Overview
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A powerful winter storm lifted from the Central Plains into the Great Lakes region the weekend of February 23-24, 2019. As the system approached on Saturday, a swath of snow spread across the Straits and eastern Upper Michigan, with a wintry mix developing elsewhere across northern Lower that afternoon/evening. Somewhat milder temperatures Saturday night allowed for a changeover to rain for some areas through Sunday morning. All this rain and freezing rain turned snow-packed driveways and back roads into sheets of ice, while other areas dealt with large areas of standing water on roads that turned to ice from a flash freeze. The system intensified rapidly as it approached northern Michigan on Sunday, producing high winds of 50 to 60+ mph, plummeting temperatures, and blizzard conditions across the region as it departed into eastern Canada. Whiteouts and significant drifting snow posed a high impact to travel across much of northern Michigan from Sunday afternoon through Sunday night. Many major roads were closed (including portions of I-75, US-131, US-2, and the Mackinac Bridge), as plows were no match for the high winds and resultant drifting which lead to numerous accidents, slide-offs, and stranded vehicles. While the storm was not notable for the amount of snowfall it brought to northern Michigan, the strength and duration of its strong winds were impressive from the standpoint of its prolonged, widespread blizzard conditions. |
 Radar loop of the February 23-24, 2019 winter storm/blizzard |
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Snowfall Summary
 24-hour snowfall ending 7am February 24, 2019 |
 24-hour snowfall ending 7am February 25, 2019 |
Photos & Video:
From NWS Gaylord and MDOT
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| Strong winds and blowing snow NWS Gaylord, MI |
Strong winds and blowing snow NWS Gaylord, MI |
Significant Drifting NWS Gaylord, MI |
Before & During Cadillac, MI - courtesy MDOT |
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| Before & During Interlochen, MI - courtesy MDOT |
Before & During St. Ignace, MI - courtesy MDOT |
Before & During Walloon Lake - courtesy MDOT |
Before & During Waters, MI - courtesy MDOT |
Submitted Via Social Media
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| Icy Driveway in East Jordan, MI Carmen Harreld |
Icy Driveway West of Gaylord Linda Darnton |
Freezing Rain in St. Ignace, MI Jessica Krueger |
Icy Driveway Near Traverse City Rebecca Lynn Ligon |
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| Drummond Island Ice Piles Julie McKay Covert |
Mighty Mac Falling Ice Damage Nicole Rogers |
Mackinac Bridge Blizzard Mackinac Bridge Authority |
Mackinac Bridge Blizzard Mackinac Bridge Authority |
Snowfall Reports
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI 1204 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2019 ...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL REPORTS FOR JANUARY 28-29, 2019...
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW 1 NW WATERS 44.91N 84.72W
02/25/2019 M10.9 INCH OTSEGO MI CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION APXM4, 9 SSW GAYLORD.
0800 AM SNOW 2 W SAULT STE. MARIE 46.49N 84.40W
02/25/2019 M7.2 INCH CHIPPEWA MI CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION SSMM4, SAULT STE
MARIE.
0730 AM SNOW 1 SSW CADILLAC 44.23N 85.42W
02/25/2019 M7.0 INCH WEXFORD MI CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION CDLM4, CADILLAC 2SW.
0800 AM SNOW GAYLORD 45.03N 84.68W
02/25/2019 M6.8 INCH OTSEGO MI CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION GAYM4, GAYLORD.
0800 AM SNOW 2 W GAYLORD 45.03N 84.71W
02/25/2019 M6.8 INCH OTSEGO MI COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION MI-OT-4, 1 W GAYLORD.
0630 AM SNOW 3 ENE KINGSLEY 44.60N 85.48W
02/25/2019 M6.3 INCH GRAND TRAVERSE MI COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION MI-GT-21, 2 ENE KINGSLEY.
0700 AM SNOW 1 NNE FIFE LAKE 44.58N 85.35W
02/25/2019 M5.4 INCH GRAND TRAVERSE MI CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION FLAM4, 1 NNW FIFE
LAKE.
0600 AM SNOW 2 S PETOSKEY 45.34N 84.97W
02/25/2019 M5.0 INCH EMMET MI COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION MI-EM-8, 2 S PETOSKEY.
0700 AM SNOW 1 NNW WELLSTON 44.23N 85.96W
02/25/2019 M4.8 INCH MANISTEE MI CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION WLNM4, WELLSTON 1N.
