The cold air and a favorable atmospheric setup for lake-effect snow led to a prolonged and record-breaking early season snowfall across much of the Great Lakes. Due to strong winds, the greatest snow amounts were recorded further inland.
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 GRR wrote it up.
The cold air and a favorable atmospheric setup for lake-effect snow led to a prolonged and record-breaking early season snowfall across much of the Great Lakes. Due to strong winds, the greatest snow amounts were recorded further inland. Grand Rapids and Muskegon each broke one daily snowfall record during this period. The snow that fell during the cold air outbreak in the middle of the month accounted for the vast majority of the monthly totals. Grand Rapids received 31.0 inches of snow for November, eclipsing the previous record of 28.2 inches in 1895. Muskegon accumulated 24.5 inches, falling short of the 1995 record of 25.7 inches. Lansing had 6.2 inches, still above normal for the month but not even in the top ten snowiest Novembers.
Synoptic and lake effect snow continued November 17-21 and the snow was heavy at times, resulting in hazardous travel conditions through the week. Total snowfall from November 13-21 reached 3 feet from north central Allegan county north to eastern Ottawa county. Total snowfall reports in excess of 2 feet were common along the US-131 corridor.
November 2014 was a remarkable month for cold and snow. Temperatures across Southwest Lower Michigan averaged well below normal, snowfall was above to well above normal, and precipitation was near to above normal. Grand Rapids had their snowiest November on record while Muskegon had their second snowiest. A number of daily temperature, snowfall, and precipitation records were also set.
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 Nov 17, 6:58 AM EST, 2 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 lake-effect snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Up to 16 to 20 inches of snow fell across portions of Mason county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
Up to 16 to 20 inches of snow fell across portions of Lake county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
More than 1 foot of snow fell across much of Calhoun County. Strong winds were reported as well with lengthy closures of main roads.
As much as two feet of snow fell across southeast Oceana county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
As much as two and a half feet of snow fell across southern Newaygo county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
More than 15 inches of snow fall across a large portion of Eaton County.
As much as two and a half feet of snow fell across eastern Muskegon county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
Up to three feet of snow fell across portions of eastern Ottawa county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
It was the snowiest November on record in Grand Rapids. Close to three feet of snow fell across portions of far southwestern Kent county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
Up to two feet of snow fell across portions of western Ionia county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
Up to three feet of snow fell across portions of Allegan county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
Up to two and a half feet of snow fell across portions of Barry county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
Close to a foot and a half of snow fell across portions of Van Buren county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
Close to a foot and a half of snow fell across portions of Kalamazoo county from November 17-21, resulting in very hazardous travel conditions.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, November 2014
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: 549673, 549674, 549675, 549676, 549677, 549678, 549679, 549681, 549682, 549683, 549684, 549685, 549686, 549687.