Winter Weather in Southern Berrien County, Michigan

Periods of lake effect snow affected southwest Lower Michigan from March 16 to March 17th. The combination of periods of moderate to heavy lake effect snow and gusty winds to 30 to 40 mph resulted in significant visibility reductions at times along with slick and snow covered roads. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts across far southeast portions of the county. A CoCoRaHS report of 3 inches of snow was received from 2.7 miles west of Niles, MI. Numerous slide-offs and accidents were reported.

In the wake of a cold front that produced widespread 60 mph wind gusts and severe thunderstorms, lake effect snow developed. The combination of moderate to heavy lake effect snow and strong winds produce hazardous travel conditions. Periods of whiteout conditions were noted well inland as the heaviest bands of lake effect snow affected Berrien and Cass Counties in southwest Lower Michigan. Storm total snowfall amount were generally in the 2 to 5 inch range across much of southwest Lower Michigan, with localized higher amounts in excess of 8 inches across southwest Cass County.