Winter Storm in Otsego, Michigan

Total snow and sleet for the event was 13-21 inches, with higest snowfall totals across the northern portion of the county. Storm total at WFO Gaylord, MI, 9 mi SSW of the city of Gaylord, was 13.2 inches, several of which fell as sleet, with less than a tenth of ice accretion overall. On top of regularly scheduled forecasters, three NWS employees -- two forecasters and the Electronics System Analyst -- stayed and slept at the office on the night of the 15th to ensure continuous 24-hour operations during and after the winter storm. The thick, dense snow/sleet pack resulted in significant travel delays on the 16th as crews worked to clear roadways during the day...before additional snow and whiteout conditions resulted in poor travel again on the evening of the 16th.

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.