Overview
A low pressure system brought a round of light to moderate accumulating snowfall to southeast Michigan beginning during the early morning hours of Tuesday January 26, 2021 and continuing into the afternoon hours. The low pressure system tracked northeastward from the mid-Mississippi Valley into the northern Ohio Valley, transporting plentiful moisture northward along an overrunning frontal boundary draped in vicinity of the Michigan/Ohio/Indiana border. This boundary helped provide the forcing needed to produce the widespread snowfall that was seen across southeast Michigan. During the mid to late morning hours, a pocket of dry air creeped northward into areas south of the I-96/696 corridor, resulting in a transition from snow to a period of light freezing drizzle/freezing rain leading to a light glazing of ice. Further north, snow remained the primary precipitation type throughout the event, although some observed briefly snow grains.
A burst of moderate snow lifted from south to north across the region during the Tuesday morning commute, causing extra havoc for morning travel as visibility was reduced to as low as a quarter of a mile at times and area roadways quickly accumulated with snow as temperatures lingered in the mid/upper 20s. By the afternoon, snow intensity began to quickly diminish, especially south of the I-69 corridor as temperatures rose to near freezing, and treated roadways were able to dramatically improve although untreated roadways remained snow covered and slick. Snow lingered into the evening hours across the Tri-Cities and portions of the Thumb.
Total snowfall for the snowfall event (shown graphically below), ranged from:
South of the I-94 corridor: generally less than 1 inch
I-94 corridor to I-96/696 corridor: generally 1-2 inches
I-96/696 corridor to I-69 corridor: generally 2-4 inches
I-69 corridor and points north: 3-5 inches
Here is a graphical representation of the amount of snowfall that fell January 26, 2021. Note, this depiction is an approximation and is based on local observations.
Below is the summary Local Storm Report:
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
1015 AM EST WED JAN 27 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0815 AM SNOW 2 NW WATERFORD 42.68N 83.42W
01/26/2021 M1.5 INCH OAKLAND MI COCORAHS
3 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
0815 AM SNOW 1 WNW FARMINGTON HILLS 42.49N 83.39W
01/26/2021 M1.0 INCH OAKLAND MI COCORAHS
3.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
0815 AM SNOW 2 NNW LIVONIA 42.42N 83.39W
01/26/2021 M1.1 INCH WAYNE MI COCORAHS
3.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
0845 AM SNOW NEW LOTHROP 43.12N 83.97W
01/26/2021 M2.1 INCH SHIAWASSEE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
0921 AM SNOW 4 NNW RICHMOND 42.86N 82.78W
01/26/2021 M2.3 INCH MACOMB MI CO-OP OBSERVER
5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
0930 AM SNOW CHELSEA 42.31N 84.02W
01/26/2021 M1.0 INCH WASHTENAW MI CO-OP OBSERVER
6.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
0942 AM SNOW CANTON 42.31N 83.48W
01/26/2021 M1.0 INCH WAYNE MI PUBLIC
7 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
1011 AM SNOW 2 WNW PORT HURON 43.00N 82.47W
01/26/2021 M2.3 INCH ST. CLAIR MI TRAINED SPOTTER
4 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
1030 AM SNOW 4 WNW FENTON 42.81N 83.80W
01/26/2021 M2.3 INCH GENESEE MI NWS EMPLOYEE
5.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
1109 AM SNOW NOVI 42.48N 83.49W
01/26/2021 M2.0 INCH OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
7 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
1111 AM SNOW LAKE ORION 42.78N 83.24W
01/26/2021 M3.2 INCH OAKLAND MI PUBLIC
7 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
1124 AM SNOW 3 E MILFORD 42.59N 83.54W
01/26/2021 M1.6 INCH OAKLAND MI NWS EMPLOYEE
7.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
1145 AM SNOW PINCKNEY 42.45N 83.95W
01/26/2021 M1.4 INCH LIVINGSTON MI TRAINED SPOTTER
7 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
1203 PM SNOW 2 NW COLUMBIAVILLE 43.18N 83.44W
01/26/2021 M3.0 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
6.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.
1230 PM SNOW GRAND BLANC 42.93N 83.62W
01/26/2021 M2.5 INCH GENESEE MI BROADCAST MEDIA
8 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
1245 PM SNOW ST. CLAIR SHORES 42.49N 82.89W
01/26/2021 M1.3 INCH MACOMB MI TRAINED SPOTTER
8 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
0145 PM SNOW 4 NW FLINT 43.06N 83.75W
01/26/2021 M2.9 INCH GENESEE MI BROADCAST MEDIA
4 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL VIA WEYI.
