Winter Storm — Eaton, Michigan

2015-02-01 to 2015-02-02 · Eaton, Michigan

Event narrative

Ten to fifteen inches of snow fell across Eaton county. The combination of heavy snow and blowing and drifiting snow resulted in very hazardous travel conditions.

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system strengthened as it tracked east to near Indianapolis during the evening of February 1st, spreading a large swath of moderate to heavy snow into southern Michigan. Snowfall totals reached as high as 12 to 15 inches in the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas and along the I-94 corridor. A little further north around 8 to 10 inches of snow fell in Grand Rapids and along the I-96 corridor. The system also brought strong winds which caused a considerable amount of blowing and drifting snow during the afternoon through the late evening hours of February 1.

Grand Rapids and Lansing both set daily snowfall records on February 1st.

winds increased on the afternoon and evening of February 1st, gusting to 30 to

35 mph across Lower Michigan. The wind was a significant factor in creating

blowing snow, very low visibilities, and deep drifts. Arctic air wrapped in behind

the storm system and skies cleared during the early morning hours of February 2nd,

resulting in low temperatures in the single digits with wind chills down to 10 to 15 degrees below zero.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 551146. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.