Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, November 17 to 18, 2014

Name: Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, November 17 to 18, 2014
Start: 2014-11-17T16:00
End: 2014-11-18T15:00
Location: Michigan

November 17 to 18, 2014 · NWS IWX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Persistent lake effect snow bands produced accumulating snow, blowing snow, and hazardous travel conditions late November 17th and November 18th. Total snow accumulations generally ranged between 3 and 8 inches, with localized amounts in excess of a foot.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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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Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 IWX wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Northern Indiana wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 17, 3:13 PM EST, 47 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 17, 3:13 PM EST, 47 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 17, 10:01 AM EST, 5 hours 59 minutes before

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 17, 10:37 AM EST, 5 hours 23 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Nov 17, 11:16 AM EST, 4 hours 44 minutes before

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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 lake-effect snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Lake-Effect Snow, Berrien

When: November 17, 4:00 PM EST to November 18, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Berrien forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media

Lake effect snow bands set up over mainly northern and eastern portions of the county, heaviest during the overnight hours when snowfall rates exceeded an inch per hour at times. Total snowfall amounts were highly variable, ranging from around an inch across southwest Berrien County to as much as a foot in eastern portions of the county. A spotter estimated 11 inches of snow accumulation in Niles. Gusty winds, rapid snow accumulation, and reduced visibilities created hazardous driving conditions and accidents across the area.

Lake-Effect Snow, Cass

When: November 17, 4:00 PM EST to November 18, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.915, -85.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake effect snow bands set up over the area, heaviest during the overnight hours when snowfall rates exceeded an inch per hour at times. Total snowfall amounts were highly variable, ranging from around 4 inches in southeast Cass County to more than a foot in northwestern portions of the county. A spotter reported 16.3 inches of snow accumulation near Dowagiac. Gusty winds, rapid snow accumulation, and reduced visibilities created hazardous driving conditions and accidents across the area.

Lake-Effect Snow, St. Joseph

When: November 17, 4:00 PM EST to November 18, 3:00 PM EST
Where: St. Joseph forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.914, -85.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake effect snow bands set up over the area, heaviest during the overnight hours when snowfall rates exceeded an inch per hour at times. Total snowfall amounts were highly variable, ranging from around 2 inches in southeast St. Joseph County to as much as 8 inches in northwestern portions of the county. A spotter reported 7 inches of snow accumulation near Three Rivers. Gusty winds, rapid snow accumulation, and reduced visibilities created hazardous driving conditions and accidents across the area.

What these are

Lake-Effect Snow: Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Michigan in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Michigan, November 2014

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: 543571, 543572, 543573.