Winter Storm in Central Chippewa County, Michigan

Near-blizzard conditions were observed at KCIU on the 16th, with winds gusting 25-35mph and visibilities of a quarter mile or less off and on for several hours. Snowfall totals across the county were around 10 inches in the city of Sault Ste. Marie, MI to as high as 31 inches near Pickford. State offices were proactively closed for the 16th due to the anticipated conditions. Michigan State Police rescued an escaped horse on M-129 near Sault Ste. Marie during the near-blizzard conditions, but all parties, including the horse, were uninjured.

Low pressure developed over the central US overnight on the 14th into the 15th, resulting in a first round of snowfall across northern Michigan on the morning of the 15th. There was a break for part of the day of the 15th, though some areas closer to Manistee transitioned to sleet/freezing rain at times. Another round of precipitation moved in during the evening and overnight hours going into the 16th as the strengthening low pressure center crossed southern Michigan, resulting in feet of snow across the UP and parts of northwest Lower Michigan/Tip of the Mitten. This transitioned to several inches of sleet across parts of north central Lower Michigan, and significant icing across northeast Lower and central Lower Michigan. Additional wraparound snow and lake effect snow continued during the day of the 16th, resulting in additional blowing/drifting snow and whiteout conditions. Snow drifts as high as 4-7 feet, to even as high as a single story house, were reported. Widespread travel difficulties and stops across the area due to the heavy snow and sleet, with additional tree and infrastructure damage due to ice accretion resulting in the Michigan governor declaring a state of emergency for Alcona, Alpena, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Roscommon, and Wexford counties in northern Lower Michigan.