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Overview

A low pressure system brought a round of light to moderate accumulating snowfall to southeast Michigan beginning during the early morning hours of Tuesday January 26, 2021 and continuing into the afternoon hours. The low pressure system tracked northeastward from the mid-Mississippi Valley into the northern Ohio Valley, transporting plentiful moisture northward along an overrunning frontal boundary draped in vicinity of the Michigan/Ohio/Indiana border. This boundary helped provide the forcing needed to produce the widespread snowfall that was seen across southeast Michigan. During the mid to late morning hours, a pocket of dry air creeped northward into areas south of the I-96/696 corridor, resulting in a transition from snow to a period of light freezing drizzle/freezing rain leading to a light glazing of ice. Further north, snow remained the primary precipitation type throughout the event, although some observed briefly snow grains. 

 

A burst of moderate snow lifted from south to north across the region during the Tuesday morning commute, causing extra havoc for morning travel as visibility was reduced to as low as a quarter of a mile at times and area roadways quickly accumulated with snow as temperatures lingered in the mid/upper 20s. By the afternoon, snow intensity began to quickly diminish, especially south of the I-69 corridor as temperatures rose to near freezing, and treated roadways were able to dramatically improve although untreated roadways remained snow covered and slick. Snow lingered into the evening hours across the Tri-Cities and portions of the Thumb.

 

Total snowfall for the snowfall event (shown graphically below), ranged from:

 

South of the I-94 corridor: generally less than 1 inch

I-94 corridor to I-96/696 corridor: generally 1-2 inches

I-96/696 corridor to I-69 corridor: generally 2-4 inches

I-69 corridor and points north: 3-5 inches

 

Here is a graphical representation of the amount of snowfall that fell January 26, 2021. Note, this depiction is an approximation and is based on local observations.

Below is the summary Local Storm Report:

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
1015 AM EST WED JAN 27 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0815 AM     SNOW             2 NW WATERFORD          42.68N 83.42W 
01/26/2021  M1.5 INCH        OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS        

            3 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

0815 AM     SNOW             1 WNW FARMINGTON HILLS  42.49N 83.39W 
01/26/2021  M1.0 INCH        OAKLAND            MI   COCORAHS        

            3.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

0815 AM     SNOW             2 NNW LIVONIA           42.42N 83.39W 
01/26/2021  M1.1 INCH        WAYNE              MI   COCORAHS        

            3.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

0845 AM     SNOW             NEW LOTHROP             43.12N 83.97W 
01/26/2021  M2.1 INCH        SHIAWASSEE         MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

0921 AM     SNOW             4 NNW RICHMOND          42.86N 82.78W 
01/26/2021  M2.3 INCH        MACOMB             MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

0930 AM     SNOW             CHELSEA                 42.31N 84.02W 
01/26/2021  M1.0 INCH        WASHTENAW          MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            6.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

0942 AM     SNOW             CANTON                  42.31N 83.48W 
01/26/2021  M1.0 INCH        WAYNE              MI   PUBLIC          

            7 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

1011 AM     SNOW             2 WNW PORT HURON        43.00N 82.47W 
01/26/2021  M2.3 INCH        ST. CLAIR          MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            4 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

1030 AM     SNOW             4 WNW FENTON            42.81N 83.80W 
01/26/2021  M2.3 INCH        GENESEE            MI   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            5.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

1109 AM     SNOW             NOVI                    42.48N 83.49W 
01/26/2021  M2.0 INCH        OAKLAND            MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            7 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

1111 AM     SNOW             LAKE ORION              42.78N 83.24W 
01/26/2021  M3.2 INCH        OAKLAND            MI   PUBLIC          

            7 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

1124 AM     SNOW             3 E MILFORD             42.59N 83.54W 
01/26/2021  M1.6 INCH        OAKLAND            MI   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            7.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

1145 AM     SNOW             PINCKNEY                42.45N 83.95W 
01/26/2021  M1.4 INCH        LIVINGSTON         MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            7 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

1203 PM     SNOW             2 NW COLUMBIAVILLE      43.18N 83.44W 
01/26/2021  M3.0 INCH        LAPEER             MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            6.5 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL.

1230 PM     SNOW             GRAND BLANC             42.93N 83.62W 
01/26/2021  M2.5 INCH        GENESEE            MI   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            8 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL

1245 PM     SNOW             ST. CLAIR SHORES        42.49N 82.89W 
01/26/2021  M1.3 INCH        MACOMB             MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            8 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL

0145 PM     SNOW             4 NW FLINT              43.06N 83.75W 
01/26/2021  M2.9 INCH        GENESEE            MI   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            4 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL VIA WEYI.

0205 PM     SNOW             LAPEER                  43.05N 83.32W 
01/26/2021  M3.0 INCH        LAPEER             MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0216 PM     SNOW             5 W LAPEER              43.05N 83.42W 
01/26/2021  M3.5 INCH        LAPEER             MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0232 PM     SNOW             SHELBY TOWNSHIP         42.67N 83.03W 
01/26/2021  M2.7 INCH        MACOMB             MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0243 PM     SNOW             3 E OIL CITY            43.61N 84.53W 
01/26/2021  M4.6 INCH        MIDLAND            MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0325 PM     SNOW             LAKEPORT                43.12N 82.50W 
01/26/2021  M4.1 INCH        ST. CLAIR          MI   PUBLIC          

            9 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0400 PM     SNOW             2 WSW WOLVERINE LAKE    42.55N 83.51W 
01/26/2021  M1.9 INCH        OAKLAND            MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            11 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0400 PM     SNOW             GARDEN CITY             42.33N 83.33W 
01/26/2021  M1.5 INCH        WAYNE              MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0420 PM     SNOW             CHELSEA                 42.31N 84.02W 
01/26/2021  M1.8 INCH        WASHTENAW          MI   PUBLIC          