0205 PM SNOW LAPEER 43.05N 83.32W
01/26/2021 M3.0 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0216 PM SNOW 5 W LAPEER 43.05N 83.42W
01/26/2021 M3.5 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0232 PM SNOW SHELBY TOWNSHIP 42.67N 83.03W
01/26/2021 M2.7 INCH MACOMB MI TRAINED SPOTTER
9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0243 PM SNOW 3 E OIL CITY 43.61N 84.53W
01/26/2021 M4.6 INCH MIDLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0325 PM SNOW LAKEPORT 43.12N 82.50W
01/26/2021 M4.1 INCH ST. CLAIR MI PUBLIC
9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0400 PM SNOW 2 WSW WOLVERINE LAKE 42.55N 83.51W
01/26/2021 M1.9 INCH OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
11 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0400 PM SNOW GARDEN CITY 42.33N 83.33W
01/26/2021 M1.5 INCH WAYNE MI TRAINED SPOTTER
12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0420 PM SNOW CHELSEA 42.31N 84.02W
01/26/2021 M1.8 INCH WASHTENAW MI PUBLIC
11 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0423 PM SNOW 5 SW MIDLAND 43.57N 84.30W
01/26/2021 M4.5 INCH MIDLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
11 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0448 PM SNOW 2 NW COLUMBIAVILLE 43.18N 83.44W
01/26/2021 M3.6 INCH LAPEER MI TRAINED SPOTTER
11 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0524 PM SNOW CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP 42.68N 82.82W
01/26/2021 M2.0 INCH MACOMB MI PUBLIC
13 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0624 PM SNOW 4 WSW CHESANING 43.17N 84.21W
01/26/2021 M3.0 INCH SAGINAW MI PUBLIC
12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0700 PM SNOW 4 SW CLARKSTON 42.70N 83.47W
01/26/2021 M2.4 INCH OAKLAND MI OFFICIAL NWS OBS
18 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL AT NWS WFO DETROIT.
0700 PM SNOW 5 SW FLINT 42.97N 83.75W
01/26/2021 M4.2 INCH GENESEE MI ASOS
18 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL AT KFNT FLINT BISHOP AIRPORT.
0700 PM SNOW 2 ENE ROMULUS 42.23N 83.33W
01/26/2021 M1.4 INCH WAYNE MI ASOS
18 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL AT KDTW DETROIT METRO AIRPORT.
0709 PM SNOW LAKE ORION 42.78N 83.24W
01/26/2021 M3.8 INCH OAKLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0712 PM SNOW 8 S MIDLAND 43.51N 84.23W
01/26/2021 M5.0 INCH MIDLAND MI TRAINED SPOTTER
12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0800 PM SNOW FILION 43.90N 83.00W
01/26/2021 M3.2 INCH HURON MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUESDAY JAN 26.
0800 PM SNOW 1 NNE MIDLAND 43.64N 84.22W
01/26/2021 M4.2 INCH MIDLAND MI COCORAHS
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUESDAY JAN 26.
0800 PM SNOW CASS CITY 43.60N 83.18W
01/26/2021 M3.0 INCH TUSCOLA MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUESDAY JAN 26.
0800 PM SNOW AUBURN 43.60N 84.08W
01/26/2021 M4.2 INCH BAY MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0800 PM SNOW OWOSSO 43.00N 84.18W
01/26/2021 M3.0 INCH SHIAWASSEE MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0808 PM SNOW CLARKSTON 42.74N 83.42W
01/26/2021 M3.2 INCH OAKLAND MI PUBLIC
18 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0925 PM SNOW BURT 43.24N 83.91W
01/26/2021 M3.0 INCH SAGINAW MI BROADCAST MEDIA
12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0925 PM SNOW PINCONNING 43.86N 83.96W
01/26/2021 M5.0 INCH BAY MI BROADCAST MEDIA
12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0925 PM SNOW CARO 43.49N 83.40W
01/26/2021 M4.5 INCH TUSCOLA MI BROADCAST MEDIA
12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL
1238 AM SNOW 5 S AUBURN 43.53N 84.08W
01/27/2021 M4.3 INCH SAGINAW MI ASOS
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26 AT KMBS INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
0620 AM SNOW CHESANING 43.18N 84.12W
01/27/2021 M2.6 INCH SAGINAW MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0700 AM SNOW 4 N BURTON 43.05N 83.62W
01/27/2021 M2.9 INCH GENESEE MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0700 AM SNOW 1 N WHITMORE LAKE 42.44N 83.75W
01/27/2021 M1.3 INCH LIVINGSTON MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0700 AM SNOW VASSAR 43.37N 83.58W
01/27/2021 M3.5 INCH TUSCOLA MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0705 AM SNOW BAD AXE 43.80N 83.00W
01/27/2021 M3.0 INCH HURON MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0715 AM SNOW MANCHESTER 42.15N 84.04W
01/27/2021 M1.0 INCH WASHTENAW MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0730 AM SNOW LAPEER 43.05N 83.32W
01/27/2021 M4.0 INCH LAPEER MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0730 AM SNOW OIL CITY 43.61N 84.59W
01/27/2021 M4.4 INCH MIDLAND MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0730 AM SNOW GOODRICH 42.92N 83.51W
01/27/2021 M3.1 INCH GENESEE MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0730 AM SNOW LEXINGTON 43.27N 82.53W
01/27/2021 M3.0 INCH SANILAC MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0800 AM SNOW GROSSE POINTE FARMS 42.40N 82.89W
01/27/2021 M1.6 INCH WAYNE MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0800 AM SNOW WYANDOTTE 42.21N 83.16W
01/27/2021 M1.3 INCH WAYNE MI CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0820 AM SNOW 2 NE HOWELL 42.63N 83.91W
01/27/2021 M2.0 INCH LIVINGSTON MI NWS EMPLOYEE
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0915 AM SNOW 4 N BAY CITY 43.65N 83.89W
01/27/2021 M4.0 INCH BAY MI COCORAHS
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
0915 AM SNOW 1 ENE ROSEVILLE 42.51N 82.92W
01/27/2021 M1.6 INCH MACOMB MI COCORAHS
TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.
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