Freezing rain and moderate lake effect snow impacted counties across west and north central Upper Michigan from the 25th into the 26th.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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.
Freezing rain and moderate lake effect snow impacted counties across west and north central Upper Michigan from the 25th into the 26th.
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 Nov 24, 11:58 PM EST, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Marquette MI 1158 PM EST Wed Nov 24 2021 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thanksgiving Day) Issued at 301 PM EST WED NOV 24 2021 Winds are already veering across the far western U.P. this afternoon with the CAA lagging behind, still ensconced in MN. However, have no doubts that it's coming, but before its full arrival, there continues to appear to be a short window this evening of the potential for (FZ)DZ and have mentioned as such. This is due to an offset between the incoming cold air/low dewpoint depressions and deeper atmospheric moisture, not accompanied by a more saturated column until later. Once the higher moisture content arrives tonight, notably within the favored 850-700mb layer, no doubts on snow being the sole precip type as LE takes control. NNW wind belt regions will be the areas first to receive the snow showers, becoming increasingly NW favored as Thanksgiving Day progresses. The next forecast consideration is the amount of snow expected. With fairly consistent run-to-run model guidance on QPF leading into this forecast period, there is somewhat decent confidence in what to anticipate. SLRs have also consistently been looking to run well into the teens-to-1 across the U.P., leaning toward the higher teen range with perhaps some 20:1s possible. By midday tomorrow, -15 to -16 Celsius is expected across the Great Lake of Superior, yielding high delta Ts (LS temps are reported via GLERL to be around 44 Fahrenheit). If utilizing APX's LES parameter, am calculating ranges well exceeding 2.0. So, LES isn't the question but rather how much; the SLR to QPF calculations are showing amounts to remain below advisory criteria, but if the models turn out to be having a challenging time with the QPF amounts, then trend monitoring will become crucial over the next 12 to 18 hours. Regardless, expect a few inches in the aforementioned favored wind belt regions, with an inch or two elsewhere (except the south- central where less to no accumulations are expected). The other safety item to consider will be the blowing snow potential, especially near and along the LS shoreline tomorrow from Marquette County eastward. Not exactly a true diurnal temp curve will occur over the next 24 hours as temps steadily decline throughout the night and barely rebound for the west half to two-thirds on Thanksgiving Day. Lows tonight will range from the low 20s in the west (moderated by expected cloud cover) to the low 30s in the east. A similar setup for highs tomorrow, with warmest temps in the east likely occurring early in the day. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) Issued at 255 PM EST WED NOV 24 2021 GEFS spaghetti plot of the 500mb heights suggest good agreement in the overall pattern across the region through the weekend and into early next week. With that said though, developing northwest flow aloft does introduce some differences in passing shortwaves among the ensemble and deterministic suites. Overall though, guidance paints a picture of lake effect snow chances Thanksgiving night, followed by a mostly dry start to the weekend, but from there confidence is low. While folks are fighting a turkey coma, a ridge building into the region will continue the downward trend of lake effect snow showers across the north wind snow belts. By 0z Friday, shower activity in the west should have ended with activity in the east soon following. Any accumulations should be light, maybe an inch or two, owing to inversion heights topping out near 5k ft and an inverted V sounding indicative of a healthy dose of dry air that'll need to be overcome near the surface. Expecting a chilly night, especially in the west half where PWATs near 0.10 inches combined with recent snowfall will promote a good bit of radiational cooling. Widespread teens are expected in the west half with near 20F in the east half and by the lakeshores. Some areas in the west could dip into the single digits, particularly the traditional colder spots. With the surface ridge overhead Friday and Saturday with northwest flow aloft, we'll see temps warm aloft some as the axis of warmer low/mid-levels shifts closer to the region. High clouds and the slow progression of this Friday will limit much warming at the surface though, and daytime highs look only to top out in the upper 20s to near 30F. By Saturday we should see most areas climb into the low 30s. Late Saturday, a shortwave is progged to drive southeast into the region. Split flow looks to develop, with the southern stream supporting a surface low developing somewhere between Iowa and central Wisconsin. There are some differences in the placement of this low among the deterministic guidance, but the main focus is the amplifying shortwave in the northern stream digging southeast into the Upper Great Lakes. Guidance suggests a surface cold front will move through on Sunday, followed by a second surface low developing just downstream along the boundary. This scenario suggests an opportunity for some light system snow early Sunday into Sunday morning with a brief window afterwards for some lake effect in the northwest wind belts before the next ridge builds in late Sunday. From there, guidance continues to suggest persistent northwest flow aloft through a majority of next week; however, there are noticeable timing differences in shortwaves