A clipper low pressure system tracking across Lake Superior and stalling out over southeast Ontario brought moderate snow and locally heavy lake effect snow to portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 17th into the 20th.
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.
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 MQT wrote it up.
A clipper low pressure system tracking across Lake Superior and stalling out over southeast Ontario brought moderate snow and locally heavy lake effect snow to portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 17th into the 20th.
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 Marquette, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 17, 5:45 AM EST, 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
545 AM EST SAT JAN 17 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
10Z WATER VAPOR IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOWS WELL-DEFINED
SHORTWAVE DIGGING SOUTH INTO NRN MN. DPVA AND STRONG 280-285K
ISENTROPIC ASCENT AHEAD OF THIS SHORTWAVE HAS SPREAD LIGHT TO
MODERATE SNOW INTO THE FCST AREA THIS MORNING AS NOTED ON REGIONAL
RADAR LOOP AND SFC OBS.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
AS SHORTWAVE FROM NORTHERN PLAINS DIGS SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE FORECAST
AREA THIS MORNING DEEP Q-VECT CONV AND 280-285K ISENTROPIC ASCENT
WILL SPREAD E ACROSS UPR MI. PERIOD OF STRONG ISENTROPIC ASCENT IS
FAIRLY BRIEF (6-9 HRS) WITH MIXING RATIOS OF 2G/KG AVBL. LOOK FOR
TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS GENERALLY FROM 2-3 INCHES ACROSS THE WEST AND
NCNTRL COUNTIES. EXPECT HIGHER AMOUNTS OF 3-5 INCHES ALONG THE WI
BDR COUNTIES CLOSER TO BEST LIFT AND NORTH OF THE TRACK OF DEEPENING
SFC LOW. DEEP LAYER WITHIN DENDRITIC GROWTH ZONE AS NOTED ON MODEL
SNDGS WILL ALSO YIELD HIGH SNOW/WATER RATIOS PROBABLY FROM 20-25/1.
THUS...SNOW ADVISORIES STILL LOOK GOOD FOR IRON THROUGH MNM COUNTIES
THIS MORNING INTO MID AFTERNOON. LAKE ENHANCEMENT OFF LAKE MI IS
ALSO A GOOD POSSIBILITY AS MESOSCALE MODELS INDICATE LOW-LVL FLOW
SHIFTING FROM SW TO MORE SRLY DIRECTION BY LATE MORNING.
HOWEVER...SINCE MODELS INDICATE THAT THE BEST CONVERGENCE NEVER
STAYS OVER ONE AREA FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE OF HRS...HAVE DECIDED
AGAINST UPGRADING ADVISORY TO WARNING FOR DELTA AND SRN SCHOOLCRAFT.
WILL MAINTAIN HIGH END ADVISORY AMTS OF 3-7 INCHES...HIGHEST OVER
THE GARDEN PENINSULA INTO SRN SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY.
IN THE WAKE OF THE TODAY'S CLIPPER SYSTEM...EXPECT MORE LAKE EFFECT
SNOW IN A CYCLONIC NRLY FLOW LATE TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY AS H85 TEMPS
FALL TO -16/-17C. SOUNDINGS INDICATE INVERSIONS UP TO 5KFT AND
LINGERING DEEP MOISTURE LEFT OVR FM THE DEPARTING LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM. ALSO PROGGED OMEGA/LIFT IS WITHIN MORE FAVORABLE SNOW GROWTH
REGION AS NOTED ON MODEL FCST SNDGS. GIVEN FAVORABLE SNOW GROWTH AND
GOOD LLVL CONV...ESPECIALLY OVER GOGEBIC-ONTONAGON AND MQT COUNTY
WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED TO SEE LOCAL SNOW ACCUMS REACH ADVISORY
CRITERIA FOR ANY 12 HR PD. GIVEN THAT THERE IS STILL SOME MODEL
DISCREPANCY AS TO EXACTLY WHERE THE MORE DOMINANT BANDS WILL FORM...
HAVE DECIDED TO KEEP SNOW AMTS JUST BLO ADVISORY CRITERIA FOR
NOW...BUT THIS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED ON THE DAY SHIFT FOR A
POSSIBLE HEADLINE LATE TODAY INTO SUNDAY.
FLOW SHOULD BEGIN TO WEAKEN SUNDAY NIGHT AS SFC RIDGE ADVANCES FROM
THE WEST IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER CLIPPER SYSTEM DIVING SOUTH FROM
CANADA. LOOK FOR WINDS TO GRADUALLY BACK NW AS LAKE EFFECT SNOW
TAPERS OFF ACROSS THE NRN TIER.
DPVA/Q-VECT CONV SPREADING ACROSS THE AREA AHEAD OF THE NEXT CLIPPER
SYSTEM SHOULD BRING ANOTHER SHOT OF LIGHT SNOW ON MONDAY. WILL KEEP
CHC POPS ACROSS THE FCST AREA WITH HIGHER CHC POPS OVER THE NRN TIER
CLOSER TO THE TRACK OF THE SHORTWAVE AND WITH A POSSIBILITY OF MORE
LES BEHIND THE SYSTEM.
&&
.AVIATION (FOR THE 06Z TAF ISSUANCE)...
AT KCMX...VFR CONDITIONS WILL DROP TO IFR CIGS/VSBY BEFORE
DAYBREAK...THEN CONTINUE THROUGH THE MORNING. THIS LOWERING IN CIGS
AND VSBYS IS IN RESPONSE TO A CLIPPER SYSTEM DROPPING THROUGH THE
AREA. AS THE SNOW DIMINISHES IN THE AFTERNOON...CONDITIONS SHOULD
IMPROVE TO MVFR.
