Winter Storm — Alpena, Michigan

2025-02-15 to 2025-02-17 · Alpena, Michigan

Event narrative

Official snowfall observer in Alpena reported 8.1inches in 24 hrs by the morning of the 16th. Storm total of 13.5 inches by the morning of the 17th. Calendar day snowfall total of 7.7inches on the 16th broke the daily snowfall record for Alpena...previous record for the calendar day of the 16th was 6.7inches set in 2006.

Wider weather episode

A southwest to northeast oriented boundary crossing the Thumb of Michigan served as focus for development of a couple rounds of long-duration snowfall as waves moved up this boundary with time. Northeast flow resulted in lake enhancement across northeast lower Michigan through the event; winds backing to north and eventually northwest by late on the 16th resulted in higher snowfall totals shifting to areas west of I-75 with northwest flow lake enhancement taking hold. 48 hour snowfall totals on the order of 1-2 feet by the 17th. Poor conditions due to the snow resulted in cancellation of some events in northeast Lower Michigan.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1252625. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.