Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Chippewa, Michigan

2015-02-14 to 2015-02-15 · Chippewa, Michigan

Wider weather episode

A clipper system passing just north and east of Michigan would bring a multitude of weather hazards. Widespread light snow occurred ahead of the system's cold front, but that snow was enhanced by Lake Michigan into northwest lower Michigan. Snowfall totals of 6 to 8 inches were seen, especially west and southwest of Traverse City, with the highest amounts near Wellston. The coldest air of the winter so far surged in behind the cold front, along with gusty northwest winds and lake effect snow. Considerable snowfall, blowing and drifting snow, and low wind chills were realized in northwest lower Michigan. Across the rest of northern Michigan, away from the temperature-mitigating effects of Lake Michigan, wind chills reached warning criteria. Wind chills reached 30 to 40 below zero in northern lower Michigan, and 40 to 50 below zero in eastern upper, bottoming out at -49 in Dafter early in the morning of the 15th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 563644. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.