AT KSAW...DRY DOWNSLOPING SW FLOW WILL RESULT IN VFR CONDITIONS
PREVAILING FOR A FEW MORE HOURS. A CLIPPER SYSTEM DROPPING
INTO THE AREA SAT WILL BRING -SN AND IFR VIS/CIGS FOR SAT MORNING.
AS THE SNOW TAPERS OFF...SOME IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED BY LATE
SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO MVFR CONDITIONS.
&&
.MARINE (FOR THE 4 AM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE)...
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WILL DIMINISH ON WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR BY
SUNRISE DUE TO DIMINISHING WINDS. STRONGER SOUTHERLY FLOW ON EASTERN
LAKE SUPERIOR AHEAD OF A CLIPPER...COMBINED WITH A COLD AIRMASS IN
PLACE...WILL RESULT IN KEEPING HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY GOING THROUGH
TODAY. THE HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY ON EASTERN SUPERIOR SHOULD END THIS
EVENING AS WINDS DIMINISH THERE.
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY BLO GALE FORCE THRU THIS FCST PERIOD.
&&
.MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UPPER MICHIGAN...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST TODAY FOR MIZ010.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EST THIS
EVENING FOR MIZ013-014.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM THIS MORNING TO 3 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR MIZ011-012.
LAKE SUPERIOR...
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR
LSZ266-267.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING UNTIL 7 AM EST THIS MORNING FOR
LSZ263-264.
LAKE MICHIGAN...NONE.
&&
DISCUSSION...VOSS
AVIATION...JLB/AJ
MARINE...AJHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI 501 AM EST SAT JAN 17 2009 MIZ010>014-181300- IRON-DICKINSON-MENOMINEE-DELTA-SOUTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- 501 AM EST SAT JAN 17 2009 /401 AM CST SAT JAN 17 2009/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LOOK FOR MODERATE SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS TODAY...GREATEST NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. MIZ001>007-009-084-085-181300- KEWEENAW-ONTONAGON-NORTHERN HOUGHTON-BARAGA-MARQUETTE-ALGER-LUCE- GOGEBIC-SOUTHERN HOUGHTON-NORTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- 501 AM EST SAT JAN 17 2009 /401 AM CST SAT JAN 17 2009/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. LSZ162-263>267-181300- LAKE SUPERIOR WEST OF A LINE FROM SAXON HARBOR WI TO GRAND PORTAGE MN BEYOND 5NM- LAKE SUPERIOR FROM SAXON HARBOR WI TO UPPER ENTRANCE TO PORTAGE CANAL MI 5NM OFF SHORE TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER INCLUDING ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK- LAKE SUPERIOR FROM UPPER ENTRANCE TO PORTAGE CANAL TO MANITOU ISLAND MI 5NM OFF SHORE TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER- LAKE SUPERIOR WEST OF LINE FROM MANITOU ISLAND TO MARQUETTE MI BEYOND 5NM FROM SHORE- LAKE SUPERIOR EAST OF A LINE FROM MANITOU ISLAND TO MARQUETTE MI AND WEST OF A LINE FROM GRAND MARAIS MI TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER BEYOND 5NM FROM SHORE- LAKE SUPERIOR FROM GRAND MARAIS MI TO WHITEFISH POINT MI 5NM OFF SHORE TO THE US/CANADIAN BORDER- 501 AM EST SAT JAN 17 2009 /401 AM CST SAT JAN 17 2009/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR...CENTRAL LAKE SUPERIOR AND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT EXPECT HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY OVER WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR EARLY THIS MORNING AND ACROSS EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR THROUGH TODAY. SEE THE LATEST MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE AND MARINE FORECAST FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. AJ
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 winter weather, 3 lake-effect snow, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A spotter ten miles east of Manistique measured 14 inches of snow in 10 hours. The observer reported that highways were snow-packed and slippery, including Highway US-2.
The observer in Rockland measured 14 inches of snow in the 24-hour period ending on the morning of the 18th. The observer in Ontonagon measured 9 inches of snow in the 24-hour period ending on the morning of the 19th.
The observer in Amasa measured four inches of snow in six hours.
The spotter just east of Foster City measured a storm total snowfall of 7.2 inches.
Observers over eastern Delta County measured anywhere from 4 to 5 inches of snow in 12 hours.
The National Weather Service in Negaunee Township meassured 9.3 inches of lake effect snow in 24 hours and 6.6 inches in 12 hours.
Observers near Ironwood reported storm total snowfall amounts exceeding a foot.
Six inches of lake effect snow fell at Calumet over a 13-hour period.
Chatham received 4.5 inches of lake effect snow in less than six hours.
The observer in Mohawk measured five inches of snow in 12 hours.
The observer four miles northwest of Herman measured 10.5 inches of snow in 27 hours.
The observer eight miles southwest of Ontonagon measured 13 inches of snow in 24 hours.
Spotters reported six to seven inches of snow between Rock and Gladstone.
The observer four miles southeast of Harvey measured 12 inches of lake effect snow in eight hours. Six inches of snow fell between 5 and 630 pm on the 19th. The observer near Carlshend measured 18 inches of snow in less than 24 hours.
The National Weather Service in Negaunee Township measured 7.2 inches of snow in the 12-hour period ending on the morning of the 20th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, January 2009
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: 151382, 151391, 151384, 151385, 151386, 151393, 151580, 151398, 151399, 151397, 151396, 151392, 151395, 151394.