Michigan, 2010Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Michigan, December 5 to 7, 2010
December 5 to 7, 2010 · NWS IWX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
Multiple lake effect snow bands dropped accumulating snow across much of southwest Lower Michigan December 5th through December 7th. The heaviest snow fell across Berrien and Cass counties.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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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- Floods
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- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
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- 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.
Multiple lake effect snow bands dropped accumulating snow across much of southwest Lower Michigan December 5th through December 7th. The heaviest snow fell across Berrien and Cass counties. Gusty winds within these snow bands created widespread blowing and drifting snow.
Lake-Effect Snow, Berrien
- When
- December 5, 2:00 AM EST to December 7, 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- Berrien forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
A long duration lake effect snow event affected the area December 5th through December 7th. The lake effect snow bands were cellular and transitory, resulting in periods of moderate to heavy lake effect snow during this time. Snowfall totals for the entire event ranged from 5 inches in far southwestern portions of the county to around a foot of snow in eastern and northern Berrien County. A trained spotter reported 1 inch per hour snowfall rates and 6 inches of snow accumulation in just 10 hours on December 5th. This snowfall, combined with blowing and drifting snow from gusty winds, led to numerous accidents on area roadways and school closures.
Lake-Effect Snow, Cass
- When
- December 5, 5:00 AM EST to December 7, 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- Cass forecast zone
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 41.915, -85.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A long duration lake effect snow event affected the area December 5th through December 7th. The lake effect snow bands were cellular and transitory, resulting in periods of moderate to heavy lake effect snow during this time. Snowfall totals for the entire event ranged between 8 and 14 inches across the county. A CoCoRaHs observer in Dowagiac reported 12.5 inches of total snow accumulation. This snowfall, combined with blowing and drifting snow from gusty winds, led to numerous accidents on area roadways and school closures.
Winter Weather, St. Joseph
- When
- December 5, 9:00 AM EST to December 7, 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- St. Joseph forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 41.914, -85.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A long duration lake effect snow event affected the area December 5th through December 7th. The lake effect snow bands were cellular and transitory, resulting in periods of moderate lake effect snow during this time. Snowfall totals for the entire event generally ranged between 3 and 6 inches, heaviest across far western portions of the county. A trained spotter reported 3.5 inches of total snow accumulation in Three Rivers. This snowfall, combined with blowing and drifting snow from gusty winds, led to numerous accidents on area roadways. There were also school delays and closures.
Winter Weather, Branch
- When
- December 5, 9:00 AM EST to December 7, 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- Branch forecast zone
- Reported by
- CoCoRaHS
- Coordinates
- 41.916, -85.059 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A long duration lake effect snow event affected the area December 5th through December 7th. The lake effect snow bands were cellular and transitory, resulting in periods of moderate lake effect snow during this time. Snowfall totals for the entire event generally ranged between 1 and 4 inches, heaviest across far western portions of the county. This snowfall, combined with blowing and drifting snow from gusty winds, led to numerous accidents on area roadways. There were also school delays and closures.
- Lake-Effect Snow
- Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, December 5 to 8, 2010$125,000 · 8 events
- Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, December 5 to 8, 201011 events
- Avalanche in Colorado, December 5, 20101 injured · 1 event
- Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, December 5 to 7, 20108 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in West Virginia, December 5 to 8, 20106 events
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 5 to 7, 20106 events
- Heavy Snow in West Virginia, December 5 to 7, 20106 events
- Heavy Snow and Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, December 5 to 7, 20104 events
- Freezing Fog in Montana, December 5, 20103 events
- Heavy Snow in West Virginia, December 5 to 7, 20102 events
- High Wind in California, December 5, 201062 kt wind · 2 events
- Heavy Snow in California, December 5 to 6, 20102 events
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: 264841, 264842, 264850, 264851.