Winter Storm — Clinton, Michigan

2018-04-14 to 2018-04-15 · Clinton, Michigan

Event narrative

An inch to two inches of sleet was reported. The combination of heavy sleet and strong winds caused power outages.

Wider weather episode

A significant late season winter storm brought a mix of high winds, heavy rain, sleet and freezing rain. The highest wind gusts occurred on the 14th and heavy sleet and freezing rain developed during the early morning hours of the 15th through the early to mid afternoon hours of the 15th.

Numerous accidents and slide-offs were reported across the region, including on I-94 during the early afternoon hours of the 15th. Michigan State Police requested weather conditions for an investigation into a serious head on accident on M-21 that shut the road down in both directions. Medical support from AeroMed was requested from Grand Rapids but denied due to hazardous weather conditions. Road conditions were poor in the morning into the afternoon with sleet-packed roads and ice coated roads where freezing rain was prevalent.

Total ice accumulations ranged from around a tenth of an inch to about half an inch. Total sleet accumulations reached 1 to 2 inches in some areas. Numerous flights were either delayed or cancelled. A total of 450,000 customers were impacted by power outages across Michigan, with 110,000 Consumers Energy Customers being impacted. Power was restored to the majority of Consumers Power customers by the evening hours of the 15th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 750084. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.