A low pressure system tracking through Wisconsin dropped moderate to heavy snow into portions of south central Upper Michigan on the 13th and some lake enhanced snow into north central Upper Michigan from the 13th into the 14th.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 tracking through Wisconsin dropped moderate to heavy snow into portions of south central Upper Michigan on the 13th and some lake enhanced snow into north central Upper Michigan from the 13th into the 14th.
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 Dec 12, 11:23 PM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
1223 AM EST Wed Dec 13 2017
.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 337 PM EST TUE DEC 12 2017
WV imagery and RAP analysis indicated a mid/upper level trough over
the wrn CONUS and a trough from nrn Quebec into the Ohio Valley
resulting in nnw flow through the wrn Great Lakes. A vigorous
upstream shortwave trough was located over cntrl Alberta. Cold air
with 320-340 low level flow prevailed across Lake Superior producing
multiple wind parallel LES into the cwa. Radar indicated a steady
diminishing trend this afternoon with mainly just light and less
organized bands remaining. Winds were also weakening. So, the LES
headlines were cancelled. Radars also showed light snow advancing
through nrn MN in a strengthening WAA pattern.
Tonight, the remaining LES into the n cntrl cwa will continue to
diminish this evening as a weak sfc ridge moves in with diminishing
winds and inversion heights falling to 3k-4k ft. As the clipper
approaches and the sfc low and warm front move into MN the light
snow will increase over the sw with an around an inch possible
overnight. LES will also move offshore as winds become se.
Tuesday, the models have trended slightly farther north with the
path of the clipper and associated mid level fgen and isentropic
ascent over the region. Although moisture is modest with around 2
g/kg available, the dynamics should squeeze out a band of moderate
snow. With SLR values near 20, the system should bring snowfall
amounts of 1 to 3 inches near the WI border with higher amounts over
the far south toward Menominee where amounts up to 4 inches are
expected. In addition some ene to ne flow lake enhancement may add
to the totals at MNM. However, confidence in the
development/location of enhanced bands is low. Farther north, 850 mb
temps remaining around -16C with convergent ese flow will bring some
LES back into the Keweenaw and as winds back further in the
afternoon into nrn Marquette county, especially north of M-28.
Accumulations north of 1 to 3 inches will also be possible with some
locally higher amounts.
.LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 312 PM EST TUE DEC 12 2017
Typical winter time scenario with snow in some portion of the
forecast area at all times in the extended, but the only significant
impacts from weather are late Thu through Fri with moderate LES.
With NW flow, 850mb temps from -15C to around -20C, and a shortwave
dropping through, late Thu through Fri will see moderate to
potentially heavy (at times) lake effect snow. Have total snowfall
(30 hours) of 5-8 inches in the NW wind snowbelts, but that may need
to be increased once we can look at some higher res models. Doesn't
look all that windy, so impacts shouldn't be all that great for a
lake effect event.
Otherwise, not seeing anything significant within reasonable
predictability, so let the blended initialization remain untouched
for other time frames.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Wednesday night)
Issued at 1222 AM EST WED DEC 13 2017
MVFR ceilings continue to spread east across the area as snow ahead
of approaching clipper system moves in. IFR visibilities expected
at all three sites as the snow intensifies overnight and early
Wednesday, but conditions to remain IFR at KIWD through the
afternoon and evening while KSAW and KCMX will see MVFR conditions
return late in the forecast as snow ends there.
&&
.MARINE...(For the 4 PM Lake Superior forecast issuance)
Issued at 337 PM EST TUE DEC 12 2017
NW winds to 25 knots will decrease to less than below 20 knots by
Wednesday morning. Winds will then increase to 15 to 25 knots late
Thursday and into Friday as the next system approaches from the
west.
&&
.MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Upper Michigan...
Winter Weather Advisory from 3 AM to 6 PM CST Wednesday for
MIZ012.
Lake Superior...
None.
Lake Michigan...
None.
&&
SHORT TERM...JLB
LONG TERM...Titus
AVIATION...RJT
MARINE...JLBHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Marquette MI 327 PM EST Tue Dec 12 2017 MIZ001>007-009>014-084-085-132030- Keweenaw-Ontonagon-Northern Houghton-Baraga-Marquette-Alger-Luce- Gogebic-Iron-Dickinson-Menominee-Delta-Southern Schoolcraft- Southern Houghton-Northern Schoolcraft- 327 PM EST Tue Dec 12 2017 /227 PM CST Tue Dec 12 2017/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western Upper Michigan and central Upper Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight Moderate snow is possible starting late tonight in southern Menominee County. See the latest Winter Weather Message for further details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Moderate snow is possible Wednesday in southern Menominee County. See the latest Winter Weather Message for further details. Accumulating lake effect snow is possible in the northeast wind snow belts on Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday night. Additional accumulating lake effect snow is on the way through the end of the week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to submit reports of snowfall and low visibilities to the National Weather Service in Marquette. The public may also submit reports through our webpage, Facebook page or on Twitter. LSZ162-240>251-263>267-132030- 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- 327 PM EST Tue Dec 12 2017 /227 PM CST Tue Dec 12 2017/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Eastern Lake Superior...Central Lake Superior and Western Lake Superior. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. LMZ221-248-250-132030- 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- 327 PM EST Tue Dec 12 2017 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...Wednesday through Monday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. Titus
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter weather, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
There was a report of five inches of snow in 14 hours at Peavy Falls Dam.
There was a report of ten inches of snow in 13 hours near Birch Creek. Other storm total snowfall reports included nine inches of snow in Wallace and seven inches in Stephenson.
Observers from Norway to Iron Mountain measured three and a half to four inches of snow in nine hours.
The National Weather Service Office in Negaunee Township measured 6.8 inches of snow in 18 hours.
The observer near Bark River measured 6.3 inches of snow in 24 hours.
The observer in Eben Junction measured 5.7 inches of lake effect snow in six hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, December 2017
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: 730145, 730144, 730146, 730147, 730216, 730217.