Blizzard in Eastern Mackinac County, Michigan

Mackinac Bridge was closed for winds and whiteout conditions, and county and state offices were proactively closed for the 16th, with a travel warning issued by emergency management on the evening of the 15th. Snowfall totals as high as 29 inches were reported in St. Ignace by CoCoRaHS observers. Blizzard conditions were observed at the Mackinac Island airport, KMCD, for several hours on the 15th.

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.