Blizzard — Alger, Michigan

2025-03-05 to 2025-03-06 · Alger, Michigan

Event narrative

The Munising Lakeshore ASOS KP53 reported wind gusts of over 35 mph from 0956EST on the 5th to 0356EST on the 6th with only a couple of brief drops below 35 mph. Visibility data is unavailable but various media and social media reports indicate low visibility. Storm total snowfall ranged from 3 to 7 inches across the county by the morning of the 6th. The peak wind gust at the KP53 ASOS was 47 mph at 1954EST on the 5th. Key impacts: school, business, and church closures, travel delays, road closures, power outages.

Wider weather episode

Strong winter storm lifted through the Great Lakes Monday March 4 through Thursday morning. This produced freezing rain, rain, and then widespread heavy, wet snow, strong winds, and blizzard conditions. Widespread 6 to 24 inches of snow was observed across Upper Michigan as well as 35 to 50 mph winds. Highest storm total snow reported was 24 inches 2 miles from WFO Marquette and the highest wind observed was 62 mph at the Marquette Coast Guard Station. WFO Marquette's storm total snow was 22.7 inches. The office also set records for daily maximum QPF at 2.55 inches and daily snowfall 20.8 inches for March 5th. Blizzard conditions were observed for nearly 12 hours at Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport (KSAW). Widespread impacts occurred including: all flights canceled at KSAW, a local TV station canceled their evening broadcast because staff could not get into their station; schools, businesses, ski resorts, churches, public services, and local government buildings were closed Wednesday and Thursday; multiple minor traffic incidents also occurred, including jack-knifed 18 wheelers that resulted in temporary road closures; approximately 5000 power outages occurred, but were resolved quickly. Multiple police and local governments were advising people to stay off the roads due to impossible road conditions.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1244676. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.