A low pressure system developing over the mid Mississippi River Valley then moving northeast into the Lower Great Lakes brought a strong cold front through Upper Michigan from late on the 3rd into the morning of the 4th. Moderate snow developed along the front with moderate lake effect snow and considerable blowing snow continuing into the 5th for the northwest wind snow belts near Lake Superior.
Every event with a place to put it; 15 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 low pressure system developing over the mid Mississippi River Valley then moving northeast into the Lower Great Lakes brought a strong cold front through Upper Michigan from late on the 3rd into the morning of the 4th. Moderate snow developed along the front with moderate lake effect snow and considerable blowing snow continuing into the 5th for the northwest wind snow belts near Lake Superior. Very cold wind chills of 25 to 40 below zero were also common across much of the area by the 5th. Many schools across Upper Michigan were closed on the 5th due to the combination of bitter cold wind chills and lake effect snow and blowing snow.
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 3, 7:01 PM EST, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
701 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015
.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY)
ISSUED AT 335 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015
UPPER MICHIGAN IS CURRENTLY BETWEEN THE STRONGER AND PRECIPITATION
PRODUCING SURFACE/UPPER LEVEL FEATURES. THE REMNANTS OF THE SURFACE
LOW THAT MOVED THROUGH MINNESOTA LAST NIGHT HAS LEFT A SURFACE
TROUGH OVER WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR THIS AFTERNOON. ON THE NORTHWEST
SIDE OF THAT TROUGH...SNOW HAS BEEN FALLING FOR MUCH OF THE DAY IN
THE MINNESOTA ARROWHEAD IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE MID LEVEL Q-VECTOR
CONVERGENCE AND THE RIGHT REAR OF THE SPLIT NORTHERN STREAM JET
STREAK. FARTHER SOUTH...WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A STRONG UPPER
WAVE LIFTING NORTHEAST OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS...WHILE A SECOND
WEAKER WAVE IS NEARING IT FROM THE NORTHWEST IN COLORADO. BETWEEN
THESE TWO FEATURES AND BEHIND THE SHORTWAVE THAT MOVED THROUGH
SOUTHEAST UPPER MICHIGAN LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING (PRODUCING
1-1.5IN OF SNOW NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN)...CLOUDY SKIES PREVAIL OVER
UPPER MICHIGAN. THIS IS DUE TO THE LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
TRAPPED BELOW THE DRYING ALOFT BEHIND THE SHORTWAVE. ONCE THE DEEPER
MOISTURE DEPARTED WITH THE SHORTWAVE...SAW A TRANSITION TO BR AND
REDUCED VISIBILITIES ON THE AUTOMATED STATIONS. CALLING AROUND TO
THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CWA HAS SHOWN A TRANSITION FROM WEST TO
EAST ALONG THE WISCONSIN BORDER TO FREEZING DRIZZLE OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF HOURS. FARTHER NORTH AT OUR OFFICE...WE HAVE BEEN JUST
SEEING A FEW FLURRIES DUE TO CLOUD LAYER BEING RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF
THE MORE FAVORABLE ICE CRYSTAL REGION. EXPECT THIS
BORDERLINE/LIMITED CONDITION TO CONTINUE OVER THE SOUTH CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEASTERN CWA INTO THE EVENING HOURS AND WILL SHOW THE POTENTIAL
FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE IN THE FORECAST. WILL ISSUE AN SPS TO
HIGHLIGHT THE FREEZING DRIZZLE AND UNTREATED ROADS BECOMING
SLIPPERY FOR THE AREAS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED BY THE ADVISORY.
OTHERWISE...EXPECT THE FREEZING DRIZZLE TO DIMINISH FROM WEST TO
EAST THIS EVENING AS THE DEEPER MOISTURE FROM THE FEATURE OVER
WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR MOVES OVER THE U.P. TONIGHT.