0700 AM SNOW 4 WSW BATES 44.73N 85.51W
02/25/2019 M4.5 INCH GRAND TRAVERSE MI COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION MI-GT-25, 4 WSW BATES.
0700 AM SNOW 4 WSW BATES 44.73N 85.51W
02/25/2019 M4.5 INCH GRAND TRAVERSE MI CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION TCEM4, 4.7 ESE
TRAVERSE CITY.
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Wind Reports
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI 958 PM EST SUN FEB 24 2019 ...STRONGEST WIND REPORTS OVER THE LAST 12 HOURS... LOCATION SPEED TIME/DATE LAT/LON ...MICHIGAN... ...ALCONA COUNTY... 1 SE BARTON CITY 46 MPH 0546 PM 02/24 44.66N/83.59W 1 NW CURRAN 46 MPH 0817 PM 02/24 44.73N/83.81W ...ALPENA COUNTY... ALPENA - PHELPS COLLINS FIEL 54 MPH 0829 PM 02/24 45.08N/83.56W 1 SE LACHINE 50 MPH 0702 PM 02/24 45.07N/83.72W 1 SSW ALPENA 46 MPH 0720 PM 02/24 45.05N/83.45W ALPENA 43 MPH 0854 PM 02/24 45.06N/83.43W ...ANTRIM COUNTY... MANCELONA 44 MPH 0505 PM 02/24 44.90N/85.07W 2 WNW ELMIRA 44 MPH 0245 PM 02/24 45.08N/84.89W BELLARIE - ANTRIM COUNTY ARP 41 MPH 0936 PM 02/24 44.99N/85.20W EASTPORT 40 MPH 0617 PM 02/24 45.11N/85.35W ...BENZIE COUNTY... FRANKFORT - DOW MEMORIAL FIE 47 MPH 0456 PM 02/24 44.63N/86.21W 2 S BENZONIA 46 MPH 0147 PM 02/24 44.59N/86.10W 3 S EMPIRE 39 MPH 0508 PM 02/24 44.76N/86.06W ...CHARLEVOIX COUNTY... IRONTON 64 MPH 0725 PM 02/24 45.26N/85.22W CHARLEVOIX - MUNICIPAL ARPT 61 MPH 0816 PM 02/24 45.30N/85.27W 3 W BAYSHORE 61 MPH 0802 PM 02/24 45.36N/85.18W BEAVER ISLAND 49 MPH 0616 PM 02/24 45.69N/85.57W 1 E NORWOOD 43 MPH 0705 PM 02/24 45.24N/85.32W ...CHEBOYGAN COUNTY... 4 NNW RIGGSVILLE 61 MPH 0716 PM 02/24 45.64N/84.64W MACKINAW CITY 58 MPH 0648 PM 02/24 45.78N/84.73W WOLVERINE 57 MPH 0547 PM 02/24 45.27N/84.59W CHEBOYGAN - CHEBOYGAN COUNTY 54 MPH 0755 PM 02/24 45.65N/84.53W 2 S INDIAN RIVER 39 MPH 0312 PM 02/24 45.38N/84.63W 6 E CHEBOYGAN 35 MPH 0639 PM 02/24 45.66N/84.33W ...CHIPPEWA COUNTY... SAULT STE MARIE - MUNICIPAL 55 MPH 0454 PM 02/24 46.47N/84.37W 1 NNW SAULT STE. MARIE 51 MPH 0824 PM 02/24 46.50N/84.37W DAFTER 50 MPH 0903 PM 02/24 46.37N/84.43W 4 NW BAY MILLS 50 MPH 0918 PM 02/24 46.48N/84.63W 3 E SAULT STE. MARIE 46 MPH 0900 PM 02/24 46.49N/84.30W KINROSS - CHIPPEWA COUNTY IN 43 MPH 0818 PM 02/24 46.25N/84.47W 7 S GOETZVILLE 43 MPH 0820 PM 02/24 45.97N/84.09W KINCHELOE 41 MPH 0714 PM 02/24 46.24N/84.51W 3 SE RUDYARD 38 MPH 0917 PM 02/24 46.19N/84.56W 1 E TROUT LAKE 38 MPH 0827 PM 02/24 46.19N/84.98W 4 W RACO 37 MPH 0904 PM 02/24 46.36N/84.80W ...CRAWFORD COUNTY... GRAYLING - ARMY AIRFIELD 47 MPH 0617 PM 02/24 44.68N/84.73W 3 S GRAYLING 41 