Michigan, 2016Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Michigan, January 16 to 18, 2016
January 16 to 18, 2016 · NWS MQT · 7 events in 7 counties and zones
An Arctic air mass combined with an upper disturbance moving across the region generated moderate to heavy lake effect snow over portions of west and north central Upper Michigan from the 16th into the 18th.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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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- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
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.
An Arctic air mass combined with an upper disturbance moving across the region generated moderate to heavy lake effect snow over portions of west and north central Upper Michigan from the 16th into the 18th.
Lake-Effect Snow, Alger
- When
- January 16, 6:00 AM EST to January 18, 10:00 PM EST
- Where
- Alger forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.451, -86.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two-day storm total lake effect snow accumulation included 30 inches near Eben Junction...23 inches at Munising...22 inches near Forest Lake and 20 inches at Chatham. Snowfall rates exceeded two inches per hour at times during the heaviest snow bands. |North to northwest winds gusting over 30 mph also caused blowing and drifting of snow and occasional whiteout conditions.
Lake-Effect Snow, Northern Houghton
- When
- January 16, 8:00 AM EST to January 18, 3:00 PM EST
- Where
- Northern Houghton forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.992, -88.652 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two-day storm total lake effect snowfall accumulation across Houghton County included 31 inches near Atlantic Mine...27.5 inches in Houghton...26 inches in Calumet and nearly 20 inches in Hancock. Snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour were recorded during the heaviest snow bands. West to northwest winds gusting over 30 mph at times also caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow and occasional whiteout conditions.
Winter Weather, Ontonagon
- When
- January 16, 8:00 AM EST
- Where
- Ontonagon forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.778, -89.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The observer eight miles north of Mass City measured 11.3 inches of lake effect snow over two days.
Winter Weather, Keweenaw
- When
- January 16, 8:00 AM EST to January 18, 11:00 AM EST
- Where
- Keweenaw forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 47.283, -88.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two-day storm total lake effect snow accumulation included 14 inches at Lac La Belle and 11 inches at Phoenix.
Lake-Effect Snow, Luce
- When
- January 16, 10:00 AM EST to January 18, 10:00 AM EST
- Where
- Luce forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.368, -85.509 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The observer seven miles south of Pine Stump Junction measured 12.3 inches of lake effect snow over a two-day period. North winds gusting over 25 mph produced considerable blowing and drifting of snow along Lake Superior.
Lake-Effect Snow, Northern Schoolcraft
- When
- January 16, 11:00 PM EST to January 18, 8:00 AM EST
- Where
- Northern Schoolcraft forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.043, -86.177 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Extrapolated lake effect snow amounts from Shingleton and Grand Marais indicated a foot or more of snow fell within a 12-hour period over portions of northern Schoolcraft County during the period. Snowfall rates were estimated to be between one to two inches within the heavier snow bands.
Lake-Effect Snow, Marquette
- When
- January 17, 2:00 AM EST to January 18, 9:00 AM EST
- Where
- Marquette forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 46.663, -87.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
There was a public report of an estimated 12 inches of snow at Shot Point in approximately eight hours. An observer in Big Bay measured 13 inches over nearly a two-day period ending on the morning of the 18th. Northwest winds gusting as high as 30 mph also caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow creating occasional whiteout conditions. Snow drifts as high as three feet were reported near Shot Point.
- 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.
- High Surf in California, January 16 to 18, 20162 deaths · 1 event
- Avalanche in Alaska, January 16, 20161 death · 1 event
- Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 16 to 17, 201640 events
- Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 16 to 17, 201624 events
- Extreme Cold in South Dakota, January 16 to 17, 201619 events
- Extreme Cold in North Dakota, January 16 to 17, 201618 events
- Extreme Cold in South Dakota, January 16 to 17, 201615 events
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, January 16 to 17, 201614 events
- Damaging Wind in Oregon, January 16, 2016$15,000 · 55 kt wind · 1 event
- Extreme Cold in Iowa, January 16 to 17, 20169 events
- Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 16 to 17, 20168 events
- Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 16 to 17, 20168 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 615909, 615906, 615907, 615915, 615913, 615914, 615911.