THE STRONG TROUGH IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL LIFT NORTHEAST
THROUGH THE LOWER GREAT LAKES REGION TONIGHT...STRENGTHENING A LOW
FROM 1007MB OVER SOUTHERN ILLINOIS TO 998MB BETWEEN LAKE
ERIE/ONTARIO AT 12Z SUNDAY. AS THAT OCCURS...THE MID LEVEL TROUGH
ASSOCIATED WITH THE SURFACE TROUGH OVER THE WESTERN LAKE WILL
DROP SOUTHEAST ACROSS UPPER MICHIGAN THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. THE
SYNOPTIC LIQUID EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION (TIED TO THE 850-650MB
FGEN) LOOKS TO BE IN THE 0.10-0.15 INCH RANGE FOR MOST OF THE CWA
THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. SNOW RATIOS INITIALLY WILL LIKELY BE AROUND
10-15 TO 1 AS THERE IS STILL A PERIOD OF THE CLOUD BEING ABOVE/BELOW
THE DGZ. BUT THERE WILL LIKELY BE A TRANSITION TO A BRIEF (2-4HR)
PERIOD LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING WHEN THE LOWEST 10-12KFT OF
THE ATMOSPHERE IS WITHIN THE DGZ. THIS WOULD LEAD TO A PERIOD OF
FLUFFIER SNOW AND RATIOS RISING TOWARDS OR EVEN ABOVE 20-1. DON/T
FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING MUCH ABOVE THAT DUE TO THE FORCING THAT IS
EXPECTED ABOVE THE DGZ. THUS...SYNOPTIC SNOW WOULD AMOUNT TO
1 TO 2.5-3.0 INCHES...WITH THE GREATEST OVER THE WEST HALF. BUT AS
IS NORMALLY THE CASE WITH LAKE SUPERIOR AND OUR TERRAIN
INFLUENCES...THAT ISN/T THE COMPLETE STORY ON THE SNOWFALL.
MUCH COLDER AIR WILL SURGE INTO THE AREA TONIGHT BEHIND THE
850-700MB TROUGH...WITH 850MB TEMPS FALLING FROM 19Z RAP ANALYZED
OF -5C TO -7C TO -19C EAST AND -24C WEST BY 18Z SUNDAY. THIS WILL
LEAD TO LAKE ENHANCEMENT DEVELOPING FROM WEST TO EAST TONIGHT AND
THEN TRANSITIONING TO PURE LAKE EFFECT AS THE DEEPER MOISTURE
DEPARTS ON SUNDAY. THE HELP FROM THE LAKE WILL BE FOCUSED IN THE
NORTHERLY WIND LOCATIONS OF THE WEST AND NORTH CENTRAL TONIGHT AND
THEN WINDS BACK TO THE NORTHWEST SUNDAY MORNING AND WEST-NORTHWEST
BY SUNDAY EVENING. WITH THAT COLD AIR SURGING IN...THE CLOUD LAYER
ON SUNDAY WILL TRANSITION TO BEING ABOVE THE DGZ. THUS...WOULD
EXPECT A TRANSITION OF THE SNOWFLAKES TO COLUMNS/PLATES AND LOWER
SNOW RATIOS BELOW 20-1. CONTINUED THE TREND TOWARDS THE HIGH
RESOLUTION MODELS FOR QPF AMOUNTS TONIGHT/SUNDAY IN THE
LAKE/TERRAIN ENHANCED AREAS (0.25-0.40 IN). THIS LEADS TO SNOWFALL
AMOUNTS OF 3-5 INCHES OF SNOW TONIGHT OVER THE FAVORED NORTH WIND
AREAS OVER THE WEST AND NORTH CENTRAL. THERE COULD BE SOME
LOCALIZED HIGHER AMOUNTS TOWARDS 5.5-6.0 INCHES. THE LOWERING RATIOS
ON SUNDAY WILL LEAD TO LOWER AMOUNTS OVER THE WEST...BUT COULD
STILL SEE 2-5 INCHES IN THE FAVORED NORTHWEST WINDS AREAS OVER THE
EAST. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...WINDS WILL QUICKLY INCREASE FROM
NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST TONIGHT...WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 30 TO 45 MPH
(HIGHEST NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR). THAT WILL LEAD TO BLOWING SNOW AND
COMBINED WITH THE EXPECTED SNOW...SHOULD SEE VISIBILITIES
FREQUENTLY REDUCED BELOW ONE MILE OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE
CWA. THUS...THINK THE GOING ADVISORY LOOKS GOOD WITH THE FORECASTED
SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AND IMPACT WITH THE REDUCED VISIBILITIES FROM
BLOWING SNOW. AS MENTIONED ABOVE...THINK SOME HIGHER TERRAIN
LOCATIONS FLIRTING WITH 12HR WARNING SNOWFALL AMOUNTS (DUE TO THE
OVERALL AVERAGE SNOW RATIO BEING JUST BELOW OUR LAKE EFFECT WARNING
CRITERIA). BUT WITH MUCH OF THE SNOW FALLING ON A WEEKEND
OVERNIGHT AND THE EXPECTED COVERAGE FAIRLY LOCALIZED...WILL KEEP
THE ADVISORY IN PLACE.
