Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in Leelanau, Michigan

The second big blast of snow, wind, and bitter cold in as many weeks. In fact, this storm was extremely similar to the January 29-30 event. Low pressure rapidly strengthened as it moved northeast away from Lake Superior. Polar air surged into the region behind the departing system, dropping temperatures to around zero. Lake effect and lake enhanced snow quickly developed, with a widespread two to five inches in the snowbelts. There were isolated higher amounts of seven inches in Gaylord, nearly nine inches south of Traverse City, and eight inches near Trout Lake. Wind gusts up to 45 mph, when combined with falling and blowing snow, produced outright blizzard conditions in the open country of central Chippewa County, and near blizzard conditions at times across much of the rest of Northern Michigan. US-2 west of St Igance, the Mackinac Bridge, and part of I-75 in Sault Ste Marie, were all closed during the height of the event. Traffic accidents also closed part of I-75 south of Gaylord. In Leland, an 87-year-old male Alzheimers patient was found dead five blocks from his home on the morning of the 10th. Local law enforcement stated he died of exposure to the cold. A number of area schools were closed on the 11th (Monday) as the clean-up was still underway.