Michigan, 2017Extreme Cold and Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, December 23 to 27, 2017
December 23 to 27, 2017 · NWS MQT · 10 events in 8 counties and zones
A bitter cold Arctic air mass and periodic upper disturbances moving over the Upper Great Lakes region resulted in moderate to heavy snowfall over the west to northwest wind snow belts of Lake Superior from the 23rd into the 27th. Much below normal temperatures and bitter cold wind chills were also reported throughout much of the period.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 10
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.
A bitter cold Arctic air mass and periodic upper disturbances moving over the Upper Great Lakes region resulted in moderate to heavy snowfall over the west to northwest wind snow belts of Lake Superior from the 23rd into the 27th. Much below normal temperatures and bitter cold wind chills were also reported throughout much of the period.
Event by event
5 winter weather, 4 lake-effect snow, 1 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Lake-Effect Snow, Ontonagon
- When
- December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 27, 2:00 AM EST
- Where
- Ontonagon forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 46.778, -89.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Park rangers at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park estimated from four to six feet of lake effect snow fell over the higher terrain areas of the park from late on the 23rd through the early morning hours of the 27th. At lower elevations of the park, including the park headquarters and estimated three to five feet of snow fell. Park rangers were stuck numerous times in deeper than waist deep snow, even when traveling on snowmobiles. The duration of the snow event was approximately 72 hours.
Periods of moderate to heavy snow were also reported at White Pine and Ontonagon from the 24th into the 27th along with bitter cold wind chills to 35 below zero on the 26th.
Lake-Effect Snow, Northern Houghton
- When
- December 24, 11:00 AM EST to December 25, 8:00 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)
The observer at Redridge measured 12 inches of lake effect snow in 24 hours. There were public reports of 11 inches of snow in 12 hours at Houghton and an estimated 14 inches of snow in 24 hours five miles south of Hubbell. West winds gusting near 35 mph contributed to whiteout conditions and considerable drifting of snow over portions of the county.
Winter Weather, Gogebic
- When
- December 24, 4:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
- Where
- Gogebic forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 46.496, -89.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
There was a report of six inches of very fluffy lake effect snow in five hours at Bessemer.
Winter Weather, Luce
- When
- December 25, 12:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
- Where
- Luce forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 46.368, -85.509 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
There was an estimated eight inches of lake effect snow in less than 24 hours four miles north of Newberry.
Winter Weather, Baraga
- When
- December 25, 3:00 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
- Where
- Baraga forecast zone
- Reported by
- CoCoRaHS
- Coordinates
- 46.700, -88.352 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
There was a report of 7.5 inches of lake effect snow in 17 hours near Keweenaw Bay.
Lake-Effect Snow, Alger
- When
- December 25, 7:00 AM EST to December 26, 12:00 PM EST
- Where
- Alger forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.451, -86.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The observer ten miles south of Grand Marais measured 12 inches of lake effect snow in 24 hours. There was also an estimated 12 inches of lake effect snow in 12 hours nine miles south-southeast of Au sable Point on the morning of the 26th.
Lake-Effect Snow, Northern Schoolcraft
- When
- December 25, 7:00 AM EST to December 26, 7:00 AM EST
- Where
- Northern Schoolcraft forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.043, -86.177 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Based on nearby cooperative reports, there was an estimated 12 inches of lake effect snow in 24 hours over the far northeastern portion of Schoolcraft County.
Winter Weather, Alger
- When
- December 26, 7:00 AM EST to December 27, 7:00 AM EST
- Where
- Alger forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.451, -86.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The observer ten miles south of Grand Marais measured ten inches of lake effect snow in 24 hours.
Winter Weather, Northern Houghton
- When
- December 26, 8:00 AM EST to December 27, 8:00 AM EST
- Where
- Northern Houghton forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.992, -88.652 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The observer at Painesdale measured 7.6 inches of lake effect snow in 24 hours.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Iron
- When
- December 26, 12:00 PM CST to December 27, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Iron forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.209, -88.530 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Observers in Amasa and Stambaugh recorded minimum temperatures near 30 below zero during this period.
- 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.
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
- Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
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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: 730732, 730755, 730748, 730752, 730747, 730756, 731006, 730757, 730758, 730759.