.LONG TERM...(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)
ISSUED AT 426 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015
TROUGHING AND WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES DOMINATES THE WEATHER
PATTERN FOR THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF 2015 OVER NORTH AMERICA. STILL
INDICTIONS THAT A TRANSITION TO ZONAL FLOW AND ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS
DEVELOPS BY MID MONTH. ECMWF INDICATES THIS PATTERN SWITCH MAY OCCUR
AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEKEND WHILE GFS IS A BIT SLOWER. WOULD TEND TO
THINK IT MAY TAKE LONGER GIVEN THE DEGREE OF COLD AIR OVER THE
REGION AS LATE AS FRIDAY. EITHER WAY THIS UPCOMING WEEK WILL BE A
VERY COLD ONE WITH SUBZERO HIGHS ON SOME DAYS AND DANGEROUSLY LOW
WIND CHILLS. PATTERN DOES NOT HOLD MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR WIDESPREAD
SNOW...BUT MAINLY LAKE EFFECT SNOW FOR AREAS NEAR LK SUPERIOR
FAVORED BY NORTHWEST OR WEST WINDS.
LES IN NW FLOW AREAS NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR WILL BE ONGOING SUNDAY NIGHT
IN WAKE OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING OVER THE CNTRL GREAT LAKES
ON SUNDAY. THOUGH MAIN SHORTWAVE AND SFC TROUGH WILL BE EAST OF THE
AREA...MULTIPLE SMALLER SHORTWAVES MAY PROVIDE SLIGHT ENHANCEMENT TO
LES. OVER-WATER INSTABILITY EASILY EXTREME WITH H85 TEMPS DOWN TO
-26C TO -28C AND 950MB TEMPS -22C TO -27C. LK SUPERIOR TEMPS STILL
+2C TO 3C. INVERSION HEIGHTS TOP OUT AT THE END OF THE FETCH OVER
EASTERN LK SUPERIOR 6-7KFT. DUE TO SUCH COLD AIR THE SLR/S WILL BE
WELL BLO 20:1 AS SNOWFLAKES WITHIN CONVECTIVE LAYER WILL BE PLATES
AND COLUMNS INSTEAD OF DENDRITES. RESULT IS A SNOW THAT WILL NOT
ADD UP MUCH IN TERMS OF ACCUMULATIONS...BUT WILL BE GOOD AT REDUCING
VISIBILITY. BASED ON 925MB WINDS...STEADIER LES EXPECTED SUNDAY
NIGHT AND MONDAY OVER THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA AND FOR THE SNOW BELTS
EAST OF MARQUETTE. POSSIBLE THAT ADDITIONAL ADVISORIES OR EXTENSION
OF CURRENT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR LES WITH LOW VSBY AND GUSTY
WINDS MAY BE NEEDED INTO MONDAY...BUT WILL LET LATER SHIFTS EVALUATE
THIS ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE CURRENT ADVISORIES POSTED INTO SUNDAY.
