The passage of a cold front brought moderate wet snow to portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 22nd into the 23rd.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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.
The passage of a cold front brought moderate wet snow to portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 22nd into the 23rd.
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 Feb 21, 11:51 PM CST, 3 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Marquette MI 1251 AM EST Wed Feb 22 2017 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday) Issued at 250 PM EST TUE FEB 21 2017 Skies have cleared nicely this afternoon and has allowed to temperatures to climb into the upper 40s and 50s, with a few isolated 60s. Water vapor imagery shows shortwave energy lifting northeast of the area and allowing more zonal flow to develop across the northern plains. Expect fairly tranquil conditions to prevail tonight and through much of the day on Wednesday. With dew point temperatures expected to remain around/slightly above freezing tonight, we should see yet another night where overnight lows remain above freezing. There is the potential to see fog, especially across eastern portions of the area where boundary layer winds will be lighter. Could see some drizzle develop; however, with how dry the low-levels look via soundings not too confident that any drizzle will accompany the fog. On Wednesday, expect another day with unseasonably warm temperatures, but expect increasing cloud cover throughout the day as low pressure begins to move in from the west as shortwave energy approaches the area. Precipitation should hold off until the late afternoon/evening hours as it spreads west to east upon the arrival of the deeper lift. Forecast soundings show temperatures should remain above freezing, so expect precipitation to remain all liquid at least through the afternoon and evening hours, before transitioning back over to wintry precipitation late Wednesday night. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday) Issued at 312 PM EST TUE FEB 21 2017 Models have backed off some on strength of shortwave/system moving through the Upper Great Lakes late Wed/Wed night. Still plenty of model uncertainty with track and details regarding system, but at this time it looks like a light mixed pcpn event focused mainly over the northern tier counties of Upper Mi. After a dry and cooler Thu, attention then turns to Fri into Sat as models continue to bring a strong low pressure system toward the Upper Great Lakes. Although there continues to be uncertainty on the track/timing of the sfc low, most of the models have trended farther north in the past run with a track closer to northern Lower Mi/Straits of Mackinac. Would expect poor model continuity and consistency to continue until the shortwave associated with the system moves onshore late Wed. Given the current track of the GFS, NAM, ECMWF and GEMnh, the nw half of the CWA would see mostly snow, with moderate to possible heavy snow over the higher terrain of west and north-central U.P. where upslope and lake enhancement will add to synoptic amounts. The southeast half of Upper Mi would see more mixed pcpn. Both the GFS and NAM show the system's dry slot moving across the area on Fri into Fri evening which in this scenario would lead to freezing drizzle/light freezing rain accumulation for portions of central Upper Mi...especially those locations favored by an upslope nne flow. Blowing snow could also be an issue during the event, especially near Lake Superior where forecast soundings show the potential for wind gusts at or above 30 mph. At any rate, with plenty of uncertainty will need to keep an eye on model trends with this system over the next few days. No SPS statement will be issued as yet, but will continue to mention in HWO statement moderate to possibly heavy snow accumulation for portions of west and central Upper Mi late Thu night into Sat. Sat-Sun...Snow will transition to pure lake effect sometime Sat afternoon as falling H85 temps in the wake of the departing system will sustain LES in the NW-W wind snow belts downwind of Lake Superior and bring temps back down closer to seasonal norms. Models indicate ridging building over the area on Mon which should bring an end to LES as well as some slight moderation in temps. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Wednesday night) Issued at 1250 AM EST WED FEB 22 2017 Expect VFR conditions to persist into Wed morning with mainly mid/high clouds and drier low levels. A disturbance weak cold front moving through the area Wed afternoon will bring an increasing chance for showers with the potential for MVFR cigs/vsby. However, confidence in the coverage/location of the rain and impacts on conditions is still low. As winds become nrly and colder more moist air moves in expect deterioration to IFR or LIFR conditions. && .MARINE...(For the 4 PM Lake Superior forecast issuance) Issued at 300 PM EST TUE FEB 21 2017 Winds will back to the south overnight ahead of a weak area of low pressure progged to traverse the northern plains tonight. The pressure gradient will remain maximized, albeit still on the weaker side across eastern portions of the lake where winds of 15 to 25 knots can be expected. Late Wednesday as low pressure traverses the area, winds will veer to the north from west to east across the lake, around 10 to 20 knots. As low pressure exits the region Wednesday night into Thursday expect north winds to increase in speeds to around 25 knots. Winds will decrease in speed during the day on Thursday as the pressure gradient relaxes. However, expect winds to become northeasterly and increase in speed Thursday night into Friday ahead of a system progged to lift north across the area. By Friday morning, northeast winds will increase to around 25 to 30 knots, and further increase to gales during the afternoon hours. Friday night into Saturday, could still see the gale force gusts continue, but winds will back to the north. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Upper Michigan... None. Lake Superior... None. Lake Michigan... None. && SHORT TERM...Ritzman LONG TERM...Voss AVIATION...JLB MARINE...Ritzman
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Marquette MI 327 PM EST Tue Feb 21 2017 MIZ001>007-009>014-084-085-221200- Keweenaw-Ontonagon-Northern Houghton-Baraga-Marquette-Alger-Luce- Gogebic-Iron-Dickinson-Menominee-Delta-Southern Schoolcraft- Southern Houghton-Northern Schoolcraft- 327 PM EST Tue Feb 21 2017 /227 PM CST Tue Feb 21 2017/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western Upper Michigan and central Upper Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Ice cover on area rivers and lakes will remain unstable through the middle of this week as daytime temperatures rise into the 40s and even 50s at times. Depending on the track of a low pressure system late this week, moderate to heavy snow, blowing snow and even light freezing rain could impact at least portions of west and central Upper Michigan late Thursday night into Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. LSZ162-240>251-263>267-221200- 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 Feb 21 2017 /227 PM CST Tue Feb 21 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 North gales to 35 knots are possible late Friday into Saturday evening over portions of Lake Superior. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. LMZ221-248-250-221200- 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 Feb 21 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. Voss
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
The spotter in Marenisco measured 4.5 inches of wet heavy snow on trees and power lines.
There was a report of around two inches of slushy snow on the highways in Delta County when a one vehicle fatal accident occurred at approximately 8 am on the 23rd. The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle lost control of his vehicle on County Road 416 in Cornell due to the slippery roads. The vehicle left the roadway and collided with several trees on the east side of the road.
The observer at Paulding measured six inches of wet snow during the early morning of the 23rd.
There was a report of an estimated five inches of wet snow at Republic during the early morning of the 23rd.
The observer at Amasa measured six inches of wet snow overnight on the morning of the 23rd.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather, Delta | 2017-02-23 | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
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, February 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: 681885, 681925, 681887, 681890, 681886.