An upper disturbance moving across the area generated moderate snow over portions of south central Upper Michigan from the 3rd into the morning of the 4th.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
An upper disturbance moving across the area generated moderate snow over portions of south central Upper Michigan from the 3rd into the morning of the 4th.
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 Apr 2, 5:35 PM EST, 6 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
635 PM EDT Mon Apr 2 2018
.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday)
Issued at 424 PM EDT MON APR 2 2018
...Winter Weather Advisories issued for the central and eastern
portions of the Upper Peninsula tonight through Tuesday night...
The big issue in the short-term portion of the forecast will be
moderate snowfall potential for late tonight through Tuesday night
for the central and eastern portions of the U.P. Models are latched
onto a very similar solution for the upcoming system. They each have
the surface low sliding from the central Plains this afternoon east
northeastward to southern Lower Michigan by Tuesday afternoon.
Increased deep-layer moisture will wrap into the U.P. tonight along
with broad system system forcing, aided by strong upper level 130-
150kt jet. This will place much of the U.P. in the right entrance
region, again, pointing toward stronger vertical motion. The better
focus of the FGEN band is progged to be across Wisconsin and the far
southern portion of the U.P., mainly across Menominee county, where
the heaviest snowafall totals are expected to occur.
Models are in good agreement with QPF, painting out roughly
0.45-0.55 inches for southern Menominee county for a 24 hour
period, along with about 0.35-0.45 inches for the rest of the
central and eastern U.P. Snow to liquid ratios will be around 15
to 1, which would give much of the central U.P. around 3 to 6
inches of snow by Tuesday night with totals as high as 8 inches
for the south half of Menominee County. It is not out of the
question for north-central portions of the U.P. to see some
locally higher totals as well, with northeast upslope winds along
with some weak lake enhancement as 850mb temperatures will be
around -10C to -12C. This would be most noteable over the higher
terrain of the north-central U.P. The northwest portion of the
U.P. was left out of a headline at this point due to drier air
filtering in on the north side, helping to cut back on the totals.
At this point, have opted to drop the Winter Storm Watch and go
with a high end Winter Weather Advisory for Menominee county. Of
course, as mentioned earlier, have also extended the advisory
through much of the central and eastern part of the U.P.
.LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday)
Issued at 430 PM EDT MON APR 2 2018
Most of the synoptic snow will exit the area Tue night,
transitioning to N-NNW wind LES as 850mb temps drop to around -18C.
Expect an additional 1-4" of snow Tue night, mainly SE/E and in the
aforementioned snow belts. Also expect blowing snow near Lake
Superior with gusts to 30mph.
Light NW-W wind LES continues Wed through Thu, but no significant
impacts are expected at this time.
Uncertainty still remains in exact details with a series of
shortwaves late this week and the weekend, but overall looks like an
active period with some shots of colder air (possibly colder than
-20C). Doesn't look like substantial snow area-wide, but could see
some significant LES in the NW wind snow belts. Winds may also be an
issue a times depending on details.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening)
Issued at 634 PM EDT MON APR 2 2018
VFR conditions will continue at KSAW and KCMX into early this
evening. A low pressure system approaching from the Plains will
cause deteriorating conditions tonight through Tuesday as snow and
lower cloud cover develop. Visibility will also be reduced at times
tonight into Tuesday as the snow increases across the area. The
greatest impact would be at KSAW and KIWD.
&&
.MARINE...(For the 4 PM Lake Superior forecast issuance)
Issued at 424 PM EDT MON APR 2 2018
Northeast winds will ramp up to 20 to 30 knots late tonight into
Tuesday as sfc low organizing over the Central Plains lifts into the
central Great Lakes. Strongest winds on backside of low will be over
the west half tonight and Tuesday, but then shift over east half
Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as winds become more northerly.
There could even be a few gale force gusts to 35 knots over the east
half Tuesday night. Winds will subside into the 15 to 25 knot range
Wed afternoon into Thursday morning as high pressure moves across
the area. Northwest gales are possible Thursday night into Friday as
a series of stronger troughs move across the Upper Lakes.
&&
.MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Upper Michigan...
Winter Weather Advisory from 5 AM EDT /4 AM CDT/ Tuesday to 2 AM
EDT /1 AM CDT/ Wednesday for MIZ005-006-010>013.
Winter Weather Advisory from 8 AM Tuesday to 2 AM EDT Wednesday
for MIZ007-014-085.
Lake Superior...
None.
Lake Michigan...
Gale Watch from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning for
LMZ221-248-250.
&&
SHORT TERM...KEC
LONG TERM...Titus
AVIATION...07
MARINE...KECHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Marquette MI 407 PM EDT Mon Apr 2 2018 MIZ005>007-010>014-085-032015- Marquette-Alger-Luce-Iron-Dickinson-Menominee-Delta- Southern Schoolcraft-Northern Schoolcraft- 407 PM EDT Mon Apr 2 2018 /307 PM CDT Mon Apr 2 2018/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Upper Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight Light to moderate snow will move into the area tonight, leading to hazardous travel conditions. See the latest winter weather message and special weather statement for further details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Light to moderate snow is expected Tuesday through Tuesday night. See the latest winter weather message and special weather statement for further details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. MIZ001>004-009-084-032015- Keweenaw-Ontonagon-Northern Houghton-Baraga-Gogebic- Southern Houghton- 407 PM EDT Mon Apr 2 2018 /307 PM CDT Mon Apr 2 2018/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western Upper Michigan and central Upper Michigan. .DAY ONE...Tonight Light snowfall is expected tonight, which may lead to some slippery road conditions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Light snowfall Tuesday through Tuesday night may lead to slipper road conditions. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. LSZ162-240>251-263>267-032015- 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- 407 PM EDT Mon Apr 2 2018 /307 PM CDT Mon Apr 2 2018/ 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...Tuesday through Sunday A few gale force gusts to 35 knots are possible across the east half of Lake Superior Tuesday night. See the latest open lake forecast for further details. North gales of 35 knots and heavy freezing spray are possible Thursday night into Friday morning. See the latest open lake forecast for further details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. LMZ221-248-250-032015- 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- 407 PM EDT Mon Apr 2 2018 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...Tuesday through Sunday Tuesday night through early Wednesday morning north to northeast gales of 35 knots are possible. See the latest nearshore forecast and marine weather statement for further details. .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.
3 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
The spotter seven miles northeast of Garden measured 8.7 inches of snow in 36 hours.
Storm total snowfall during the event included nine inches at Stephenson in 36 hours, eight inches at Daggett in 24 hours, and six inches in 24 hours at Wallace, Menominee, Swanson and Cedar River.
Spotters across southern Delta County measured four to five inches of snow in 24 hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, April 2018
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: 745115, 745114, 745116.