OTHER THAN THE LES...THE COLD AND DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS WILL BE THE
MAIN STORY OVER THE CWA TO START THE WEEK. SFC RIDGE AXIS OVER THE
NORTHERN TO CENTRAL PLAINS AND LAKE INDUCED TROUGH WILL LEAD TO
MODEST PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER UPR MICHIGAN SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY
MORNING...BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH OF A LOW-LEVEL WIND MAX OVERHEAD AT
THAT TIME. EVEN SO...IT WILL NOT TAKE MUCH WIND TO PRODUCE NEAR
WARNING WIND CHILLS AS SFC TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO BE -15F OR EVEN
-20F OVER FAR SW UPR MICHIGAN. STRONGER WINDS OF 10-15 MPH MAY BE
CLOSER TO LAKE INDUCED TROUGHING ALONG SOUTH SHORE OF LK SUPERIOR
WHERE TEMPS SHOULD BE MORE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS BLO ZERO. WIND CHILL
ADVISORIES WILL BE NEEDED FOR WEST HALF OF UPR MICHIGAN SUNDAY NIGHT
AND MONDAY...WITH POSSIBLE WARNINGS OVER FAR SW UPR MICHIGAN. COORD
WITH DLH AND GRB AND ISSUED A WIND CHILL WATCH FOR AREAS OF SW UPR
MICHIGAN /GOGEBIC...IRON...DICKINSON/ WHERE WARNING CRITERIA OF -35F
HAS BEST CHANCE OF OCCURRING.
LATER IN THE DAY ON MONDAY...A CLIPPER SHORTWAVE DIVING SE OUT OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALBERTA WILL SPREAD SNOW OVER THE NORTHERN
PLAINS AND EVENTUALLY THIS SNOW WILL MAKE IT TO THE WESTERN GREAT
LAKES ON MONDAY NIGHT. ATTM IT APPEARS THAT BULK OF THIS SYSTEM WILL
MISS UPR MICHIGAN. BY MONDAY AFTN AND MONDAY EVENING THOUGH...WINDS
BACKING WSW-SW AHEAD OF MORE NORTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVE AND COLD
FRONT DIVING SOUTHWARD OVER MANITOBA SHOULD PUSH THE LES OVER FAR
NORTHERN KEWEENAW AND OFFSHORE FM THE SNOW BELTS EAST OF MARQUETTE.
DOES NOT APPEAR WINDS BACK ENOUGH ON LK MICHIGAN TO BRING LES OFF LK
MICHIGAN INTO PLAY FOR SE CWA. LES STAYS MAINLY IN THE W FLOW AREAS
ON MONDAY NIGHT...BUT AS THE SHORTWAVE/COLD FRONT ARRIVE ON TUESDAY
WILL PUSH BACK TO NW FLOW AREAS NEAR LK SUPERIOR. SOUNDINGS SHOW
SHORTWAVE AND FRONT HAS MORE OF AN AFFECT ON THE LES AS INVERSIONS
RISE UP TO 10 KFT AS MORE COLD AIR WITH H85 TEMPS DOWN BLO -26C
SLIDES OVER THE UPPER GREAT LAKES. LIKE MONDAY...ALL OF CONVECTIVE
DEPTH IS AT TEMPS LOWER THAN DGZ...SO SMALL FLAKE SIZE AND LOW SLR/S.
NW WINDS IN MIXED LAYER NEAR 30 KTS...SO BLSN MORE OF AN ISSUE THAN
MONDAY. OVERALL THE POOR VSBY WILL CONINUE TO BE MAIN HAZARD FM THE
LES. AIR TEMPS MAY NOT BE QUITE AS COLD AS MONDAY MORNING BUT COLD
FRONT AND PRESSURE GRADIENT LOOKS MORE ROBUST. LIKELY LOOKING AT
ANOTHER ROUND OF WIND CHILL ADVISORIES FOR WEST HALF OF CWA LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. PROBABLY SHOULD STAY AWAY FM
ANY WARNING CRITERIA THOUGH.
