND LIGHT HAZE/FOG ARE CURRENTLY MOSTLY IN OVER THE TAF SITES. HAVE MVFR CONDITIONS THROUGH 08-10Z BEFORE LOWERING THEM TO IFR. WINDS ARE CALM OR LIGHT OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST. A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION AROUND 08Z TO 10Z. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BECOME HEAVY SOON AFTER ONSET AND CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WILL PLUNGE INTO THE LIFR RANGE. SEVEN TO TEN HOURS OF STEADY SNOW IS EXPECTED... SO THE BULK OF THE MORNING WILL STAY LIFR. WINDS WILL BACK TO THE EAST NORTHEAST... STRENGTHEN AND BECOME GUSTY AS THE SNOW IS OCCURRING. INTRODUCED BLOWING SNOW TO THE TAF SITES AROUND DAYBREAK AND CARRIED IT THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. HAVE ALL TAF SITES BECOMING MVFR IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING... AS THE SYSTEM DEPARTS THE REGION AND THE SNOW WINDS DOWN. HAVE OPTED TO END THE SNOW AROUND 00Z. && .HYDROLOGY...(345 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008) HYDRO ISSUES ARE MINIMAL DUE TO SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURES. && .GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LM...NONE. MI...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE ENTIRE AREA TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. && SYNOPSIS: OSTUNO SHORT TERM: NJJ/OSTUNO LONG TERM: JK MARINE: OSTUNO AVIATION: IOD HYDROLOGY: OSTUNO
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI 357 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008 MIZ037>040-043>046-050>052-056>059-064>067-071>074-191130- MASON-LAKE-OSCEOLA-CLARE-OCEANA-NEWAYGO-MECOSTA-ISABELLA-MUSKEGON- MONTCALM-GRATIOT-OTTAWA-KENT-IONIA-CLINTON-ALLEGAN-BARRY-EATON- INGHAM-VAN BUREN-KALAMAZOO-CALHOUN-JACKSON- 357 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND ONE TO TWO INCH SNOWFALL RATES CAN BE EXPECTED BY DAYBREAK FRIDAY. A TOTAL OF 3 TO 5 INCHES WILL FALL BY DAYBREAK...AND CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE HEAVY SNOW WILL PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...BUT TAPER OFF IN THE AFTERNOON. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 9 INCHES ARE FORECASTED...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION SOME SLEET COULD MIX IN WITH THE SNOW...ESPECIALLY ALONG INTERSTATE 94. EAST WINDS COULD GUST TO OVER 30 MPH...LEADING TO BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE SNOW. ANOTHER STORM COULD IMPACT THE REGION SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY NIGHT WITH MORE ACCUMULATING SNOW. A THIRD STORM COULD ARRIVE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK WITH ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED...BUT SNOWFALL REPORTS TONIGHT WOULD BE HELPFUL. LMZ844>849-191130- ST JOSEPH TO SOUTH HAVEN MI-SOUTH HAVEN TO HOLLAND MI- HOLLAND TO GRAND HAVEN MI-GRAND HAVEN TO WHITEHALL MI- WHITEHALL TO PENTWATER MI-PENTWATER TO MANISTEE MI- 357 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT LOW VISIBILITIES DUE TO HEAVY SNOW ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE LOW VISIBILITIES WILL LINGER INTO FRIDAY. WINDS AND WAVES WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS TO SMALL CRAFT SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. OSTUNO
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
23 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Four to eight inches of snow and ice pellets were reported.
Four to eight inches of snow and ice pellets were reported.
Four to eight inches of snow and ice pellets were reported.
Four to eight inches of snow and ice pellets were reported.
A total of eight to twelve inches of snow was reported.
A total of eight to twelve inches of snow was reported.
A total of eight to twelve inches of snow was reported.
A total of eight to twelve inches of snow was reported.
Four to eight inches of snow and ice pellets were reported.
Four to eight inches of snow and ice pellets were reported.
Four to eight inches of snow and ice pellets were reported.
A total of eight to twelve inches of snow was reported.
A total of eight to twelve inches of snow was reported.
A total of eight to twelve inches of snow was reported.
Four to eight inches of snow and ice pellets were reported.
Six to nine inches of snow was reported.
Six to nine inches of snow was reported.
Six to nine inches of snow was reported.
Six to nine inches of snow was reported.
Eight to twelve inches of snow was reported.
Six to twelve inches of snow was reported.
Six to nine inches of snow was reported.
Six to nine inches of snow was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, December 2008
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: 142357, 142358, 142355, 142356, 142348, 142351, 142352, 142353, 142359, 142361, 142362, 142349, 142350, 142354, 142360, 142340, 142341, 142342, 142343, 142344, 142345, 142346, 142347.