MPH 0447 PM 02/24 44.61N/84.71W ...EMMET COUNTY... PELLSTON - RGNL AIRPORT OF E 59 MPH 0714 PM 02/24 45.57N/84.80W PETOSKEY 51 MPH 0812 PM 02/24 45.36N/84.95W HARBOR SPRINGS - MUNICIPAL A 44 MPH 0715 PM 02/24 45.42N/84.91W ...GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY... TRAVERSE CITY - CHERRY CAPIT 60 MPH 0424 PM 02/24 44.74N/85.58W WILLIAMSBURG 38 MPH 0802 PM 02/24 44.77N/85.40W ...IOSCO COUNTY... 2 SE EAST TAWAS 58 MPH 0525 PM 02/24 44.25N/83.46W OSCODA - WURTSMITH AFB 49 MPH 1156 AM 02/24 44.42N/83.35W 4 S SID TOWN 47 MPH 0602 PM 02/24 44.38N/83.60W 2 SE EAST TAWAS 39 MPH 0740 PM 02/24 44.26N/83.44W EAST TAWAS 36 MPH 0653 PM 02/24 44.28N/83.48W ...KALKASKA COUNTY... 1 SW KALKASKA 40 MPH 0847 PM 02/24 44.72N/85.19W ...LEELANAU COUNTY... 3 SW MAPLE CITY 49 MPH 0733 PM 02/24 44.81N/85.90W ...MACKINAC COUNTY... MACKINAC ISLAND 63 MPH 0856 PM 02/24 45.87N/84.64W 2 WSW ENGADINE 53 MPH 0718 PM 02/24 46.10N/85.62W 1 WNW REXTON 35 MPH 0913 PM 02/24 46.16N/85.27W ...MANISTEE COUNTY... MANISTEE - BLACKER AIRPORT 59 MPH 0645 PM 02/24 44.27N/86.25W 1 SE MANISTEE 52 MPH 0447 PM 02/24 44.22N/86.31W 3 WSW ONEKAMA 41 MPH 0216 PM 02/24 44.35N/86.27W 1 SSW MANISTEE 35 MPH 0745 PM 02/24 44.23N/86.34W ...MONTMORENCY COUNTY... CLEAR LAKE STATE PARK 45 MPH 0708 PM 02/24 45.15N/84.19W ...OGEMAW COUNTY... 2 SSE WEST BRANCH 49 MPH 0647 PM 02/24 44.25N/84.23W 3 ESE WEST BRANCH 48 MPH 0616 PM 02/24 44.24N/84.18W ...OTSEGO COUNTY... 2 NE OTSEGO LAKE STATE PARK 68 MPH 0503 PM 02/24 44.96N/84.67W GAYLORD - OTSEGO COUNTY AIRP 54 MPH 0906 PM 02/24 45.02N/84.70W 1 WNW WATERS 44 MPH 0544 PM 02/24 44.91N/84.72W ...PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY... 5 WNW PRESQUE ISLE 48 MPH 0717 PM 02/24 45.33N/83.58W ROGERS CITY - PRESQUE ISLE C 46 MPH 0936 PM 02/24 45.41N/83.81W ROGERS CITY 41 MPH 0710 PM 02/24 45.42N/83.81W ...ROSCOMMON COUNTY... HOUGHTON LAKE - ROSCOMMON CO 55 MPH 0857 PM 02/24 44.35N/84.67W 3 NW HOUGHTON LAKE 38 MPH 0533 PM 02/24 44.33N/84.81W 2 SE ROSCOMMON 37 MPH 0610 PM 02/24 44.47N/84.57W ...WEXFORD COUNTY... CADILLAC - WEXFORD COUNT ARP 44 MPH 0535 PM 02/24 44.28N/85.42W 6 ENE DUBLIN 40 MPH 0332 PM 02/24 44.22N/85.81W 4 SW FIFE LAKE 38 MPH 0502 PM 02/24 44.51N/85.40W ...MARITIME STATIONS... GREILICKVILLE 52 MPH 0707 PM 02/24 44.79N/85.63W 11 ESE GOETZVILLE 49 MPH 0824 PM 02/24 45.99N/83.90W 2 NNW MUNUSCONG 47 MPH 0842 PM 02/24 46.28N/84.21W 5 SW BEAVER ISLAND 43 MPH 0702 PM 02/24 45.63N/85.61W 1 N MUNUSCONG 41 MPH 0912 PM 02/24 46.26N/84.19W OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL. $$
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