COLD FRONT MOVES ON THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND 1045-1050MB HIGH PRESSURE
RIDGE OVER NORTHERN PLAINS PUSHES TO SOUTHERN PLAINS AND OHIO
VALLEY. IN RESPONSE...BLYR WINDS BACK MORE WNW-W BY WEDNESDAY
EVENING SO THE LES WILL IN TURN SHIFT AROUND AND NOT STAY PUT IN ANY
ONE PLACE TOO LONG. BEST CHANCE FOR MODERATE ACCUMS AND PERSISTENT
LOW VSBY WILL BE AT THE END OF THE FETCH IN THE SNOW BELTS TO EAST
OF MARQUETTE. ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL DROP ACROSS UPPER LAKES ON
THURSDAY. YET ANOTHER SURGE OF H85 TEMPS BLO -25C WILL DESCEND ON
THE AREA. AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT FOR THURSDAY...WEST WINDS MAY BE
STIFF LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. THE STRONGER WINDS
ALONG WITH TEMPS LESS THAN 10 BLO WILL PROBABLY RESULT IN MORE WIND
CHILL ADVISORIES FOR MOST OF THE WEST HALF ON THURSDAY MORNING.
PROBABLY ARE GETTING THE THEME BY NOW. THIS WEEK LOOKS QUITE BRUTAL
IN TERMS OF THE PROLONGED DURATION OF BITTER COLD AND WIND CHILL
ISSUES. THIS WILL MAKE THE THAW EXPECTED FOR MID JANUARY FEEL ALL
THE MORE BETTER.
NW FLOW LES TO CLOSE THE WEEK AND INTO NEXT SATURDAY. THE NW WINDS
WILL RESULT IN MORE LAKE MODERATION SO TEMPS WILL BE PROBABLY BE
WARM ENOUGH TO LIMIT THE NEED OF ANY MORE WIND CHILL HEADLINES ON
FRIDAY MORNING OR SATURDAY MORNING. COULD SEE SWATH OF LGT SNOW
SWEEP OVER THE REGION NEXT WEEKEND AS THE WARM AIR BEGINS TO PUSH
OVER THE REGION ATOP OF SLOWLY RETREATING COLD AIR NEAR SFC.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY EVENING)
ISSUED AT 701 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015
COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS WRN LAKE SUPERIOR AND WILL
REACH KIWD/KCMX IN THE NEXT FEW HRS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
DETERIORATING CONDITIONS AT KIWD/KCMX THIS EVENING AS SNOW AND WINDS
INCREASE. EXPECT MVFR CONDITIONS AT BOTH TERMINALS TO FALL TO LIFR
THIS EVENING WITH LIFR CONDITIONS THEN CONTINUING THRU THE NIGHT.
CONDITIONS AT KIWD WILL IMPROVE TO IFR LATE SUN MORNING AND TO MVFR
LATE IN THE AFTN AS WINDS BACK SLOWLY AND PUSH MAJORITY OF LAKE
EFFECT SNOW TO JUST N OF THE TERMINAL. AT KCMX...INCREASINGLY COLDER
AIR THRU THE DAY WILL RESULT IN SNOWFLAKES BECOMING SMALLER AND
FINER AND MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING VIS. COMBINED WITH GUSTY
WINDS/BLSN...KCMX WILL LIKELY REMAIN LIFR THRU THE MORNING WITH
FURTHER REDUCTION TO VLIFR LIKELY IN THE AFTN AS WINDS BACK TO A
MORE FAVORABLE WNW DIRECTION FOR PERSISTENT/HEAVIER SNOW SHOWERS. AT
KSAW...IFR CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE THIS EVENING WITH
REDUCTION TO LIFR OVERNIGHT AS AREA OF SNOW MOVES ACROSS THE AREA
AND IS ENHANCED BY INCREASING UPSLOPE WIND OFF THE LAKE. EXPECT
IMPROVEMENT TO IFR MID TO LATE MORNING AND THEN MVFR IN THE AFTN AS
WINDS BACK...RESULTING IN DIMINISHED UPSLOPE FLOW OFF THE LAKE.