            11 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0423 PM     SNOW             5 SW MIDLAND            43.57N 84.30W 
01/26/2021  M4.5 INCH        MIDLAND            MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            11 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0448 PM     SNOW             2 NW COLUMBIAVILLE      43.18N 83.44W 
01/26/2021  M3.6 INCH        LAPEER             MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            11 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0524 PM     SNOW             CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP   42.68N 82.82W 
01/26/2021  M2.0 INCH        MACOMB             MI   PUBLIC          

            13 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0624 PM     SNOW             4 WSW CHESANING         43.17N 84.21W 
01/26/2021  M3.0 INCH        SAGINAW            MI   PUBLIC          

            12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0700 PM     SNOW             4 SW CLARKSTON          42.70N 83.47W 
01/26/2021  M2.4 INCH        OAKLAND            MI   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            18 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL AT NWS WFO DETROIT.

0700 PM     SNOW             5 SW FLINT              42.97N 83.75W 
01/26/2021  M4.2 INCH        GENESEE            MI   ASOS            

            18 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL AT KFNT FLINT BISHOP AIRPORT.

0700 PM     SNOW             2 ENE ROMULUS           42.23N 83.33W 
01/26/2021  M1.4 INCH        WAYNE              MI   ASOS            

            18 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL AT KDTW DETROIT METRO AIRPORT.

0709 PM     SNOW             LAKE ORION              42.78N 83.24W 
01/26/2021  M3.8 INCH        OAKLAND            MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0712 PM     SNOW             8 S MIDLAND             43.51N 84.23W 
01/26/2021  M5.0 INCH        MIDLAND            MI   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0800 PM     SNOW             FILION                  43.90N 83.00W 
01/26/2021  M3.2 INCH        HURON              MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUESDAY JAN 26.

0800 PM     SNOW             1 NNE MIDLAND           43.64N 84.22W 
01/26/2021  M4.2 INCH        MIDLAND            MI   COCORAHS        

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUESDAY JAN 26.

0800 PM     SNOW             CASS CITY               43.60N 83.18W 
01/26/2021  M3.0 INCH        TUSCOLA            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUESDAY JAN 26.

0800 PM     SNOW             AUBURN                  43.60N 84.08W 
01/26/2021  M4.2 INCH        BAY                MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0800 PM     SNOW             OWOSSO                  43.00N 84.18W 
01/26/2021  M3.0 INCH        SHIAWASSEE         MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0808 PM     SNOW             CLARKSTON               42.74N 83.42W 
01/26/2021  M3.2 INCH        OAKLAND            MI   PUBLIC          

            18 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0925 PM     SNOW             BURT                    43.24N 83.91W 
01/26/2021  M3.0 INCH        SAGINAW            MI   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0925 PM     SNOW             PINCONNING              43.86N 83.96W 
01/26/2021  M5.0 INCH        BAY                MI   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL.

0925 PM     SNOW             CARO                    43.49N 83.40W 
01/26/2021  M4.5 INCH        TUSCOLA            MI   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            12 HOUR TOTAL SNOWFALL

1238 AM     SNOW             5 S AUBURN              43.53N 84.08W 
01/27/2021  M4.3 INCH        SAGINAW            MI   ASOS            

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26 AT KMBS INTERNATIONAL 
            AIRPORT.

0620 AM     SNOW             CHESANING               43.18N 84.12W 
01/27/2021  M2.6 INCH        SAGINAW            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0700 AM     SNOW             4 N BURTON              43.05N 83.62W 
01/27/2021  M2.9 INCH        GENESEE            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0700 AM     SNOW             1 N WHITMORE LAKE       42.44N 83.75W 
01/27/2021  M1.3 INCH        LIVINGSTON         MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0700 AM     SNOW             VASSAR                  43.37N 83.58W 
01/27/2021  M3.5 INCH        TUSCOLA            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0705 AM     SNOW             BAD AXE                 43.80N 83.00W 
01/27/2021  M3.0 INCH        HURON              MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0715 AM     SNOW             MANCHESTER              42.15N 84.04W 
01/27/2021  M1.0 INCH        WASHTENAW          MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0730 AM     SNOW             LAPEER                  43.05N 83.32W 
01/27/2021  M4.0 INCH        LAPEER             MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0730 AM     SNOW             OIL CITY                43.61N 84.59W 
01/27/2021  M4.4 INCH        MIDLAND            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0730 AM     SNOW             GOODRICH                42.92N 83.51W 
01/27/2021  M3.1 INCH        GENESEE            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0730 AM     SNOW             LEXINGTON               43.27N 82.53W 
01/27/2021  M3.0 INCH        SANILAC            MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0800 AM     SNOW             GROSSE POINTE FARMS     42.40N 82.89W 
01/27/2021  M1.6 INCH        WAYNE              MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0800 AM     SNOW             WYANDOTTE               42.21N 83.16W 
01/27/2021  M1.3 INCH        WAYNE              MI   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0820 AM     SNOW             2 NE HOWELL             42.63N 83.91W 
01/27/2021  M2.0 INCH        LIVINGSTON         MI   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0915 AM     SNOW             4 N BAY CITY            43.65N 83.89W 
01/27/2021  M4.0 INCH        BAY                MI   COCORAHS        

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

0915 AM     SNOW             1 ENE ROSEVILLE         42.51N 82.92W 
01/27/2021  M1.6 INCH        MACOMB             MI   COCORAHS        

            TOTAL SNOW FROM TUES JAN 26.

 

 
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