within that flow among the guidance. Depending on their track, there could be a mix of warmer days followed by colder punches and lake effect behind any shortwave dropping southeast through the region next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Thursday night) Issued at 1158 PM EST WED NOV 24 2021 In the wake of a cold front that has moved se of the terminals, upslope nnw winds, increasing low-level moisture and cooling air mass have resulted in pcpn developing off Lake Superior. Initially, with temps falling blo freezing, expect some -fzdz at IWD/CMX and -dz becoming -fzdz at SAW. Then, with increasingly colder air arriving overnight, -fzdz will switch to lake effect -shsn from w to e, but probably not occurring at SAW until closer to daybreak. Lake effect -shsn will then continue Thu, but ending at IWD early aftn and at CMX/SAW later in the aftn. All terminals should see prevailing IFR conditions overnight, potentially as low as LIFR at SAW. Improvement to MVFR will occur at all terminals during the morning. There may be enough advection of drier air on Thu for MVFR cigs to scatter out to VFR at IWD late aftn or evening, and perhaps at SAW during the evening. && .MARINE...(For the 4 PM Lake Superior forecast issuance) Issued at 345 PM EST WED NOV 24 2021 Some northerly gale-force gusts to 35 knots will be possible tonight for the central and eastern parts of the lake. A few northerly gale-force gusts to 35 knots may be possible over the east half of the lake on Thanksgiving. Additionally, light to areas of moderate freezing spray will be possible tomorrow into tomorrow night. The next time periods to watch for wind gusts approaching 30 knots will be late this weekend and again mid-week next week. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Upper Michigan... None. Lake Superior... None. Lake Michigan... None. && SHORT TERM...lg LONG TERM...JP AVIATION...Rolfson MARINE...lg
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Marquette MI 1005 PM EST Wed Nov 24 2021 MIZ001>007-009>014-084-085-251300- Keweenaw-Ontonagon-Northern Houghton-Baraga-Marquette-Alger-Luce- Gogebic-Iron-Dickinson-Menominee-Delta-Southern Schoolcraft- Southern Houghton-Northern Schoolcraft- 1005 PM EST Wed Nov 24 2021 /905 PM CST Wed Nov 24 2021/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western Upper Michigan and central Upper Michigan. .DAY ONE...Rest of Tonight A mix of drizzle, freezing drizzle, and light snow tonight could result in slippery travel conditions across western and north central Upper Michigan and Thanksgiving morning. The mixed precipitation is expected to switch over to all snow by early morning in the north-northwest wind lake effect snow belts. Waves building to 8 to 11 feet from Ontonagon to Copper Harbor and from Big Bay to Grand Marais could cause minor beach erosion overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Lake effect snow showers will gradually end in the west during the morning hours of Thanksgiving and continue east of Marquette through the day in the northwest wind lake effect snow belts. Within these snow showers, some blowing snow will be possible that may quickly reduce visibilities. Large waves of 8 to 11 feet may result in some minor beach erosion Thursday from Big Bay to Grand Marais. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to submit reports of snow accumulations, lakeshore flooding and/or beach erosion to the National Weather Service in Marquette. The public may also submit reports on our webpage, Facebook page, or on Twitter using #906wx. LSZ162-240>251-263>267-251300- 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- 1005 PM EST Wed Nov 24 2021 /905 PM CST Wed Nov 24 2021/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Eastern Lake Superior...Central Lake Superior and Western Lake Superior. .DAY ONE...Rest of Tonight Some northerly gale force gusts to 35 knots will be possible tonight for the central and eastern parts of Lake Superior. See the latest open lake forecast for additional details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday A few northerly gale-force gusts to 35 knots may be possible on Thanksgiving over the east half of Lake Superior. See the latest open lake forecast for additional details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. LMZ221-248-250-251300- 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- 1005 PM EST Wed Nov 24 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Northern Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Rest of Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Another round of stronger winds is expected Thanksgiving. Some gale force gusts to 35 knots will be possible. See the latest Nearshore Marine Forecast for additional information. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... The need for weather spotter reports is not anticipated at this time. Rolfson
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Dispatch calls reported that Quincy Hill was very icy due to freezing drizzle. Salt trucks were sliding and going sideways. All sideroads in the area were glazed over with a thin sheet of ice.
Numerous customers at Koski Corners reported difficult driving conditions due to freezing drizzle on the morning of the 25th with semi trucks pulled over. A spotter in Carlshend measured 6.9 inches of lake effect snow for the 24-hour period ending on the morning of the 26th.
A Baraga County Road Commission truck slid off of Highway US-41 and into the ditch on Alberta Hill while applying treatment to the road due to icy conditions from freezing drizzle.
There was a public report of 5.3 inches of lake effect snowfall in approximately 18 hours at Ironwood.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, November 2021
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: 991543, 991544, 991545, 991547.