&&
.MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE)
ISSUED AT 335 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015
THE BUSY MARINE WEATHER WE HAVE HAD RECENTLY WILL CONTINUE WITH
GALES AND HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY RETURNING AND HOISTED GALE WARNINGS
AND HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNINGS FOR LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. A
COUPLE MORE GALE EVENTS ARE POSSIBLE ON LAKE SUPERIOR TUESDAY NIGHT
AND WEDNESDAY MORNING AND AGAIN FOR THURSDAY NIGHT WITH NORTHWEST
GALES EXPECTED THEN. FREEZING SPRAY WILL ALSO BE A PROBLEM THROUGH
MOST OF THIS FORECAST PERIOD.
WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTH LATE TONIGHT AS THE NORTHERN PLAINS
TROUGH MERGES WITH ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LIFTING NORTH OVER
THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES. NORTH GALES TO 35-40 KTS ARE EXPECTED
SUNDAY ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF LK SUPERIOR. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT AS ARCTIC AIR POURS OVER
LK SUPERIOR. GALES SHOULD DIMINISH BY LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...BUT NW-W
WINDS TO 30 KTS AND HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WILL LINGER THROUGH MONDAY.
W-SW WINDS TO 25 KTS ON TUESDAY AS A CLIPPER SYSTEM CROSSES UPPER
GREAT LAKES. BEHIND THE CLIPPER...PLAN ON ANOTHER ROUND OF NW GALES
AND HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
&&
.MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UPPER MICHIGAN...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ SUNDAY FOR
MIZ001>003-009-084.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 7 PM EST SUNDAY FOR MIZ006-
007-085.
LAKESHORE FLOOD ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 1 PM EST SUNDAY FOR
MIZ001>003.
WIND CHILL WATCH FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING FOR
MIZ009>011.
LAKESHORE FLOOD ADVISORY FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM EST SUNDAY FOR
MIZ005>007.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 7 PM EST SUNDAY FOR MIZ004-
005.
LAKE SUPERIOR...
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FROM 7 PM SUNDAY TO 1 AM EST FRIDAY
FOR LSZ251-267.
GALE WARNING FROM 4 AM SUNDAY TO 7 AM EST MONDAY FOR LSZ249>251-
267.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FROM 1 AM SUNDAY TO 1 AM EST FRIDAY
FOR LSZ249-250-266.
GALE WARNING FROM 1 AM SUNDAY TO 7 AM EST MONDAY FOR LSZ266.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING UNTIL 1 AM EST /MIDNIGHT CST/
FRIDAY FOR LSZ162-240>248-263>265.
GALE WARNING UNTIL 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ MONDAY FOR LSZ240>248-
263>265.
LAKE MICHIGAN...
GALE WARNING FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM EST SUNDAY FOR LMZ221-248-250.
&&
SHORT TERM...SRF
LONG TERM...JLA
AVIATION...ROLFSON
MARINE...SRFHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI 538 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015 MIZ001>007-009-084-085-041200- KEWEENAW-ONTONAGON-NORTHERN HOUGHTON-BARAGA-MARQUETTE-ALGER-LUCE- GOGEBIC-SOUTHERN HOUGHTON-NORTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- 538 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015 /438 PM CST SAT JAN 3 2015/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW IS EXPECTED TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. NORTHERLY WINDS GUSTING TO 45 MPH AND WAVES UP TO 15 FEET WILL RESULT IN MINOR LAKESHORE FLOODING AND SHORELINE EROSION ALONG PORTIONS OF LAKE SUPERIOR. SEE THE LATEST LAKESHORE FLOOD ADVISORY FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. NORTHERLY WINDS GUSTING TO 45 MPH AND WAVES UP TO 15 FEET WILL RESULT IN A CONTINUED POTENTIAL FOR MINOR LAKESHORE FLOODING AND SHORELINE EROSION ALONG PORTIONS OF LAKE SUPERIOR. SEE THE LATEST LAKESHORE FLOOD ADVISORY FOR MORE DETAILS. ARCTIC AIR WITH TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW ZERO AND WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILLS AS LOW AS 25 TO 35 BELOW ZERO SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING. THE LOWEST WIND CHILLS WILL BE OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF UPPER MICHIGAN. ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH LATE THIS WEEK. LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS AND BLOWING SNOW WITH LOW VISIBILITY AT TIMES WILL ALSO CONTINUE...ESPECIALLY FOR AREAS FAVORED BY NORTHWEST WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS OF SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND REDUCED VISIBILITY ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO PROVIDE REPORTS BY USING THE...SUBMIT STORM REPORT...OPTION ON OUR WEB PAGE...OR THROUGH OUR FACEBOOK AND TWITTER PAGES. MIZ010>014-041200- IRON-DICKINSON-MENOMINEE-DELTA-SOUTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- 538 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015 /438 PM CST SAT JAN 3 2015/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IS EXPECTED THIS EVENING BEFORE SNOW MOVES BACK INTO THE AREA WITH MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. SEE THE LATEST SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ARCTIC AIR AND WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILLS AS LOW AS 35 BELOW ZERO SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. THE LOWEST WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE WEST HALF OF UPPER MICHIGAN. A WIND CHILL WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED FOR SOUTHWEST UPPER MICHIGAN. