Winter Storm — Grand Traverse, Michigan

2024-12-04 to 2024-12-06 · Grand Traverse, Michigan

Event narrative

CoCoRaHS observers in the Traverse City area reported up to 7.2 inches of snow by the morning of December 5th. Wind gusts in the realm of 35-45mph in the Traverse City area through the night resulted in areas of blowing snow.

Wider weather episode

A clipper system moving into the region on December 4th brought more unseasonably cold air over the unseasonably warm Great Lakes, allowing lake effect influences to ramp up again. Some freezing drizzle was noted ahead of the clipper amid warm advection into the afternoon on the 4th, before a more potent area of snow crossed the area during the late afternoon, transitioning to intense NW flow lake effect snow bands by late evening as winds increased in the wake of the front, gusting as high as 53mph at Frankfort and Leland harbors. Snowfall totals under the heaviest bands by the morning of the 5th were largely 7-12 inches, with blowing and drifting snow further impacting travel conditions across the area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1229760. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.