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH LATE THIS WEEK. ADDITIONAL ADVISORIES OR WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED SO BE SURE TO MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE AND SNOW ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO PROVIDE REPORTS BY USING THE...SUBMIT STORM REPORT...OPTION ON OUR WEB PAGE...OR THROUGH OUR FACEBOOK AND TWITTER PAGES. LSZ162-240>251-263>267-041200- LAKE SUPERIOR WEST OF A LINE FROM SAXON HARBOR WI TO GRAND PORTAGE MN BEYOND 5NM-SAXON HARBOR WI TO BLACK RIVER MI- BLACK RIVER TO ONTONAGON MI- ONTONAGON TO UPPER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL MI- UPPER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL TO EAGLE RIVER MI- EAGLE RIVER TO MANITOU ISLAND MI- MANITOU ISLAND TO POINT ISABELLE MI- POINT ISABELLE TO LOWER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL MI- LOWER ENTRANCE OF PORTAGE CANAL TO HURON ISLANDS MI INCLUDING KEWEENAW AND HURON BAYS-HURON ISLANDS TO MARQUETTE MI- MARQUETTE TO MUNISING MI-MUNISING TO GRAND MARAIS MI- GRAND MARAIS TO WHITEFISH POINT MI- 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- 538 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015 /438 PM CST SAT JAN 3 2015/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR...CENTRAL LAKE SUPERIOR AND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NORTH GALES TO 40 KNOTS AND HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY ARE EXPECTED ACROSS ALL OF LAKE SUPERIOR...MAINLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEE THE LATEST LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST AND MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NORTH GALES TO 40 KNOTS AND HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY IS EXPECTED SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT ACROSS MOST OF LAKE SUPERIOR. WEST GALES TO 35 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE ON MONDAY OVER EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. NORTHWEST GALES TO 40 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED LATE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY OVER MUCH OF LAKE SUPERIOR...WITH MORE WEST TO NORTHWEST GALES TO 40 KNOTS EXPECTED THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. PERIODS OF HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY ARE EXPECTED THROUGH LATE THIS WEEK. SEE THE LATEST LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST AND MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. LMZ221-248-250-041200- GREEN BAY NORTH OF LINE FROM CEDAR RIVER MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE-SEUL CHOIX POINT TO POINT DETOUR MI- 5NM EAST OF A LINE FROM FAIRPORT MI TO ROCK ISLAND PASSAGE- 538 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NORTHWEST GALES TO 35 KNOTS AND AREAS OF HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY ARE EXPECTED ON SUNDAY. NORTHWEST GALES TO 35 KNOTS AND AREAS OF HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY. SEE THE LATEST MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE AND NEARSHORE AND OPEN LAKE FORECASTS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NEED FOR WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. JLA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI 354 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015 MIZ010>014-040500- IRON-DICKINSON-MENOMINEE-DELTA-SOUTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...IRON RIVER...IRON MOUNTAIN... MENOMINEE...ESCANABA...GLADSTONE...MANISTIQUE 354 PM EST SAT JAN 3 2015 /254 PM CST SAT JAN 3 2015/ ...FREEZING DRIZZLE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING... OCCASIONAL FREEZING DRIZZLE IS EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING...WHICH MAY CAUSE UNTREATED ROADS TO BECOME SLIPPERY. IF TRAVELING THIS EVENING...SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW FOR EXTRA STOPPING DISTANCE IN CASE THE ROADS BECOME ICY. SNOW WILL THEN MOVE INTO UPPER MICHIGAN FROM WEST TO EAST OVERNIGHT...BRINGING AN END TO THE FREEZING DRIZZLE. TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...WITH THE GREATEST ACCUMULATIONS OVER NORTHWEST IRON COUNTY. THIS SNOW WILL LEAD TO SOME SNOW COVERED ROADS ON SUNDAY MORNING. SRF
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 winter weather, 6 cold/wind chill, 1 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
There was a public report of an estimated 4 to 5 inches of snow in Rock from late evening on the 3rd to early afternoon on the 4th. Wind chill readings had dropped to 30 to 35 below zero by the morning of the 5th closing schools throughout the county.
There was a public report of an estimated six inches of snow at White Pine for the |22-hour period ending early evening on the 4th. Northwest winds gusting over 25 mph also caused some blowing of snow reducing visibility to one half mile or less at times. Wind chills by early morning on the 5th fell as low as 35 below zero closing schools throughout the county.
Snowfall totals from late evening on the 3rd to early afternoon on the 4th included 5.5 inches just southwest of Harvey, 5.3 inches near Big Bay, 4.4 inches near Little Lake, 4.0 at Champion and 3.5 inches at K.I. Sawyer. Wind chill readings by the morning of the 5th fell to 30 to 35 below zero closing schools throughout the county.
Snowfall amounts from four to five inches were common throughout much of northern Houghton County during the period. Northwest winds gusting over 30 mph also caused considerable blowing of snow reducing visibility to one half mile or less at times.
There were several public reports of three to four inches of snow between Ironwood and Wakefield from the evening of the 3rd into late afternoon on the 4th.
The observer at Watton measured three inches of snow in 12 hours on the morning of the 4th. Wind chill readings by the morning of the 5th fell to 30 below zero closing schools throughout the county.
Storm total snowfall amounts during the period included 9.4 inches of snow ten miles south of Grand Marais, over six inches of snow in Eben Junction, 5.5 inches near Forest Lake and 5.0 inches in Munising. Northwest winds gusting as high as 40 mph at times resulted in considerable blowing and drifting of snow...especially for locations near Lake Superior. Highway M-28 was closed from near Harvey to Munising from the evening of the 4th into the morning of the 5th due to the blowing and drifting of snow. Also, wind chill readings by the morning of the 5th dropped as low as 30 below zero. Schools throughout the county were closed on the 5th.
There was a public report of an estimated four inches of snow in 12 hours at Nisula on the 4th. Wind chills by the morning of the 5th fell as low as 30 below zero closing schools throughout the area.
Temperatures falling into the teens below zero combined with westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph to generate wind chills around 35 below zero by the morning of the 5th. The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.
Temperatures falling into the teens below zero combined with westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 35 below zero by the morning of the 5th. The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.
Temperatures falling into the teens below zero combined with westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 30 below zero by the morning of the 5th. The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.
Temperatures falling into the upper teens below zero combined with westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph to generate wind chills between 35 and 40 below zero. The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.
Temperatures falling to around 10 below zero combined with southwest winds of 15 to 20 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 35 below zero on the morning of the 5th. The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.
Temperatures falling to around 10 below zero combined with southwest winds of 15 to 20 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 35 below zero on the morning of the 5th. The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.
Temperatures falling to around 10 below zero combined with southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 30 below zero on the morning of the 5th. The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, January 2015
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: 555485, 555619, 555480, 555486, 555617, 555616, 555483, 555627, 555637, 555638, 555639, 555635, 555640, 555641, 555642.